The kids in our films school are forced to deal with a number of serious environmental problems. At the age of 6, they are actively faced with the consequences of a drug, violence, and poverty ridden community. The children's school faces the consequences of a low income community, by itself being a low funded school. The series of vignetes presented in our film show us a dynamic between teachers who care about thier students but do not know how to help them in an atmosphere they are constantly fighting with. A number of wise words are articulated by the teachers. In the end of the film, the all-boys class room teacher articulates that the children need utmost and formost, love. Once they receive love, and know they are loved, they can go onto the task of loving and improving themselves. The other statement regarding students needing to first feel good about themselves, also rings true. The teachers facing the modern problems of urban Philidelipia poverty are constantly facing new problems. As one taecher articulated, in their age of growing up students listened to their teachers. Now, he explains, students dont respond to the discipline of teachers. Is it the students who are wrong to not listen or is it the school system that expects submission under discipline to be at fault? There is an old idiom stating that fear should not be used as a means of control, for when the submissive are no longer afraid, there is no source of power. The school system's use of discipline seems to be at the end of its rope. When faced with economic stress, societal problems and the lack of individual family structures, what are teachers supposed to do? This film was made in the 90's but it makes me think about what social issues I am not aware of in my immediate surrounding. I know the Los Angeles school system is fiscally struggling and our national educational system is constantly undergoing cuts. As the pricipal noted, the schools are not being properlly funded. It is not money that will make a school run, but the appropriate funding is necessary to make an institution function. Looking at my own elementary school experience, I was very fortunate to be in a city environment, but receive a good education. By education, I mean the necessary attention, art and music opportunities, and sense of safety within my community. I can not say the same for these children who are being supported by the passionate champions, such as the principal in the video, but the negatives currently outweigh the possibilities for success.