Each Child is Different (1954)

★★★★ · Some Kids Are More Equal Than Others · Christine Hennig · 2005-10-29

This 50s teacher training film tries to encourage teachers to develop empathy and understanding for their students by showing the background issues of five kids in a 5th grade class. As you might expect, some kids have lots of advantages, while others have a whole slew of problems. The kids problems are portrayed in a manner that is sometimes touching, and other times overly melodramatic. The film does give an interesting look into the educational psychology of the 50s, and is probably a real blast from the past for those who went to grade school during that time. Ratings: Camp/Humor Value…

★★★★ · Tune in next week, when we hear Dr. Bob say... · Wilford B. Wolf · 2005-03-05

Melodramatic picture aimed at student teachers to remind them that their students are each different. In an attempt to try to counter the idea of childism- the romantic notion that childhood is somehow trouble free- the result swings a bit too far the other way. Interesting subtext of the film is how issues regarding gender are divided. The boys are mostly well adjusted, while the girls face broken homes and abusive families. The one boy, John, that does face serious issues is feminized by being small and shy, thus bullied by his peers and a disappointment to his father. The more…