In class on Monday we watched some of the movie the Dead Poet's Society. In this movie you have Robin Williams playing a outgoing professor at a school where it is more upright about it's teaching. He opens the minds of these boys up to a new world that is more understanding, and more "free". To the point of one boy finding a new passion for acting, and joins a play. After the disprovals from his parents his still participated in the play and ended up being taken out of school. The kid was so devastated that he ended up killing himself and the teacher was the one that was blamed for his death. The school let go of Robin Williams character and when he came to get his stuff the other kids in the class stood up for him and showed that he was a great teacher. This was to me the biggest part of the movie, when looking at leadership.
The reason I feel that was the best part of showing leadership is that you were able to see how he was able to open the eyes of kids at this school to show them that there is more than what their parents want them to see. He opened the eyes of the boys to where they could use the information in their lives to do other, greater things. To live for today, by the experiences of others in the past. To make something of yourself that you can look back on and say you are proud of what you did, and you didn't live one day of your life in regret. He was such an effective leader because he was able to communicate with the boys and get them to understand and follow the way he thought so that they could have a better life, one that they wanted. Being able to make someone decide that the way you are trying to get them to think is better than what they have been taught earlier in their lives, then you have become an effective leader.
I enjoy whenever Dr. Goates shows videos that exemplify what he is teaching in class. The Dead Poet's society was an excellent depiction of leadership. Mr. Keating taught the boys that passion can come in the least likely of forms. He taught them to appreciate literature and Shakespear. The boys took the teachings of Mr. Keating to heart- one boy killed himself due to his strong belief. Mr. Keating should not have been fired from his position, he should be viewed as more of an figurehead for the school. For he, unlike teachers of the past, was able to change the mind of the students and create a sense of passion to learn.
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