I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School (1993) User Reviews

Depressing....but informative.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 15 September 2011]

This is an Oscar-winning documentary about a school in a lousy neighborhood in Philadelphia. Crime, drugs and poverty are rampant with the families of these elementary school kids--and it shows in violent behavior in the kids and too many of these kids grow up to be failures. It's really sad to watch, because there IS so much promise with the kids--and some are somehow doing well despite having so much stacked against them. But with others, even at age 7 and 8, you can see that their future is pretty bleak. As for the teachers and especially the principal, when the film begins they seem hopeful and energetic, but as the film progresses, you see frustration, frayed nerves and the staff just seem overwhelmed by the kids--who, in many case, are just too wild and undisciplined. Watching the teachers, at times, is like watching them trying to plug up the holes on a crumbling levee.

The film is very insightful for people not familiar with inner-city schools and reminded me of the kids I often worked with as a social worker and school teacher. But, and here's the tough part, the film offers no real answers--mostly because there really aren't any. Money and more staff (despite what the principal says) won't make up enough for the damage many of these kids get from drug-addicted or incarcerated or completely absent parents--as well as the impact of living in a neighborhood from hell. But I do agree with her that it's sad that this just doesn't seem to bother many people, as the kids are apparently disposable. As a result, it's a very depressing film though you can really respect that the teachers, despite the odds, try very hard. In a few cases, you can see the teachers don't make the best decision or react poorly to the kids, but I think anyone dealing with this situation would have many such lapses. And, I could see why the principal, at the end of the film, left for another school where there is most likely a greater sense of hope.

It might be interesting to see where these kids are now, but I am not sure I really want to know.

Overall, a very good film that lacks answers but it does sound a rallying cry. Sadly, though, I am not sure how much really is going to change.

What do you want to bet that this isn't an issue in most of the industrialized world?

[lee_eisenberg · 8/10 · 18 February 2024]

Susan Raymond's Emmy-, Oscar- and Peabody-winning "I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary" looks at a school in the middle of the Philly ghetto. Many of the children come from broken homes, and the principal often has to read then the riot act. The question remains as to whether or not these students will graduate, and what will become of them if they manage to.

Watching the documentary, I kept thinking the same thing that I think whenever I hear about a mass shooting: the US is the only industrialized country where this is an issue. Much like how the rest of the industrialized world regulates guns, it also fully funds its schools; Finland apparently has the best schools in the world (and if you say "But it's ethnically homogeneous," then you're basically admitting that you want segregation).

Anyway, this documentary is worth seeing. I wonder what became of the students, and whether or not Susan and Alan Raymond made any other documentaries.

Excellent documentary, very touching.

[juven_groovin · 10/10 · 28 April 2005]

Susan and Alan Raymond spend 1 year at Stanton Elementary School in urban Philadelphia where 90 percent of the students are living way below the poverty line. Many of them come from single parent homes and some even have crack addicts as parents. Also, many of these kids suffer from behavioral and learning disabilities, many are given drugs such as Ritalin to help them cope. This documentary focuses on the kids and the Principal - Deanna Burney.

The principal comes up with very good solutions for problems that these kids face, including breakfast and lunch programs - where these are the only two meals some of kids get to eat in a day. Also the teachers talk to them about drugs, alcohol and and the things that they see everyday and how to best respond to them. They are lectured about how they are 'intelligent, talented, and gifted' students and not to every doubt themselves.

There is one black male teacher who is assigned a class of all boys who need a positive male role model in their lives, he was remarkable. One kid said that all the white people in the neighborhood were mean because they came by and shot up some of the black people. This teacher goes on to explain to them on how not generalize and gives them some good examples. He also explains very well to us that these kids want to feel appreciated and loved before they can start the learning process.

There was one 8yr old girl who was having a hard time at school because both of her parents were crack addicts and decided herself that she would go live with her grandfather. This old man isn't her grandfather, he's barely a friend of the family. He explained how her moving-in was like how an alley cat finds itself a new home, it just appears and he took her in.

