A Good Student (Short Film)

The Goodie Girls

13 Mar 201606:19

Summary

TLDRA student approaches Mr. Maro, a teacher, seeking ways to improve their low grade. The teacher's cryptic response implies an expectation of something in return, hinting at a deeper issue. Rumors circulate about Mr. Maro's questionable grading practices, involving bribery or favors. Another teacher becomes suspicious after witnessing an exchange of money between a student and Mr. Maro. Confrontations ensue, with accusations of corruption and intimidation, culminating in a tense standoff involving the school principal. The situation raises serious concerns about ethical misconduct in the school environment.

Takeaways

😀 A student approaches Mr. Mara to discuss their low grade, hoping to improve it.
🤔 Mr. Mara responds cryptically, asking what the student is willing to do, implying something inappropriate.
😕 The student feels uncomfortable with Mr. Mara's response and shares this with a friend, suggesting the situation is shady.
💰 It is revealed that Mr. Mara may be expecting favors or money in exchange for better grades, a known issue among students.
📝 Another teacher, or school official, confronts Mr. Mara about allegations of improprieties with grades.
🚫 Mr. Mara denies any wrongdoing and suggests any complaints are from students upset about their grades.
😡 The confrontation escalates, with the teacher accusing Mr. Mara of intimidating students.
🗣 Mr. Mara claims he's helping students by offering opportunities to improve their grades, but his methods are questionable.
💵 A student is caught giving Mr. Mara an envelope, which is implied to contain money, raising suspicions of bribery.
🔍 The situation reaches a critical point, and Mr. Mara is taken to the principal’s office for further investigation.

Q & A

Who is Mr. Maro, and what is his role in the conversation?
-Mr. Maro is a teacher who is being confronted by a student about their low grade. He is involved in suspicious behavior, including implying that students can improve their grades by giving something in return.
What does the student ask Mr. Maro at the beginning of the conversation?
-The student asks Mr. Maro if there is anything they can do to improve their low grade in his class.
What is Mr. Maro’s response when asked about improving grades?
-Mr. Maro responds vaguely, asking the student what they are willing to do, implying that they need to offer something in return for a better grade.
What is implied by the phrase 'Deep Pockets' in the conversation?
-The phrase 'Deep Pockets' implies that students may need to provide financial or other forms of compensation to Mr. Maro in exchange for better grades.
What is the significance of the note on the student’s desk?
-The note on the student's desk raises concerns about improprieties in Mr. Maro's grading practices, implying possible misconduct.
How does Mr. Maro react to the suggestion that there may be issues with his grading?
-Mr. Maro denies any wrongdoing, suggesting that if anyone has a problem with his grading, they should all sit down and discuss it together.
What does Mr. Maro mean when he says, 'I'm helping them'?
-Mr. Maro implies that by offering students a chance to improve their grades through non-academic means, he is helping those who may not be able to pass otherwise, even though his actions are unethical.
What happens when Karen tries to give Mr. Maro an envelope?
-Karen tries to give Mr. Maro an envelope, which appears to contain money. When questioned, Karen claims it's a note from her mother, but the envelope's content is highly suspicious.
What is Mr. Maro accused of when the envelope is discovered?
-Mr. Maro is indirectly accused of accepting money from students, which raises serious ethical and legal concerns about his behavior as a teacher.
What is the underlying issue in the script, and how does it reflect on Mr. Maro's behavior?
-The underlying issue is academic misconduct, where Mr. Maro is implying or engaging in unethical behavior by suggesting that students can improve their grades through improper means, such as giving money. His behavior reflects corruption and abuse of his position as a teacher.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ A Student's Plea for a Better Grade

The student approaches Mr. Mara about their low grade, seeking advice on how to improve it. Mr. Mara deflects the question, suggesting the student ask their classmates for help. The conversation turns uncomfortable when the student speaks with a peer, who hints at Mr. Mara being shady and suggests that improving grades requires a bribe, commonly known by the student body.

05:03

🔍 Allegations and Denial

A teacher is approached about an anonymous note indicating possible misconduct. The teacher becomes defensive, suggesting that a disgruntled student might be behind the accusation. The conversation ends with the teacher subtly hinting that no amount of investigation will change the situation, implying that they are in control.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Grade

The term 'grade' refers to the academic score or evaluation a student receives in the classroom. In this script, the student is concerned about their low grade and is seeking ways to improve it, which serves as the catalyst for the discussion between the student and the teacher.

💡Extra Credit

Extra credit refers to additional work a student can complete to improve their grade. The student asks the teacher for extra credit to boost their academic performance, implying a desire to find ways outside of regular assignments to raise their grade.

💡Impropriety

Impropriety refers to behavior or actions that are unethical or inappropriate. In the script, a conversation suggests that there may be allegations of impropriety in the grading process, which raises concerns about whether the teacher is engaging in unfair or unethical practices.

💡Shady

Shady is a slang term used to describe suspicious or questionable behavior. In the script, the student refers to Mr. Maro as 'shady,' suggesting that there is something suspicious about how he manages grades or deals with students.

💡Deep Pockets

The phrase 'deep pockets' refers to having a lot of money or financial resources. In the context of the script, it implies that students may need to pay money to get better grades, hinting at unethical behavior by the teacher.

💡Note

A 'note' refers to a written message. In the script, the note plays a crucial role, as it is implied that one character receives a suspicious note, possibly connected to the teacher's unethical behavior regarding grades.

💡Bribe

A bribe is an illegal or unethical offer of money or favors in exchange for a service or outcome. In the script, there is a strong implication that the teacher might be accepting bribes from students in return for better grades, as seen when an envelope full of money is handed over.

💡Principal

The principal is the head of a school and is responsible for overseeing the administration and enforcing rules. In the script, the principal is mentioned as a figure of authority to whom complaints about the teacher's behavior can be brought.

💡Trust

Trust refers to confidence in someone’s integrity and reliability. In the script, one of the teachers says 'trust is a good thing until somebody breaks it,' highlighting the underlying theme of broken trust in the classroom due to the alleged unethical behavior of the teacher.

💡Rational Explanation

A rational explanation is a reasonable and logical justification for an action or event. In the script, the characters discuss the need for rational explanations concerning the money and grades, indicating a search for clarity amidst the accusations.

Highlights

Student expresses concern about low grade and asks the teacher for help to improve it.

Teacher's ambiguous response, suggesting the student ask classmates for help.

Student confides to a peer about the conversation with the teacher, hinting at something shady.

Peer suggests that to improve grades with this teacher, students may need to 'have deep pockets,' implying bribery.

The student brings concerns about potential improprieties to another authority figure.

The teacher denies any wrongdoing and suggests confronting the accuser in a group meeting.

Tension builds as another student mentions receiving a note from their mother, which raises further suspicion.

A principal or authority figure questions the teacher about the note and envelope containing money.

The teacher is defensive, refusing to accept the accusations and implying that they have been a trusted colleague for years.

Authority figure asserts that trust is fragile and must be earned continuously, hinting at deeper issues.

Conversation escalates when the authority figure suggests all parties take a trip to the office to discuss the matter further.

Teacher presents themselves as the 'nicest teacher,' claiming to help students, even those who struggle academically.

The teacher implies that their class is essential for graduation, creating pressure on the students.

A sense of manipulation is revealed, with the teacher suggesting that students could earn better grades if they had only asked 'how.'

The story ends with tension unresolved as the authority figure insists on addressing the situation in a formal meeting.