Learning Curve Thought-provoking and surprising, the film "Learning Curve" has awakened in us, as viewers, the uncomfortable reality of where our society and the education system as a whole are clearly at odds. Mr. Walmsley was hired as a substitute at an inner-city high school where the same problems we find in many schools today were brought to an incredible level of surreal chaos. The same problems we see every day in our schools were present in this film, but with an intensity and boldness that would shake the foundations of most well-intentioned educators. Problems of student apathy, lack of parent involvement and teacher support, as well as financial constraints plagued this inner-city school in much the same way as our schools. However, Mr. Walmsley chose to demand respect and demonstrate to the students that he was not only valuable and worthy of their respect, but that they should place a higher value on themselves and others. He succinctly demonstrated that learning would take place even at the expense of traditional teaching methods. Instead, Mr. Walmsley was greeted by students who were disrespectful and seemingly unmotivated to learn. Students sat at desks, spoke in class as if they were attending a social gathering, and used foul language in most conversations. Furthermore, the teachers at this high school were so tightly controlled by the financial constraints and restrictions placed on them by the school board that they were only an obstacle to anyone who had the vision to make a difference in the lives of these students. of Mr. Walmsley's first student-teacher interactions occurred early in the film with a young man who had been bullied and abused... middle of paper... thus affecting everyone. The pressure to conform was great. Theorist Lev Vgotsky's studies would support the idea that Mr. Walmsley's use of group rewards and punishments helped promote the cooperative learning that students began to develop to live successfully in their environment (site) . While Mr. Walmsley's intentions and the principles by which they live may have been justifiable, his methods of application and instruction have not been. He was clear and concise in his expectations of students, as well as consistent in his treatment of them. They received rewards, but they were basic needs that should be afforded to every human being, not just those who behave in the required manner. Works Cited Thompson, Ph.D., Martina M. "Introduction to Learning Theories." Learning theory and instruction lessons. Baker University, Topeka. 10 May 2010. Conference.