The Water is wide

1. The setting of the movie was 1969. However, can you identify similar issues or problems that
Deped is experiencing that is also present in the movie?

“The water is Wide”is a truly a movie where teachers can reflects and analyze things that
happens inside and outside the classroom. Except for the setting and their fashion, most of the
scenarios being played in the movie were all similar to the school set up today. Some issues I can
relate to is to introduce new approach to the students who were not used to it. In the movie,
Mr. Conroy found it hard at first to get into the student’s path of learning since he was teaching
an approach that is new to them. Good thing he found a way to slowly win the children’s mind
and simply insert the lessons he wanted them to learn little by little. Another scene that I can
relate to is the way the curriculum “Sometimes “limits the capabilities of the children to learn. A
teacher wanted to be creative however the curriculum don’t limits them to explore and discover
new alternatives. Personally, I can relate to the desire of Mr. Conroy to bring the students to a
field trip which will truly open the student’s mid. However, because of risk and dangers, Deped
had disallowed any filed trip outside the school campus. I understand that it if for the safety of
the students but I hope they will understand that they are putting at stake the learning’s of the
students. I would like to stress the the involvement of the parents. I appreciate that Deped now
encourages the parents and guardians to participates in the school program which is believed to
be effective to the student’s learning, which can also be seen in the movie. I didn’t find this one
as a problem but an opportunity for Deped to develop and enhance .

2. Mr. Conroy’s approach to teaching was described as “rebellious” or revolutionary. If he were to

teach in our present educational system, do you think he will succeed or just the same? He will
be terminated? Justify your answer.

If Mr. Conroy will use the same strategy to teach in the present time, I think he will be the most
successful in the field of teaching. In contrast to the school’s system presented in the movie
which is harsh and little violent, Deped system nowadays had developed a child friendly-child
centered curriculum where student are free to express themselves. Mr . Conroy uses an advance
approach where he allows the students the learn by experiencing it and by using multi-media
materials to help engage the interest of the students. Furthermore, he also studies the
environment where the students grow so that he can relate to them. Except for him being late
tho, sometimes. I think he will most like succeed. It would be inspiring to have a colleague like
him.

3. What is your favorite scene in the movie? Why did you chose it?

I have two favorite part. The first one is when Mr. Conroy shows the pictures to of the children
(who went on field trip to the Washington DC ) to the parents. In that scene, you can clearly see
the amazement and the joy in their eyes as they were seeing the pictures being flashed in OHP.
They were happy because it’s the first time that they let their children go out and explore the
world. And they know, that it’s all worth the risk. The second part is when Mrs. Brown stood for
Mr. Conroy at the trial. It was lie a twist because if you can see, they were two different teachers
with two different approach. One believes in traditional chain of command, the other believes in
liberation and expression. They were like Rivals but each day, Mrs. Brown discovers that what
 Mr. Conroy is doing is actually effective and more relational. Maybe she realized that after all,
Mr Conroys did his best to teach and it is not fair for him to be terminated like that.

4. Why the movie is titled “The water is wide”?

If you look at the location, Mr. Conroy was assigned to an island separated by a river where
townsfolk are afraid to cross because it might devour them as what happened in the past. The
water represents the hardships Mr. Conroy had to cross to just to teach the students. It might
not literally be the river but it speaks of him being far from his family, learning new things, going
out of his comfort zone and be rejected by people. The challenges are vast like the waters he
crosses everyday but he is determined. The water also symbolizes the limits of the students to
learn. They were used to being in that isolated island afraid of trying something new. The water
is like a division or a wall that divides them to the world outside. The world where they can
experience what they haven’t experience in the past. To a world where they can discover
desires in their hearts that were long hidden. The water is wide is means that the walls are high
and seems impossible to cross. However, it only took one determined educator to tear the wall
and finally cross that river.

5. If you were to change the ending of the movie, what would it be ?

I think, as what most people want to see a happy ending. I would change it from the time of trial
where Mr. Conroy will stand innocent and be forgiven of his lates. Then the villagers will no
longer have to rally on the riverbank and Mr. Bennington will realize that Mr. Conroy had done
great and that the children’s learning are all worth the risk. Then Mr. Conroys’s wife will be
pregnant where they will all celebrate. He will stationed in island permanently with supplies of
books and visuals materials. Then Mrs. Browns will serve him a very delicious pie with a cup of
hot tea in the riverbanks with the children’s and their parents. The end.