The real George McKenna, and Denzel Washington portraying him. A. In the first three years under McKenna, 122 of the 142 teachers transferred to another school or resigned. High School Principal. You can say it, but you cant draw it., McKenna insisted, The principal is the single most powerful position in public education. Who are George McKenna's colleagues? In it, the heroic principal sacrifices relationships, career and safety to do the right thing for public education. There they meet the Boatwright sisters, who help teach Lily all about beekeeping, as well as the many privileges of Lily's skin color. You Ought to Know: The McKenna Family | wwltv.com Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, a longtime friend and colleague of McKenna, said: Its just nonsensical to me.. Theyre yours, and the principal is responsible whether the grass grows. Nothing is new in this film that has not been seen before in films like The Blackboard Jungle(1955), and later in films like The Principal (1987), Lean On Me (1988), and Dangerous Minds (1994). Language The "N" word, "hell," "dammit," and "damn." A teen Products & Purchases Not present Drinking, Drugs & Smoking Teens and adults smoke cigarettes. He pointed out that neglect was detrimental to the community and the students. The situation he walks into is pretty grim: lots of absences, graffiti everywhere, gang activity, and virtually no supervision by teachers. McKenna explained that the Watts Riots in 1965 scared many of the white families out of the area. McKenna has a lot of ideas about how a school should be run and what needs to be done to turn things around. in . Eventually, though, repeating again and again the need for pride and self-respect, he starts to turn it around--seeking out the most promising students, creating a ''We Are Family'' recruiting brochure, pressuring the bussed pupils into coming back. Students are skeptical, and a parent activist,Margaret Wright, warns him, I got you hired, I can get you fired., Then a promising young athlete is shot just off campus in a gang fight and dies in the principals arms. It may not be the ideal school,'' the protagonist`s fiancee remarks at the top of ''The George McKenna Story,'' and she has a point. Did you know you can flag iffy content? He said the community and district have to continue to support those successes, and that takes a lot of extra work. [2], The George McKenna Story won a Christopher Award in the category of "Television Specials". National. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. He grew up in an area where certain social privileges or club memberships were allowed if your skin passed the paper bag test. If your skin was darker than a brown paper bag, you couldnt belong. They're trained in creating high-quality parenting advice based on best practices in child development. Teens throw eggs at an adult, trip him by throwing a garbage can in his way. [3], In 1989, McKenna received the Congressional Black Caucus Chairmans Award and was later inducted into the National Alliance of Black School Educators Hall of Fame in 1997. NEW ORLEANS The George and Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art on Carondelet street is an impressive showcase of black art. [2] Because of his efforts, a biographical television film was made documenting his story called The George McKenna Story, with Denzel Washington portraying him. [6], In 1988, McKenna was hired to become the Inglewood Unified School District superintendent. All the parts in the movie were real, everything happened, it was factual, said McKenna, who read all versions of the script. Common Sense Media Reviewer My ego is not that big, I never tried to seek that out, I was just doing my job., Sign up for newsletters from LA School Report, The movie opens in 1979 withMcKenna arriving atWashington High School in South Los Angeles on his first day as principal. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide. Its we shall overcome, not I.. But who are George and Leah McKenna. How they've achieved and how they've overcome so that they understand that you are where you over the backs of a lot of hardships, misuse, abuse," explains Dr. McKenna. Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. Above, Denzel Washington walking into Washington High for the first time, and below, the actual logo at the school. George J. McKenna III - Wikipedia We need to get LAUSD Board me." Black Lives Matter Los Angeles on Instagram: "If there's one place police don't belong it's in our schools. Common Sense Media reviewers include writers, editors, and child development experts. That's exactly what the McKennas are doing, making space for everyone to join them on their journey of preserving culture, creating opportunities, and empowering others. [12] Although opponent Alex Johnson accused him of child molestation charges and the state take-over of the Compton and Inglewood school districts, widely condemned by supporters including Congresswomen Maxine Waters and Karen Bass, McKenna won the seat. George McKenna explains how he became a teacher . He is expecting a high level of behavior of the staff and the community for the best of the children!, Kakassy added: And how many high school principals are invited by the president to the White House?, McKenna downplays the fanfare surrounding him, like when high-profile black politicians Maxine Waters and Jesse Jackson came to his school board inauguration ceremony. While the movie benefits from an engaging performance by Washington, the storyline too often presents his character as a kind of academic superhero, as he challenges (and beats) his young charges in one-on-one basketball games, patiently teaches the toughest gang member remedial reading, comes to the aid of a lonely Hispanic youngster who lives by himself in an abandoned car and patches things up between a bright upperclassman and his abusive father. Eric Laneuville. Some of the changes he made at Washington Prep were implemented at hundreds of schools throughout the nation. Posters for the movie based on George McKennas school success in South LA. 94. Black Lives Matter Los Angeles on Instagram: "If there's one place Strong language is rare but includes the "N" word, "dammit," and "hell." National Alliance of Black School Educators, "A movie, a principal and a turnaround school: 30 years since 'The George McKenna Story', "After 1 Year in Office, Doubts Cloud Charisma of Supt. A half-dozen principals have come and gone since McKenna left in 1986, including his friend Marguerite LaMotte, who went on to be elected to the school board. The high school dropout rate in Inglewood has been declining, reflecting a trend statewide. A2001_048_eAC.html[6/7/22, 11:17:15 pM] "We've given a lot of young black artists starts. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! George McKenna: Chasing Elusive Dreams", "School Board Votes to Oust Superintendent: Education: The panel decides not to renew the contract of nationally known Supt. Theres a big difference between blame and responsibility, he said. "We have the actual slave irons that slaves used to wear. George McKenna is a terrific role model for perseverance, communication, teamwork, compassion. Case studies: 6 principles for using student-powered improvement in your school, The education community braced for guidance on student discipline.
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