The principal is an exceptional human being who really cares for these kids. She puts in a lot of time and devotion (coming in 3hrs before school starts, working evenings). It's obviously hard for her when the school is very under-funded ($4000 per kid, where in the suburbs get 32,000 per kid).

This movie won the Oscar for 'best documentary feature' in 1994 and it was well deserved. This ranks as one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.

you can't turn it off, if you read this, find it, watch it

[Ungoliants_Burning_Belly · 10/10 · 4 December 2001]

This is to date, one of the most incredible documentaries or movies I have ever seen in my life. Told in raw, direct and masterfull fashion, the stories of the elementary school located in inner city Philly is put on the screen as a testament to these children.

I have never seen such hero's on the screen. The principal of the school must be one of the greatest and remarkable people on earth. The man teaching the first grade all male class is a true prophet and visionary of how we can escape the social problems of our day. He truly understands and with confidence administers more then his share of effort to heal our broken world.

Think I'm sensationalizing this movie? Find this movie, watch it, and if you don't agree with me, I will personally send you what you paid to rent/buy this movie. It gave me a grim sense of the condition we are in as human beings, however at the same time displayed the key of hope to our future in children. A masterpiece.

One Year at a Poor School

[Michael_Elliott · 12 May 2012]

I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School (1993)

*** (out of 4)

Oscar-winning documentary takes a look at the various issues at a South Philadelphia middle school where over 90% of the students are living in poverty with a single parent. Filmmakers Alan and Susan Raymond who spent a year at the school where they captured the drugs, the lack on income and various other issues that really makes one wonder what hope any of these students have. There's no doubt that this film comes with a message and that's the fact that no child should go without any education. Throughout the film we're reminded that these children have very little hope and in the end we're given a message that so much more needs to be done for these inner city schools. I think anyone watching the film can see that more could be done and I'm sure most would agree that every child needs an education but the really strange thing about this documentary is that it shines the light on some very bad students who are really bringing their entire classes down. You really do wonder about some of these students and ask yourself if their lack of respect and discipline are really hurting those around them who might want to get an education or try to better themselves. Even worse are seeing some of the parents who simply don't care about the problems of their children, which to me is what the message should have really been. What are the schools to do when the children don't want to learn and their parents don't care if they learn? Overall the documentary is well made and takes a look at a big problem without really giving any answers for ways to improve it.

I AM A PROMISE

[rosado_nadia · 10/10 · 22 April 2020]

I am the little girl on the cover that was featured in the documentary (Nadia).....I am writing this review in response to a review from someone that clearly did not get the concept..."i am a promise" was not solely about the principle nor was it Intended to be hence the title...even tho she was awesome for our school at that time IT WAS ABOUT THE FEATURED CHILDREN AND ALL THOSE ALIKE!!! The documentary was to bring awareness and attention to the Unique circumstances adversities and triumphs of the children and their ability to navigate and persevere or not, all with the assistance and guidance of a dedicated devoted and caring principle in Mrs Burney!! To seek something other than that Is out right ignorant insensitive and CLEARLY BIAS!!!!!!

I am a Promise, shows little promise

[gvaandering · 1/10 · 3 October 2010]

I am completely puzzled by how this documentary received the awards it did. This story has a compelling starting point for the development of an outstanding documentary but really it seems to be simply a step up from a handy cam home video. I would have loved to hear about the Principal's thinking on education, and how that works in a school forgotten by the government. What is her philosophy of discipline or school management. The concept of "I am a Promise" seems to smack of indoctrination, even if it is a good sentiment. How that concept is integrated in all of the curriculum, if it is, would have been an outstanding example of a comprehensive pedagogy thoughtfully developed. This was a rather large school and to hear from the staff what they felt was going on would have provided a more three dimensional view. How the principal worked with the staff, how she coached them in her thinking, and what they thought of her approach would have made for an outstanding documentary. There would have been great potential if the issues were filled out a bit with some concrete facts and they "why" of the situation. I felt that if I watched the first five minuets and the last 5 minuets I would have seen the entire documentary. As it turned out I got little more than a glimpse of the tip of a much bigger issue. Not much to walk away with.