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Lean on Me

 Lean on Me
type
TVTItem
 Lean on Me
label
Lean on Me
 Lean on Me
page
LeanOnMe
 Lean on Me
comment
Lean On Me is a movie Very Loosely Based on a True Story about a tough new school principal (played by Morgan Freeman) who brings a new level of order to an otherwise chaotic school.
 Lean on Me
fetched
2024-03-19T12:15:05Z
 Lean on Me
parsed
2024-03-19T12:15:05Z
 Lean on Me
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Lean on Me / int_1484dba1
type
Foreshadowing
 Lean on Me / int_1484dba1
comment
Foreshadowing: In his first meeting with the teachers where Mr Clark instructs them to write down the names of every troublemaker/delinquent, Mrs Elliot is shown putting her pen down and not writing.
 Lean on Me / int_1484dba1
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 Lean on Me / int_14beeefd
type
Darker and Edgier
 Lean on Me / int_14beeefd
comment
Darker and Edgier: In comparison to most movies about inspirational educators. A teacher gets brutally beaten in front of a crowded lunch room in the very first scene. Things do eventually improve, though.
 Lean on Me / int_14beeefd
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 Lean on Me / int_1825eb6b
type
Stuffed into a Locker
 Lean on Me / int_1825eb6b
comment
Stuffed into a Locker: Sams, at the beginning of the movie. Then, to drive home how bad things have gotten at East Side High over the last 20 years, Sams is yelling urgently to be let out, yet a janitor walking down the empty hallway (the school day had just ended) completely ignores him.
 Lean on Me / int_1825eb6b
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 Lean on Me / int_18a65667
type
I'll Take That as a Compliment
 Lean on Me / int_18a65667
comment
I'll Take That as a Compliment: When Mrs. Berrett tells the students that they're going to fire Mr. Clark and get a good principal, Sams responds with "We don't want a good principal. We want Mr. Clark!"
 Lean on Me / int_18a65667
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Lean on Me / int_18a65667
 Lean on Me / int_21103da7
type
Putting the "Pal" in Principal
 Lean on Me / int_21103da7
comment
Putting the "Pal" in Principal: In contrast to his usual treatment of the staff and Sams, he's mostly pretty benevolent towards his students, notably giving them extremely useful advice when they're troubled and even making witty and light sarcastic remarks towards some of the more "active" students. There's a reason why the students go on marching down to the town square to "free Mr. Clark".
 Lean on Me / int_21103da7
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Lean on Me / int_21103da7
 Lean on Me / int_21f3aa44
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Good Is Not Nice
 Lean on Me / int_21f3aa44
comment
Good Is Not Nice: It really isn't.
 Lean on Me / int_21f3aa44
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Lean on Me / int_21f3aa44
 Lean on Me / int_2565ac2
type
Save Our Students
 Lean on Me / int_2565ac2
comment
Save Our Students: This movie along with Stand and Deliver the previous year were trope codifiers, paving the way for more movies like it in The '90s and The Aughts including Dangerous Minds, The Substitute, and Coach Carter.
 Lean on Me / int_2565ac2
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Lean on Me / int_2565ac2
 Lean on Me / int_2737c505
type
Shoot the Dog
 Lean on Me / int_2737c505
comment
Shoot the Dog: Many of Joe Clark's actions have some arguable moral ambiguity to them, from chaining and locking school doors (in violation of fire safety rules) after being told that someone from inside the school let an expelled student into the building, to indefinitely suspending a teacher for picking up trash during the school song for which everyone was told not to move.
 Lean on Me / int_2737c505
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Lean on Me / int_2737c505
 Lean on Me / int_2bffe89
type
Listing the Forms of Degenerates
 Lean on Me / int_2bffe89
comment
Listing the Forms of Degenerates: Joe Clark does this a few times: Or...
 Lean on Me / int_2bffe89
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Lean on Me / int_2bffe89
 Lean on Me / int_38bf28e3
type
Engineered Public Confession
 Lean on Me / int_38bf28e3
comment
Engineered Public Confession: Played straight, but by the antagonists in an effort to get Mr. Clark fired.
 Lean on Me / int_38bf28e3
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Lean on Me / int_38bf28e3
 Lean on Me / int_3dcc914f
type
Took a Level in Kindness
 Lean on Me / int_3dcc914f
comment
Took a Level in Kindness: Joe Clark becomes less tyranical and more friendlier towards the students and staff after Ms. Levias calls him out on his abrasive, cruel and Ungrateful attitude.
