Detachment

Let's, um… Let's not have people come in.

I'd like to do this without anybody in here.

Could everybody split, that doesn't have to be here. Thanks.

- Maybe we can keep, - And close the door.

- like people away from the door. - Oh yes, all good?

Yep. Thank you

I wasn't good in school. I didn't care for school.

Um… It was nice socially, my own experience, but

I kinda just went along…

I started off as a music major.

I was gonna be a Rock 'n' Roll star.

But that didn't quite work out.

In 1985,

during a hurricane, hurricane Gloria,

I was walk… I was taking a train into the city to work.

I'd gotten to work and I was on the phone with my brother-in-law,

who had just started teaching,

and he said that he was off from school.

Now, I'm like, wait a second,

You're off from school for hurricane

and I'm going into the city to work in an Office building?

I said: "Whoa, that's a pretty good kick, right."

My mother was a teacher, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt

from early childhood that the one job I would never do

was become a teacher.

Never ever I would take toll cards on a turnpike.

I'd be a shepherd, anything, rather than become a teacher.

And I decided to become a teacher because I wanted to do

something with my life besides what I was doing

which was driving a truck, for a company and,

I decided I wanted to do a little bit better for myself

so I got into teaching a little bit.

I went back to school at the age of 37.

A friend of mine from college,

his aunt was the

principle of an all-girls inner city school

in Newark, New Jersey, and they were desperate for teachers

So, I thought "Great, I can do this for a year,"

"it will keep my father from making me get a job at Prudential,"

"and then I'll figure out what I wanna do."

Well, they called me up asking me to go to an interview,

and I happened to get the job

in a Junior High school, in Queens,

and I ended up…

starting it at my… What's now? My 30th year.

Most of the teachers here, at one point

they believed,

that they could make a difference.

I know how important it is to

have guidance and to have

someone help understand the complexities

of the world that we live in.

I didn't really have that growing up.

I am money.

I change hands like a dollar bill

that's been robbed by a lamp

when a genie appeared and cried loudly, with volume.

But the tears were all for myself.

And that's where it all went wrong.

Hi, Lupe, Dean Vargas here.

I'm sick and I won't be coming in today, alright?

Get to the point, Dr. Heart. I've got a school to run.

The State's score have gone down in the last three years.

- You're not delivering… - Don't pretend like you don't know the game.

You earmarked my school as the transfer dump

for the worst kids in the district.

Well, kids deserve an education, don't you agree?

I agree you're jerking of and wasting my time.

- Get to the point, Dr. Heart… - We need consensus builders.

- New methodology. - You're corporatizing the system.

No, we're cleaning house.

Our superintendent feels that it's time you stepped down.

Babe, you got some fucking nerve coming into my yard

with the hard fucking self.

Carol, there was a time when you were an educator.

You were very well respected.

Why don't you go out on top?

Oi!

Everybody sit down and shut up,

or I'll start pulling out the referrals.

Sit!

Sit down!

I am starting the DVD.

I am starting the DVD.

- Barth or Barthes - Barthes. Mr. Barthes.

Mr. Barthes Henry

So, you've taken long term assignments at the

"Lock and McArthur"?

The Fringe.

Well, that's… That's where the work's at.

This is a month-long assignment, until I can fill it permanently.

I asked to meet with you because you come

highly recommended as the best sub on the call sheet.

That's a somewhat dubious endorsement.

I agree, Mr. Barthes.

You will find many of your students functioning

well below grade level.

That's your task to try and get them caught up.

Teach the Curriculum, most importantly.

Understood?

- Good morning - Good morning

I'm Mr. Barthes.

Those of you who haven't heard, this is English 11 A.

Yeah. Yeah.

Listen up, I have one rule.

Just one.

If you don't wish to be here

don't come.

Dude, what does that mean?

It's not dude, it's Mr. Barthes.

The S is silent.

- You're fucking gay. - Marcus, shut up!

No, you shut up!

You dyke bitch!

Hey, Marcus.

Guess what.

What?

You're free to leave.

- Like right now? - Like right now.

- Oh, yeah! - I'll catch you later, man.

What the fuck? Do you want me to go to the dean's Office?

I don't care where you go.

Everyone pull out a sheet of paper.

I'd like to assess where your individual writing skills are.

What if we got no paper?

Okay, here is the situation. You're dead.

Alright, write a brief but detailed essay about…

Hey jackass! I asked you a fucking question!

…about what a friend or a parent

might say about you during your funeral, okay?

- You have 30 minutes. - Oh, shit!

I asked you a motherfucking question, didn't I?

Anything else?

You'd better back the fuck up before I fucking wreck your shit.

That bag,

It doesn't have any feelings. It's empty.

I don't have any feelings you can hurt either, okay?

I understand you're angry.

I used to be very angry too, okay? I get it.

You have no reason to be angry with me because

I'm one of the few people that's here trying to give you an opportunity.

Now I'm gonna ask you,

to just sit down, and do your best,

and I'll give you a piece of paper. How's that?

Can I get a fucking pen too?

Kids don't have any attention span. They're bored.

So how are you supposed to reel them in with classic literature

if they don't believe that you

have something meaningful to share.

Thank you.

Why did you throw Marcus out of class but not Jerry?

Well, I had to make an example out of somebody.

You know, Marcus verbally assaulted you,

and that's not allowed in my classroom.

And, what they say to me isn't material.

What's your name?

Meredith.

Nice to meet you, Meredith.

So you really don't care what the kids say to you?

Perhaps I've gotten used to it.

I wish I could be that strong.

It doesn't take strength, Meredith. You gotta

understand that unfortunately most people lack self-awareness.

You should really keep that in mind as you head into

the trenches of second period.

You'll meet them again at every age.

- I want to see the principle! - That's her, mom.

You're the bitch that expelled my baby? And for what?

- Excuse me, maybe you'd like… - Because you can't handle it?

And bitch, why are you here?

You wanna be at home with her everyday.

I don't have time for this bullshit!

- Keep your voice down! - Do you understand me?

Why are you here?

Hey ma'am, calm down. We'll go talk about this

- in the dean's Office. - I ain't going nowhere with you.

Look, miss, I know you're angry

but they won't listen to you, you need to talk to me.

- Racist bitch, I'mma sue your ass. - Okay. Come on, ladies.

This way

- Ladies - What happened?

Bitch, you gimme any mo' shit in the class

and I'm gonna have my niggas fucking gang rape your ass!

- Excuse me. Are you new here? - It's, first day.

Welcome. That was quite a scene back there.

I was a little stunned. But it's actually safe here.

- Sorry, I'm Miss Madison. - I'm Henry, Henry Barthes.

Whatever is on my mind, I say there's a feeling.

I'm truthful to myself.

I'm young, and I'm old.

I've been bought and I've been sold,

so many times.

I am hard face. I am gone.

I am just like you.

Patricia!

Patricia!

- Hello? - Henry, it's Rita, from the hospital.

He's done it again, you need to get down here.

Bastards, leave me alone!

Then why aren't you handling this?