Back to School: Terrible Teachers on Film

02 September 08

From Mr Keating in Dead Poet’s Society to Mr Holland and his opus, the history of film is littered with examples of inspirational teachers. The average educational experience, however, never seems to live up to the classic Hollywood formula.

As the new school term kicks off we are looking for teachers who fail to make the grade. Who are the worst teachers in film and television history? Who's the baddest of the bad apples? Which educator strikes fear into the hearts of pupils everywhere?

Here are just a few examples to get the grey matter into gear (and to make your own teachers look a little more human).

1. Mr Bronson - Grange Hill

Created by Phil Redmond back in 1978, the classic kids’ series ran for thirty years and is the obvious place to start for school nightmares. With its twangy theme tune and gritty tales of bullying, truancy and drug-taking, Grange Hill formed a terrifying impression of secondary school. Amongst the ranks of Mrs McClusky, Mr Robson and Mr Griffiths the caretaker, it was the infamous Mr Bronson who prowled the corridors with the most venom.

2. Mr McAllister - Election

Despite his instant likeability and good intentions - to save the world from Reese Witherspoon's overachieving monster - Matthew Broderick ends up letting himself and his profession down. Drawn into a downward spiral of self destruction, Mr McAllister’s final deception ultimately reflects the same obsession that drives the abomination that is Tracy Flick.

3. Dewey Finn/Mr Schneebly - School of Rock

Like a diabolical Mr Holland, Jack Black breaks every rule in the teaching handbook to create a rock opus with his pupils. The fact that he's acquired these pupils by impersonating supply-teacher flatmate Ned Schneebly is clearly less important than saluting the Rock Gods. Whether he’s a good or bad teacher depends entirely on your perspective. The kids are rocking out but their parents are horrified - especially when Dewy informs them: "I have been touched by your kids... and I'm pretty sure that I've touched them."

4. Hector - The History Boys

Alan Bennett’s Hector, played with great aplomb by Richard Griffiths, is a classic tragic figure. The epitome of unorthodox methods, Hector is clearly not a bad teacher. In contrast to the intellectualism of Mr Irwin, he follows the passions of the heart, teaching poetry, language and song under the guise of 'General Studies'. Ultimately, it is his passion for boys riding pillion that proves his downfall - from teaching and from life.

Competition

Our competition to win a pair of tickets to a BAFTA Perfect Sunday event in London has now closed. The winner of a perfect Sunday afternoon with traditional Sunday lunch and a screening of a classic film will be announced shortly.

• Find out more about Perfect Sundays

Winning Entry

Our winning entry was from Daniel Rogers in Buckinghamshire who suggested Mr Sugden from Ken Loach's Kes as the worst on-screen teacher of all time.

"Well... we've all been there haven’t we, brutalised by the appallingly unsympathetic 'PE Teacher'? Forced to endure that heavy, mud-splattered, rain-soaked football smacked straight onto a near frozen thigh in mid-February on some godforsaken sports field in the middle of nowhere. Brian Glover's Mr Sugden - the masochistic, saber-rattling football coach - was so authentic that we all found ourselves feeling that he 'must' have been a direct relative of our own PE teacher. Instead, he perceived himself as the eternally overlooked international sports superstar saving the day for queen and country with that injury time header..."

Top Entries

It has to be Ed Rooney from Ferris Bueller's Day Off - he's sleazy with the girls, conniving and suspicious; following Ferris' every move with hilarious consequences - very funny to watch but no way would you want him to teach you!
-Simmone (Leeds)

Miss Trunchbull from Matilda . A teacher so scary she made me fear all teachers at my school.
- Margaret (Chiltern)

Takeshi Kitano from Battle Royale - Because you never know when he might snap and accidentally kill one of your classmates, or get a weird crush on you or your friends. Test results and teaching the curriculum aren't particularly high on his list of concerns!
- James (London)

Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter. She is pure evil - and you can't get worse than that in a teacher!
- Brian (London)

It has to be Jean Brodie from 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' - reminds me of my school days in Scotland.
- Jonathan (London)

Miss Trunchbull from Matilda has to be the worst teacher ever. She hates children! She locks them in the chocky which is a small dark room, swings a little girl round by her pigtails and makes a boy eat a huge chocolate to name but a few!
-Milissa (Worcester)

Mr Price, the Welsh science teacher from Please Sir . He just seemed to be 'burnt out' to the extent that he almost hated the kids he taught. Had a geography teacher like that myself. Does not do much for the learning process!
- Lynne (London)

Principal Richard "Dick" Vernon (Paul Gleeson) in The Breakfast Club . For his obvious dislike of the pupils and his weakness - lettting the janitor blackmail him over reading school files.
- Mary (Corby)

Richard Vernon in The Breakfast Club - "don't mess with the bull young man"
- Andy (London)

Miss Kitty Farmer from Donnie Darko . This part has been so well scripted and actor Beth Grant really makes the part her own playing this hyperactive meddling religious fanatic with social issues - you wouldn't want her teaching your kids - look at the mess she made of Donnie!
- Glynn (London)

The Brian Glover PE teacher from Kes . A man in charge of kids who has himself never grown up. Funny, comical and a fantasist... but all too true of many PE teachers. Those who can do,those who can't teach. Here's a perfect example.
- John (Bristol)

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