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Waiting for Superman.
Originally released as a motion picture in 2010. Companion book: Waiting for "Superman" : how we can save America's failing public schools / edited by Karl Weber. Special features: Optional audio feature commentary by director Davis Guggenheim and producer Lesley Chilcott -- Changing the odds (ca. 6 min. ; a look at innovative programs that are changing public education) -- Updates (text feature listing changes which have taken place since the making of the film) -- A conversation with Davis Guggenheim -- The future is in our classrooms -- The making of "Shine" (the film's title track by musician John Legend) -- deleted scenes. The back cover of this DVD refers to the film as "groundbreaking ... engaging and inspiring ... [and helping to] launch a movement to achieve a real and lasting change". However, as Barbara Miner, in her article on the 'Not waiting for Superman' website argues, "Ultimate $uperpower: supersized dollars drive 'Waiting for Superman' agenda", notes: "'Waiting for Superman' and its surrounding campaign reflect an influential trend that has proven adept at dominating education policy in both Republican and Democratic administrations. This bipartisan alliance unites 20th Century conservatives closely aligned with the Republican Party who made the bulk of their money before the dawn of the digital era, and 21st Century billionaires more loosely aligned with the Democratic Party who generally made their fortunes through digitally based technology ... Despite their differences, both groups embrace market-based reforms, entrepreneurial initiatives, deregulation and data-driven/test-based accountability as the pillars of educational change. Under the banner of challenging bureaucracy and promoting innovation, both groups chafe at public oversight and collective bargaining agreements." - http://www.notwaitingforsuperman.org/Articles/20101020-MinerUltimateSuperpower The back cover of this DVD refers to the film as "groundbreaking ... engaging and inspiring ... [and helping to] launch a movement to achieve a real and lasting change". However, as Barbara Miner, in her article on the 'Not waiting for Superman' website argues, "Ultimate $uperpower: supersized dollars drive 'Waiting for Superman' agenda", notes: "'Waiting for Superman' and its surrounding campaign reflect an influential trend that has proven adept at dominating education policy in both Republican and Democratic administrations. This bipartisan alliance unites 20th Century conservatives closely aligned with the Republican Party who made the bulk of their money before the dawn of the digital era, and 21st Century billionaires more loosely aligned with the Democratic Party who generally made their fortunes through digitally based technology ... Despite their differences, both groups embrace market-based reforms, entrepreneurial initiatives, deregulation and data-driven/test-based accountability as the pillars of educational change. Under the banner of challenging bureaucracy and promoting innovation, both groups chafe at public oversight and collective bargaining agreements." - http://www.notwaitingforsuperman.org/Articles/20101020-MinerUltimateSuperpower