Yesterday I watched an Indian movie called "Hiccup Teacher". The plot of this film can be summarized as a cliché story about how an ordinary teacher helps a group of students who have lost confidence to regain their self-esteem, change themselves, overcome various forms of discrimination, and ultimately achieve good results. However, the entire plot has its own unique tone, infectiousness, and a certain degree of realism.
The protagonist, Naina, is a person with Down syndrome. She has a high level of education and dreams of becoming a good teacher. One characteristic of people with Down syndrome is that they involuntarily make hiccup-like sounds. This is also the origin of the movie's title. Naina was mocked by her classmates and scolded by her teachers because of this during her school days. But what ultimately changes and motivates her is a principal's words:
We will treat you just like any other student!
This makes Naina feel equal treatment for the first time, and it enables her to persevere in her studies and aspire to become a good teacher.
Speaking of Naina's high level of education when she first appears, it foreshadows her later recollection of her school experiences during job interviews. It can be said that being respected in a person's growth process is extremely important. In addition to the principal who motivates her, there is another person who may be overlooked by everyone, and that is Naina's mother. Naina's mother is always by her side from beginning to end, and her father's attempts to hide his hiccups in front of everyone at the restaurant also contribute to the estrangement between Naina and her father. Here, Indian movies once again make us feel the strong love of a mother. Of course, a while ago, the movie "Dangal" also made us feel the deep love of a father.
Finally, Naina successfully applies for a teaching position, but she is faced with a group of neglected and self-destructive underachievers. These are children from impoverished families in the lower strata of Indian society who have taken the path of rebellion due to discrimination from their classmates and lack of respect from their teachers. This to some extent reflects the serious imbalance in the distribution of educational resources in Indian society. Of course, our country also has this problem. Naina and her class can be said to be a microcosm of contemporary disadvantaged groups. Even if they achieve good results through hard work, they still do not receive recognition from others. However, every person has the right to education and respect, which is difficult to achieve in contemporary society. From being in opposition to the teacher to being moved by the teacher's sincerity, the film reveals unadorned touching moments and positive energy. I remember a line from the protagonist in the movie:
There are no bad students, only bad teachers!
This line is often said but rarely practiced by people, and it also reflects the responsibility that teachers should bear. In addition to imparting knowledge and teaching moral principles, teachers should pay attention to the growth trajectory of each student and teach according to their abilities in order to better guide, educate, and provide guidance.
The appearance of Teacher Naina can be said to be a guiding light for all the students in Class 9F. Does the film contain such a metaphor, using the North Star to symbolize the importance of Teacher Naina in the growth of all the students in Class 9F?
The entire film fortunately does not show the comedic effect of students pranking teachers. There are no deliberate arrangements, no formulaic creations, and no formalism. It gives people a sense of unintentional inspiration. It can be said that this is a film with profound educational significance. Personally, we have also needed a North Star to illuminate our lives.