Michael Elliot is a film-maker who gives generously of his time to help parents organize against high-stakes testing. He has made numerous superb videos that express the views of parents about public schools, teachers, children, and testing.
In this video (and article), Elliott explains why he is so passionate about teachers. His life was changed for the better by two high school teachers of theater arts. He describes himself as a lost teenager, with low test scores and little ambition. He happened into the school theater, and one of the teachers invited him to pitch in. She said, “Pick up a broom and start sweeping.” The arts and his teachers literally saved him.
Here are some of the videos that Michael has made for parent groups. See here and here and here.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Love it… I get letters all the time, as kids find me on Facebook and linked in. This is still my favorite… made me cry, when I got it, because by then, I was being harassed out of my job. This makes it worth it… and knowing for every one that I get, there are other adults with whom I shared what I knew with them ,when they ere only 12 or 7, and ran with it, into a successful career.
” Dear Mrs Schwartz”
“This is almost unreal! I am so gad that I have this opportunity to share with you what an inspiration you have been and to apologize if we ever gave you a hard time (sometimes it takes time to realize how good something is).”
“We (Catherine C, Diana P, Leah B) speak so often and so highly of you since we graduated East Side Middle, we jumped out of our seats when Catherine told us she had been in touch with your son’s wife. We have stayed good friends (see pictures attached) and look back to the days in your class and know that you had such an enormous impact on or lives till this day. You encouraged us to be creative, patient and yet free, a most valuable lesson. We joke sometimes that your class was better than our sophomore year college literature class, but actually its no funny at all- its true. I still have the assignments you gave us and cherish them, and still remember the books you had us read. I remember feeling so confident in your class, a feeling no other teacher made me feel at that confusing time in a teenagers life. You combined a perfect balance of discipline and a genuine love of teaching young people, a quality which so many teachers lack in the public school systems and therefore deeply saddens me to hear that you are no longer teaching there. ”
“Little Bio:
With your encouragement I auditioned for the art program at LaGuardia high school and graduated from there in 2001. I then attended The School of Art and Design at SUNY Purchase and graduated with a BFA in 2006. Since then I worked odd jobs and now an internship here at New York Mag”
“There is so much more I would love to share but I must get back to work.
I will be in touch soon!”
“All the best,
Jackie L”
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Many students find their way through involvement in the arts or sports. Some students are late bloomers, and life experiences allow them to discover a passion or a talent. There is no one right path for all. It is always good to hear from former appreciative students. Then, you feel that you did make a difference.
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Thank you, Michael Elliot
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