 Lean on Me / int_3dcc914f
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Lean on Me / int_3dcc914f
 Lean on Me / int_4127eb1
type
Shut Up, Hannibal!
 Lean on Me / int_4127eb1
comment
Shut Up, Hannibal!: All of the students do this repeatedly towards Berrett for jailing Clark, but she's too determined to shut up.
 Lean on Me / int_4127eb1
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Lean on Me / int_4127eb1
 Lean on Me / int_4781adbb
type
Jerk with a Heart of Gold
 Lean on Me / int_4781adbb
comment
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: While Clark tends to be a Drill Sergeant Nasty to almost everyone, especially the teachers working for him, he does have their best interests in his heart and really does care for those in need. His fatherly treatment towards Kaneesha and his willingness to do everything he can to help her when she's struggling is a major example of this.
 Lean on Me / int_4781adbb
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Lean on Me / int_4781adbb
 Lean on Me / int_56515a39
type
Artistic License – History
 Lean on Me / int_56515a39
comment
Artistic License – History: The film depicts Clark becoming the principal in 1987. The real Joe Clark began his tenure in 1982, and stayed in the role until 1989, shortly after the film's release.
 Lean on Me / int_56515a39
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Lean on Me / int_56515a39
 Lean on Me / int_62b2f03
type
Berate and Switch
 Lean on Me / int_62b2f03
comment
Berate and Switch: Mr. Clark gives one to Mrs. Powers after she rewrites the school song into a slower, doo-wop inspired song.
 Lean on Me / int_62b2f03
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 Lean on Me / int_64536542
type
[Verb] This!
 Lean on Me / int_64536542
comment
[Verb] This!: Just after Mrs. Berrett and the fire chief spring their Engineered Public Confession on Mr. Clark and he's being taken away in handcuffs by the police with some of his students (including Sams) looking on:
 Lean on Me / int_64536542
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Lean on Me / int_64536542
 Lean on Me / int_6b05b601
type
Jerkass Has a Point
 Lean on Me / int_6b05b601
comment
Jerkass Has a Point: As stated under Large Ham: He's not pleasant, and his methods range from cruel to outright despotic. Yet, the students weren't even passing the minimum basic skills test with the methods applied before. Shit had to change and it had to change hard.
 Lean on Me / int_6b05b601
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Lean on Me / int_6b05b601
 Lean on Me / int_73f51de7
type
Jerkass Ball
 Lean on Me / int_73f51de7
comment
Jerkass Ball: Clark. There are many moments where he's nothing but downright cruel to people, even those who are on his side and trying to help. Many of which come from either the test scores of the practice exam or his demand for everyone to learn and sing the school song upon demand. Some examples include suspending the assistant football coach for simply picking up trash during the school song, firing the first music teacher after believing she was ignoring his request to teach the students the school song, and yelling at the second music teacher because of the way she taught the students to sing the school song, even though he's later shown to love and approve of it.
 Lean on Me / int_73f51de7
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Lean on Me / int_73f51de7
 Lean on Me / int_76c7754f
type
All of Them
 Lean on Me / int_76c7754f
comment
All of Them: The mayor's aide delivers this line when a horde of unhappy students march on City Hall while the school board is meeting to vote Mr. Clark out as principal, after he's already been jailed for violating local fire safety laws.
 Lean on Me / int_76c7754f
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Lean on Me / int_76c7754f
 Lean on Me / int_7815ba15
type
N-Word Privileges
 Lean on Me / int_7815ba15
comment
N-Word Privileges: Joe Clark at a meeting calling himself the HNIC, and Mrs. Levias clarifying afterward to Mr. O'Malley, the white vice-principal, that it stands for "head nigga in charge." Though Dr. Napier later claims that he is technically this (actually using "nigger" instead of nigga), contrary to popular opinion. Later, while trying to pump up the students as they prepare to take the test, he tells them that people think "you're just a bunch of niggers, spics, and poor white trash", urging them to prove their detractors wrong by performing well on the exam.
 Lean on Me / int_7815ba15
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Lean on Me / int_7815ba15
 Lean on Me / int_7d89315b
type
"The Reason You Suck" Speech
 Lean on Me / int_7d89315b
comment
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: This is how Dr. Napier convinces Joe to take the job of principal at Eastside High: Clark later gives several of these himself. It's a significant part of his management style. Ms. Levias gives him a good one near the end, blasting him for the horrible way he treats the staff when they're working just as hard as he is.
