Louanne Johnson

SYNOPSIS
Louanne Johnson is an ex-marine, hired as a teacher in a high-school in a poor area of the city. She has recently separated from her husband. Her friend, also teacher in the school, got the temporary job for her. But while earning her credentials at a Northern California high school, she is assigned to a group of students who change her life forever and she changes theirs too. Although each of her charges exhibits a seemingly impenetrable facade, these kids are desperate to connect with someone who cares about them.
After a terrible reception from the students, she tries unconventional methods of teaching to gain the trust of the students.There is Emilio, the obligatory rebellious class leader, and Raul, the class brain, and Callie, the bright girl who gets pregnant and is headed for "unwed mothers classes" when Johnson discovers she can stay in school if she wants to.
In teaching the kids about verbs Louanne writes, “I want to die,” and “I choose to die.” She bribes them with candy, prizes and field trips to motivate them to do their work. She has them analyze poems about death and drugs. However, one of the more important factors is the interest she takes in her students as individuals, encouraging their abilities, and building a foundation of honest communication and respect, all of which are in direct conflict with the bureaucratic ideals of impersonality. Perhaps, the film Dangerous Minds puts too much emphasis on the character of Louanne as a savior for the children, and sensationalizes the idea of “gang life.” However, it nevertheless manages to draw attention to important social factors that can influence the lives of children growing up in poverty, and how these factors can effect who we