1. Mr. Hundert quotes Aristophanes: “Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated, drunkenness sobered, but stupid lasts forever.” Does any of this seem correct?
a. It is tough to decide but in the end I would say yes. Youth does in fact age; we all grow up and become mature but at the same time carry some of our youth with us. When we interact with older people, it is almost mandatory for us to outgrow our immaturity for them to accept us. Being stupid is a choice, it is not something we have to outgrow or learn from.
2. Although Mr. Hundert is an experienced and exceptional teacher, he faces the most difficult challenge of his entire teaching career with Sedgewick Bell. Why is he so shaken and then altered by his experience?
a. Mr. Hundert is so shaken because he is not used to a student like Sedgewick. He has had such good students that Sedgewick’s rebellious demeanor is new to him. Sedgewick has gone his whole life looking for attention that it is easy and not surprising for him to act like the class clown and see the reaction of Hundert. Hundert is eventually altered by his experience with Sedgewick because he comes to learn the all Sedgewick wants is someone to believe in him.
3. Describe the influence that Sedgewick Bell has on the other boys. Mr. Hundert describes Sedgewick’s influence as “hypnotic”. What does he mean by this?
a. Hundert thinks Sedgewick’s influence is hypnotic because wherever he went, the other boys followed. Being hypnotized is being put in a trance and allowing yourself to do whatever the hypnotist tells you. Much like being hypnotized, the boys followed Sedgewick around and did whatever he did or wanted them to do.
4. The Mr. Julius Caesar Contest is an annual contest held to test the students’ knowledge of their studies of the Greeks and the Romans. When Mr. Hundert calculates the final marks to determine the three candidates for the contest, he faces an ethical dilemma. Describe the dilemma and Mr. Hundert’s final decision.
a. Mr. Hundert had come to believe in Sedgewick and wanted Sedgewick to feel like someone believed in him as well. When Hundert calculated the final marks, Sedgewick was number 4 and only the first 3 could be entered in the contest. Hundert sat and pondered for a while and in the end changed Sedgewick’s score on his paper. This ended up putting him in 3rd place and knocked Martin to 4th place. Martin should have been in the Julius Caesar contest but because of Hundert’s choice, was now put in 4th and not allowed to compete.
5. Mr. Hundert is faced with another dilemma at the contest. What is it and what is the final outcome? What happens when Mr. Hundert confronts Sedgewick about his behavior at the contest?
a. During the contest, Hundert learns that Sedgewick is cheating and has the answers on his sleeve. He tells the president of the school but because of the fact that Sedgewick’s dad is a senator, the president tells Hundert to ignore it. Hundert intentionally asks Sedgewick a question he knows Sedgewick won’t know the answer to nor have written on his sleeve. He does this because he cannot call Sedgewick out about cheating but does not want Sedgewick to win either.
When Hundert confronts Sedgewick about cheating and asks him why, Sedgewick replies “Why Not?” Sedgewick knows that he wasn’t called about because of his father and how it would be a bad name for him. Sedgewick does not care that he cheated and is almost proud of what he did. This causes Hundert to feel guilty about changing the scores and not allowing Martin to remain in the competition.
6. Twenty-five years later, Mr. Hundert is asked to participate in a rematch of the Mr. Julius Caesar Contest. Although Mr. Hundert is retired, he chooses to host the contest. Why does he do this? What does he hope for when meeting up with his former students? How is his hope both squashed and then renewed?
a. I think Hundert chooses to host the contest because he wants to see his students again as well as see who Sedgewick has become. I think he believes the Sedgewick has actually changed and grown up. Hundert wants to see the men his former students have become and that is another reason he chose to host the contest.
His hope is squashed when he learns that Sedgewick hasn’t changed at all and that Sedgewick cheated in the Julius Caesar contest yet again. The day after the contest Hundert when downstairs to have breakfast with his students but is told they already left. Little did he know, they were planning a surprise for him to show him how much they appreciate him and everything he did for them. Hundert’s hope is renewed because he learns that it is impossible to help every student, such as Sedgewick, but it is possible to help most of them.
7. Do we want to live a good life, and examined life, or do we want to be successful at any cost? Does the film resolve this tension?
a. I would say that the film did not solve the tension between Hundert and Bell but it did give Bell a slap in the face. The boy who emerged from the bathroom stall was Bell’s son and he was very disappointed in his father and what he said. The disappointment alone will hopefully make Bell grow up and find some virtues to be a better and honest person.
8. Why does Mr. Hundert return to teaching? What surprise is there for him?
a. Hundert returns to teaching because he loves it and without it he is bored and lost. He loves inspiring and teaching students and his former students at the Julius Caesar contest helped him remember that. He still feels bad for kicking Martin out of the contest and allowing Bell in because he knows Martin would have been great. Hundert gets a second chance, however, when Martin’s son walks into his classroom on his first day back.
9. What problem-posing aspects from the BCE did Mr. Hundert practice in his classroom?
a. The most important aspect Hundert practiced was having a relationship with his students. He showed genuine concern for all of his students and their educations. He interacted with them in a way that made what he was teaching easier to understand. He not only taught the students, but they taught him lessons as well.
10. How did the study of the classics with Mr. Hundert in high school help enable these young men to become better versions of themselves as adolescent students and then adults contributing to society in various ways?
a. Studying the classics helped the students learn about the past and the people they could become if they made good choices. Aristotle, Caesar, Plato, Socrates and so many more people are famous because of what they did and their virtues. Learning virtues at a young age and truly comprehending them help in becoming an adult and contributing to society.
I would have to agree with you about Bell being smug and proud about his cheating. This was an astute observation on your part. Nice job. Actually, all of your reflections bespeak of the fact that you paid attention during the film and actually profited from viewing it. These are well-crafted and thought-provoking responses. 33/30 points possible.
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