 Lean on Me / int_7d89315b
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Lean on Me / int_7d89315b
 Lean on Me / int_823c6e3e
type
Large Ham
 Lean on Me / int_823c6e3e
comment
Large Ham: Joe Clark, as portrayed by Morgan Freeman.
 Lean on Me / int_823c6e3e
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 Lean on Me / int_8391b1c7
type
Artistic License – Law
 Lean on Me / int_8391b1c7
comment
Artistic License – Law: even in the 1980s a Principal cannot just randomly expel students, much less publicly expel around 300 of them. However it is strongly implied that Joe knows this and is simply betting that nobody will call him on it. Mrs. Barrett is clearly the exception and would've easily been able to get her son reinstated in school.
 Lean on Me / int_8391b1c7
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 Lean on Me / int_90e31482
type
Laser-Guided Karma
 Lean on Me / int_90e31482
comment
Laser-Guided Karma: In the beginning of the film, Clark is transferred from Eastside to a different school. While leaving he remarks that Eastside High "deserves exactly what it gets". The school would become a hell-hole in the 20 years Clark wasn't there.
 Lean on Me / int_90e31482
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 Lean on Me / int_9109ba86
type
Non-Giving-Up School Guy
 Lean on Me / int_9109ba86
comment
Non-Giving-Up School Guy: Joe Clark takes drastic measures to keep students in school and to keep undesirables out of school.
 Lean on Me / int_9109ba86
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 Lean on Me / int_a5e0c01
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As Himself
 Lean on Me / int_a5e0c01
comment
As Himself: The chief custodian, Reverend Hershel Slappy, is actually portrayed by himself in a minor role. He was an actual custodian for the Paterson school district at the time, in which Eastside High is in.
 Lean on Me / int_a5e0c01
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 Lean on Me / int_aaece264
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Rousing Speech
 Lean on Me / int_aaece264
comment
Rousing Speech: Clark does one to the students just before the exam.
 Lean on Me / int_aaece264
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 Lean on Me / int_acf8f71a
type
Dispense with the Pleasantries
 Lean on Me / int_acf8f71a
comment
Dispense with the Pleasantries: At a teachers' meeting, Clark makes abundantly clear that flattery isn't going to work on him.
 Lean on Me / int_acf8f71a
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 Lean on Me / int_bb18a227
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It's All About Me
 Lean on Me / int_bb18a227
comment
It's All About Me: Ms. Barrett only wants Clark fired because her son was one of the students he expelled.
 Lean on Me / int_bb18a227
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 Lean on Me / int_bc00493f
type
Precision F-Strike
 Lean on Me / int_bc00493f
comment
Precision F-Strike: Clark drops N-bombs on two occasions.
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 Lean on Me / int_beb9a361
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Anti-Hero
 Lean on Me / int_beb9a361
comment
Anti-Hero: Clark is abrasive and can be overly combative, but he's trying to improve the school.
 Lean on Me / int_beb9a361
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Lean on Me / int_beb9a361
 Lean on Me / int_bf9f3b9
type
Suicide Dare
 Lean on Me / int_bf9f3b9
comment
Suicide Dare: A rare case of someone trying to do this for the "victim's" own good. When Joe Clark runs into Sams (who had been expelled for smoking crack), who pleads to be let back into school, Joe drags him up to the roof of his building, gives him a very harsh lecture on what could happen to him if he keeps using crack, and then dares him to jump off. Sams breaks down in tears and refuses, making a promise to clean up his act, prompting Clark to give him another chance.
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 Lean on Me / int_c819533b
type
Rage Breaking Point
 Lean on Me / int_c819533b
comment
Rage Breaking Point: Upon Clark's arrival, English teacher Mr. Darnell is immediately hit with a demotion from being the school's head football coach to being reduced to the new coach's assistant and he reluctantly accepts it without question. After being chastised for simply trying to pick up a piece of trash during a performance of the school song in the cafeteria, he snaps at the fact that he feels as though Clark is bullying him and demands equal respect. Clark then slaps him with a indefinite suspension of his position and retaliates by lifting Clark's desk in a fit of rage that leaves his papers scattered on the floor.
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 Lean on Me / int_d001c42c
type
Anti-Villain
 Lean on Me / int_d001c42c
comment
Anti-Villain: Mrs. Barrett is campaigning to have her son reinstated into the school and get Clark thrown out, believing that it would benefit the school much more than if he were to stay. Her motives are mostly sympathetic, but the film still sides with Clark.
