For this episode we watched Mona Lisa Smile (2003) to evaluate Julia Roberts’ character, Katherine Watson. Ms. Watson is an art history professor at a prestigious women’s college, but her progressive beliefs rub a lot of students, parents, and faculty the wrong way. Katherine has to navigate through her first year teaching in a place where her views make her an outsider.

In this show we talk about what it’s like to hold different beliefs than the community in which you teach, and whether or not those beliefs have a place in the classroom. We also talk about how to deal with disrespectful students – is it better to smack them down in a public confrontation or find a diplomatic, private approach? What if that student is Kirsten Dunst?

We hope you enjoy the show! If you agree or disagree about our take, please let us know on Facebook or Twitter. We love to talk to listeners.

The post Mona Lisa Smile | Teacher Features: Episode 4 appeared first on NoisePicnic Podcast Network.