In honor of teacher appreciation week, teachers can show a credential and get in to see Davis' Guggenheim's "Waiting for Superman" at a reduced rate through Thursday at Landmark's Oriental Theater, 2230 N. Farwell Ave.
Despite the fact that it's less than flattering to their unions and, some have argued, to teachers themselves, many educators have been curious to see the much-ballyhooed film for themselves.
Since its release in Milwaukee, both DC and NYC schools bosses Michelle Rhee and Joel Klein have left their jobs, making the film already outdated in some ways, though the basic discussion remains relevant.
You don't have to agree with Guggenheim's assertions -- many of which have been adeptly countered by experts -- to agree that the film has helped bring the discussion about public education in America back into the spotlight.
The downside is that many viewers take documentaries as gospel truth without further exploration.
If you haven't seen the film yet, I encourage you to check it out and then read Diane Ravitch's take (linked above). Then, get involved in your local public schools. Because, regardless what anyone says, superman is you.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
