"To Sir, With Love", is a gem in that the story, the characters, and the message of the novel are transferred almost flawlessly to the screen. Sidney Poitier is masterful as the titular character, Mark Thackeray, assigned to teach a classroom full of delinquent London teens.
His own epiphany and announcement--after a number of trying events--that the students are not children, but adults, each deserving of concern and respect, and owing responsibility to the world--is the turning point of the story. Simply by abiding by the rules by which he expects them to abide, "Sir" earns not just the students' respect, but their love; he has treated them like no other adult in their lives has done.
The message is obvious: regardless of race, creed, colour, or even gender or social position, every person is deserving of the same level of respect. It was true in 1967; it's true today; it will always be true.
See the movie; if you can find a copy, read the book, too.
His own epiphany and announcement--after a number of trying events--that the students are not children, but adults, each deserving of concern and respect, and owing responsibility to the world--is the turning point of the story. Simply by abiding by the rules by which he expects them to abide, "Sir" earns not just the students' respect, but their love; he has treated them like no other adult in their lives has done.
The message is obvious: regardless of race, creed, colour, or even gender or social position, every person is deserving of the same level of respect. It was true in 1967; it's true today; it will always be true.
See the movie; if you can find a copy, read the book, too.
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