Life
at Headfort School is a little bit Tom
Brown’s School Days and a little School
of Rock, but it is all Irish, all the way. John Leyden and his wife Amanda
have been faculty members at the coed boarding school since the early 1970s.
They are starting to think it might be time to consider retirement, but they
worry idleness could lead to a precipitous decline. As the year commences, they
resolve to keep at it, as long as they maintain a proper level of professionalism.
We will watch them guide their young skulls full of mush through a rather
productive looking year in Neasa Ní Chianáin & David Rane’s fly-on-the-wall
documentary, School Days (a.k.a. In Loco
Parentis)
(trailer here),
which opens this Friday in New York.
She
teaches literature and drama. He teaches scripture and Latin, but also serves
as the advisor to the campus rock band and art club, so it is safe to say he is
using both sides of his brain. Mr. Leyden can be a bit acerbic, but they are
both quite popular with their students. In fact, one of their former pupils
returned to serve as headmaster.
Together
with their colleagues, the Leydens will work on several students who need extra
attention. Arguably, their biggest success story will be a high-functioning
dyslexic boy, who was always well liked on campus, but finally seems to get a
handle on his academics this year. Conversely, they will have trouble coaxing a
high-achieving, socially aloof girl out of her shell, but maybe there are some
encouraging signs late in the year. However, one troubled midterm transfer will
have to be a work in progress.
It
is surprisingly interesting to track the various pupils’ progress through the
film. Perhaps Chianáin and Rane are onto a new pedagogical tool. Arguably, the
stakes could not be higher, because the youngsters’ time at Headfort will
directly influence which secondary school they are admitted into and largely
mold them as moral-ethical adults. Yet, the vibe is almost always relaxed and
soothing.
Essentially,
School Life is a Wisemanesque
documentary for people who read James Herriot and Patrick Taylor. Both Leydens
are pleasant companions to spend time with and their students seem jolly well
behaved. Plus, the Headfort campus could not possibly be any more picturesque. As
an extra added bonus, Mr. Leyden will even guide his kids towards an
infectiously peppy rendition of Ellie Goulding’s “Burn.”
