Left Behind: The Story of the New Orleans Public Schools

Vincent Morelli and Jason Berry directed this disturbing examination of the New Orleans public school system during 2004 and 2005, prior to Hurricane Katrina. Unable to gain official access to school grounds, the pair were aided by students who smuggled cameras into classrooms. What was recorded revealed a chaotic and often dangerous environment: bathrooms didn't function, educational materials were inadequate, equipment was outdated, teachers couldn't maintain order (much less deliver a daily lesson), security was poor or nonexistent, and students behaved badly. Left Behind exposes the hierarchy of the municipal school administration as corrupt and incompetent, while also underscoring the fact that the families of the students (overwhelmingly low income and African-American) lack the political clout to enact any meaningful change. The resulting footage is stunning, more so than some of the extraneous outsider commentary from the likes of actor/rapper Ice T and ubiquitous professor Noam Chomsky. Whether New Orleans is better serving its vulnerable youth population since Katrina is doubtful, but almost anything would be preferable to the wretched conditions captured in this powerful documentary. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)