1) Marva Collins was born in 1936 in Alabama and taught in Chicago public schools for 6 years before starting her own school for low-income African American children labeled as "learning disabled." 2) She founded the Westside Preparatory School in 1975 to teach using methods she believed in, such as that all children can learn. 3) In the first year, all of her students scored at least five grades higher than in public school, convincing her that her approach worked.

1. The Marva Collins Story

2. Summary:
Marva Collins was born in Atmore, Alabama, in 1936. Her family taught her
the importance of learning. After graduation from college, she taught school in
Alabama for two years. Then she moved to Chicago, Illinois. She taught in the public
schools in Chicago for 6 years. Discouraged with how the public schools educated her
own children, she started her own school on the second floor of her home. The
Westside Preparatory School was founded in 1975.

3. She created her private school specifically for the purpose of teaching low-
income African American children who were labeled "learning disabled" because she
believed that children like to learn. She believed that black children are as capable of
learning as anyone else, and that self-esteem can be gained only through real
accomplishment. She took in learning disabled students and problem children during
her first year. At the end of that year, every one of her students scored at least five
grades higher than they had in public school. This convinced Marva she was on the
right track.

4. Characters:
•Cicely Tyson as “Marva Collins”
- A talented and and determined teacher who leaves Chicago’s public school system to
open her own school.
•Morgan Freeman as “Clarence Collins”
- Husband of Marva Collins who helped his wife in creating own school.
Children:
•Rodrick F. Wimberly as “Martin Luther Jones (as Roderick Wimberly)”
•Mashaune Hardy as “Cindy Collins”
•Brett Bouldin as “Patrick Collins”

5. Moral Values:
“Everything works if the teaching works.”
-A school will only work “because of motivated
leadership and dedication from the teachers.
“If we cannot make a mistake, we cannot make anything.”

6. “We can all pay teachers to teach but how much do you really pay a teacher
to care?”
“Students may know nothing, they may be complete illiterates, but they
know when we know, and respect when we respect.”
“Kids dont fail. Teachers fail, school systems fail. The people who teach
children that they are failures, they are the problem.”

7. Insights:
The movie entitled “The Marva Collins Story” is based on a true
story. This movie can inspire you to overcome whatever obstacles you
have, just what Mrs. Collins overcame the obstacles, financially and
emotionally in opening her own school in her home. I really admire
what Mrs. Collins attitude shown in the movie that she really have this
positive attitude and passion towards teaching. Truely, teaching is a
dedication, common-sense, determination, and love for our students.

8. Prepared by:
Rohanipa A. Rascal
BEED-4