The Emperor's club is an amazing movie that talks about a very idealistic teacher and his struggle to make his student's attitude change. The conflict started when a politician's son became one of his students. Mr. Hundert strongly believe that "A man's character is his fate,". He saw that Sedgewick Bell is exactly opposite to the ideal character that he'd like his students to be. Bell was a very a spoiled son of a senator. Despite his rebellious acts, Mr. Hundert sensed that there is still something good and intelligent about him. He tried to change the student's attitude by motivating him through a contest called, Julius Caesar Contest: The Emperor's Club. Bell showed some improvements on his scores until the last pre-qualifying exam for the Julius Caesar Contest. The final computation showed that Bell is 4th on the list with Martin Blythe preceding him by one rank. However, Mr. Hundert was not objective in making correct judgment about the results. He made Bell on the third place displacing Blythe. The contest happened with Mehta, Sedgewick, and Masoudi on the top three. At the contest the three boys were marvelous in answering every question thrown at them. However in the middle of the contest Mr. Hundert noticed that Bell was acting so strange. He found out that Bell was cheating and had proven it when Bell himself confided to him. And had proven for the second time that he had not change after 25 years when he asked for a rematch giving Mr. Hundert hopes and assurances that he is a well-dignified changed man.
Hundert found himself to be partly blame for Bell's misdeed. Was he right in his decision in favoring Bell than Blythe? Was he wrong? Mr. Hundert had his own good intention in making Bell to be on the top three finalist, however the end does not justify the means. He was deceived by Bell's action thinking that the kid had changed and thought that his influence will have a good effect. But what he discovered is the opposite. For me, He was right in believing that the kid had some intelligence somewhere and just waiting to be given a chance however, he was wrong in anticipating that the intelligence he sensed from the beginning will not be used in the wrong way. Bell was a born-cheater and he will live with it, and will grow with bended principles just like his father. The blood of the forebear will be one way the same blood with its fruits. Again, Mr Hundert was right in giving Bell a chance to prove to his father that he can compete with with anybody in an intellectual intramural. But then, Mr. Hundert was wrong in getting away Blythe's opportunity to be on the top three.
A teacher's responsibility does not only stop to give lectures to students. A teacher molds. A teacher guides yet the learning process depends on how the student respond to it. A teacher is human and thus, commits mistake. But despite the biases and the weaknesses that the teacher may have, a teacher must never give up. One mistake may affect a lot, nevertheless, a teacher should see the other side. Mr. Hundert was guilty of the crime however that mistake does not bear upon the many. Bell is the only black sheep in his class and only comprise a small percent. He should forgive himself and give himself another chance, and as a teacher we will also look into the good things that the many of our students had become.
According to Mary Pickford, “ If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling but the staying down.” Do not be afraid to commit mistakes because after all we are in an imperfect world. Mistakes are lessons in life. Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward. One cannot change the past but one has the power to change the future.
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