"Matt Damon Loves Teachers" - Encouraging Article for Back to School!

In “Good Will Hunting,” Oscar-winning screenwriter and actor Matt Damon showed how important a teacher’s role can be in the life of a troubled kid. But his strong feelings about education were not just a ruse to get the attention of Hollywood. Damon’s mother is an early childhood education teacher and the two appeared together on Saturday at the Save Our Schools March in Washington. In response to the growing attacks on teachers by the right and the obsession with high-stakes standardized testing put in place by the odious No Child Left Behind Act, this organization strives to help teachers and parents reclaim control of our schools.

The former “Sexiest Man Alive” and star of Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming thriller “Contagion” gave an impassioned, articulate speech about teachers and the state of education. I’m guessing that many of these educators arrived at the rally already in love with Matt Damon—by the time they left, they probably would have taken a bullet for the actor! Even better than his speech was the response I saw to an idiotic reporter who was trotting out the absurd arguments that would have us believe that teachers are somehow overpaid, overprivileged public sector employees. Damon didn’t let the reporter get away with her ignorant statements and immediately rebutted each point with polite fierceness. President Obama could take a few pointers.

Here’s the speech Damon made to the adoring crowd:



The actor is currently filming the science fiction feature “Elysium,” written and directed by Neil Blomkamp (“District 9”) and co-starring Jodie Foster. Following that, he’s set to play Scott Thorsen, the last boyfriend of Liberace (Michael Douglas) in another Steven Soderbergh film
 
Originally Posted by Danny Miller Wednesday, August 03, 2011 11:40:29 AM