 Lean on Me / int_d001c42c
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 Lean on Me / int_d39e327f
type
What the Hell, Hero?
 Lean on Me / int_d39e327f
comment
What the Hell, Hero?: The teachers get sick of Clark's belittling of them and extending his jerkass attitude towards them and let him know it. Not that he really cares, at least initially. Then Dr. Napier (who claims there's been rumors of a walkout) and later, Mrs. Levias (who had just demanded to transfer to a different school) tear into him about it.
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 Lean on Me / int_e4b69188
type
Very Loosely Based on a True Story
 Lean on Me / int_e4b69188
comment
Very Loosely Based on a True Story: The movie definitely takes some liberties with the truth (see this Cracked article for more details): Clark was a very tough disciplinarian who really did clean up Eastside High, and he really did use a bullhorn and brandish a baseball bat, and he was a controversial figure for these reasons, but the movie otherwise makes up a lot of stuff. Despite the improvements Clark made, he did not succeed in getting substantial improvements in test scores, although his supporters say he would have if he had been kept in office longer.
 Lean on Me / int_e4b69188
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 Lean on Me / int_e5fd8bc2
type
Hate Sink
 Lean on Me / int_e5fd8bc2
comment
Hate Sink: Even though he's just doing his job, the Fire Chief is depicted just as much of an antagonist as Ms. Barrett. Before arresting Joe Clark, he called him an asshole and earlier in the film, he labeled the Eastside students as "savages", in which even Ms. Barrett was offended.
 Lean on Me / int_e5fd8bc2
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 Lean on Me / int_eda3ba
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Bad to the Bone
 Lean on Me / int_eda3ba
comment
Bad to the Bone: The movie's present-day sequence opens with a memorable shot of Eastside High having long slid into decay, with Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" blasting as delinquents throng the halls.
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 Lean on Me / int_ff7f34c5
type
Pet the Dog
 Lean on Me / int_ff7f34c5
comment
Pet the Dog: Clark had initially expelled Sams because he was one of the students involved in drugs. But when Sams returns to school to plead his case and proves his willingness to listen to Clark's warnings about further drug use and clean up his act, Clark allows him to return.
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 Lean on Me / int_ffad4e9f
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Shown Their Work
 Lean on Me / int_ffad4e9f
comment
Shown Their Work: Note that many kids are dressed in expensive fashionable clothes. Unfortunately, many people living in poverty will often invest a large amount in fashion and style as a form of social status. Not to mention one sad reality for many in poverty is poor financial management, money is for spending. Notice that the teachers are almost all in their fifties and sixties, or, in the case of Mr. Darnell, in their twenties. Also, most are white despite being a school where most students are Black or Hispanic. Many young teachers quickly get burned out and either leave the field altogether or find a more desirable school. Many older teachers are simply trapped at their location as no other district will pay them the same as what they're making at their current district, or won't hire them at all due to their impending retirement. This is sadly a problem that has arguably gotten worse today, given the increasing teacher shortages in public schools and the current economic crisis throughout the US.
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Lean on Me

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 LeanonMe
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Lean on Me
 Lean on Me
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African-American Media / int_bb88cdd7
 Lean on Me
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After-School Cleaning Duty / int_bb88cdd7
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Alma Mater Song / int_bb88cdd7
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Bad to the Bone / int_bb88cdd7
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Badass Teacher / int_bb88cdd7
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Bathroom Stall of Overheard Insults / int_bb88cdd7
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Book and Switch / int_bb88cdd7
 Lean on Me
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Code Emergency / int_bb88cdd7
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Dispense with the Pleasantries / int_bb88cdd7
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Dustbin School / int_bb88cdd7
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Glurge / int_bb88cdd7
 Lean on Me
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Hood Film / int_bb88cdd7
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Inner City School / int_bb88cdd7
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Near-Villain Victory / int_bb88cdd7
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New Jack Swing / int_bb88cdd7
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Non-Giving-Up School Guy / int_bb88cdd7
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Save Our Students / int_bb88cdd7
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School Stories / int_bb88cdd7
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Stuffed into a Locker / int_bb88cdd7
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Suicide Dare / int_bb88cdd7
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Titled After the Song / int_bb88cdd7
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Trouser Space / int_bb88cdd7
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White Man's Burden / int_bb88cdd7
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Your Little Dismissive Diminutive / int_bb88cdd7