The World in Claire's Classroom

In the picturesque hamlet of Westminster West, Vermont, a small but significant miracle happens five days a week: Claire Oglesby's classroom is in session. Local filmmakers Lisa Merton and Alan Dater have fashioned a moving tribute to Claire and her rather wondrous contributions to the tiny rural community in which she works, letting us peek inside her noisy, hopping domain over the course of a month or so. In doing so, it becomes obvious that Claire is the teacher we all should have had, the one we wish upon our children--even-keeled, nurturing, humorous, determined, creative, and spectacularly committed after 45 years in the primary school trenches. What we witness is a classroom full of innovation, liveliness, and love. At least part of Claire's success seems to lie in her dogged efforts to make her classroom a focus of community involvement. These efforts include the regular enlistment of a truly wonderful array of artists, musicians, craftspeople, expert witnesses, and parents to help in the hard work of teaching kids about themselves and about the larger world. For those of us with kids in large beleaguered urban schools, it's difficult not to view Claire's classroom as a kind of practically unattainable utopia. We can only hope that teachers-to-be will view this video, learn from its amazing subject, and try to build a better world. Recommended for public libraries and academic collections serving teaching programs. Aud: E, I, C, P. (G. Handman)