School is starting up again soon, and it’s time to start getting back into that mindset for a lot of students, Whether you’re in elementary school, high school, or a post secondary academy, you’re going to be hearing a teacher talk for hours on end very soon. I’m focusing on teachers today, because we’ve already celebrated sixteen fabulous high school films in the past. Perhaps as a means of wishing you good luck, I’m shedding light on teachers in film that have been memorable. Nobody likes a terrible teacher, but the best teacher can stay with you forever; their guidance and lessons are invaluable. Not every teacher featured below is a role model, believe me, but they have all stayed with me for a long time after watching. Here are ten of the most notable teachers in cinema.

10. Terrence Fletcher-Whiplash
By no means is Terrence Fletcher a good teacher; he is abusive, corrosive, and demeaning. However, his rage and fixation on perfection in Whiplash is unforgettable, rendering him one of the most unforgettable teachers in all of film. For the last six years, Fletcher’s frightening approach to academia has been parodied, referenced, and copied. No one rushed or dragged ever again.

9. Dan Dunne-Half Nelson
Despite being self destructive with his addictions, Dan Dunne is dedicated to being a positive role model to his students. Half Nelson features the battle between both sides of Dunne, as he struggles to keep himself together whilst trying to provide a better future for those he teach (all of whom come from difficult living situations). Dunne goes beyond the curriculum as well, injecting his own teachings to truly grant his students a new perspective on learning.

8. Dewey Finn-School of Rock
Okay, so Dewey Finn isn’t really a teacher (he assumes the identity of his roommate Ned Schneebly), but he tests his luck by assuming the role of one in School of Rock. He has no bearings on how a teacher should conduct a lesson, especially since he is so fixated on the Battle of the Bands, but he goes the extra mile to teach his “students” all about rock music history. He accidentally grants these kids new opinions and gazes on life, even if they were all for the wrong reasons.

7. Glenn Holland-Mr. Holland’s Opus
When an artist gets caught in a rut, sometimes the sharing of their passions with others is the ticket to a new form of happiness. Glenn Holland’s conversion of his career into the lessons for a new generation is at the heart of Mr. Holland’s Opus. Even if Holland’s legacy as a composer seems not all that he had hoped for, Mr. Holland’s Opus shares instead the impact of enlightening youths with the kind of care and expertise that will change them for the rest of their lives; their form of thanks is incredibly touching.

6. Miss Honey-Matilda
The only likeable adult in the Roald Dahl, Danny DeVito-directed family film Matilda, Miss Honey is a teacher who listens to her students and tends to their needs. Through the title character of Matilda Wormwood, we see how Honey goes beyond the basic criteria of being an educator. She is a role model and a caregiver to her students, especially in a school that is plagued by the demonic headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Any kid that watched Matilda hoped and prayed for a teacher like Miss Honey, because they can come very few and far between in a cynical world.

5. James Leeds-Children of a Lesser God
Driven by his own methods, James Leeds teaches deaf students how to communicate via verbal talking in Children of a Lesser God. Even though his success is a subplot that lays underneath the central romantic connection between Leeds and custodian Sarah Norman, seeing Leeds’ success slowly grow more and more is the kind of realistic development that these kinds of lessons can have. As unorthodox as he is, Leeds knows what he is doing, and seeing his students thrive in Children of a Lesser God is a heartwarming treat for the ages.

4. John Keating-Dead Poets Society
Likely the teacher that many movie lovers think of when they are asked about their favourite film teachers, John Keating in Dead Poets Society drills straight to the hearts of many viewers. With his extreme passion for language and learning, he tries to get his students to be as enthusiastic as he is with the obtaining of knowledge. It’s had to not feel inspired by Keating, even when he gets a little carried away. He’s the kind of educator that you’ll go to bat for, as is seen in Dead Poets Society’s challenging final hour full of tragedy and coercion.

3. Mr. Chipping-Goodbye, Mr. Chips
We don’t see a full on career of a teacher on screen enough (not to the extent of Goodbye, Mr. Chips anyway). We start off with an established legacy for Mr. Chipping (or Mr. “Chips”), and slowly go through his ever developing time as an educator, knowing the impact he has left on an institution, society, and series of generations. Seeing his testimonies unfurl in Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a treat and a half, as we see how a teacher also has room to learn as much as their students do.

2. Mark Thackeray-To Sir, With Love
Mark Thackeray is out of his element, accepting the role as an educator (when he was really a specialist in engineering) in To Sir, With Love. Understanding the importance of positive reinforcement that is much needed in a divided society, Thackeray accepts the daunting task of being a new voice to the future of his new students. As he becomes familiar with what he can achieve as a teacher, Thackeray realizes that his career woes were a path that led him right to where he belonged: in the classroom. Seeing someone notice their calling like Thackeray does in To Sir, With Love is so rewarding.

1. Anne Sullivan-The Miracle Worker
What makes Anne Sullivan in this 1962 adaptation of The Miracle Worker special is that you never really see her teach inside of a classroom. You only notice her work with her most famous pupil Helen Keller. However, you can just sense the hours and hours of dedication and perfection that Sullivan has behind her, as her expertise steals the entire picture. Her determination to help Keller learn how to communicate is unparalleled; it’s a moving experience that will floor you every time you watch The Miracle Worker. Even though she is beyond strict, Sullivan is committed to her work, and seeing this devotion is one of the many reasons why Anne Sullivan may be one of the greatest cinematic teachers.

Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.

Ten Noteworthy Cinematic Teachers