On the Way to School
Parents say
Based on 2 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
On the Way to School
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that On the Way to School is a 2013 documentary in which four kids from different parts of the world -- Kenya, Morocco, Argentina, and India -- are filmed traveling tremendous lengths over difficult terrain to attend school. Not only should this put things into perspective for kids prone to complaining about going to school, but it also might even humble parents (or grandparents) fond of telling "When I was your age, I walked two miles to school each day" anecdotes. There is some peril -- a little girl sprains her ankle along the mountainous rocky terrain between her home and her school in Morocco, and two boys must run for cover when they fear that a herd of elephants is stampeding toward them. Overall, this documentary shows the difficulties many kids face simply to attend a school, something many families in more developed countries take for granted.
Community Reviews
Humbling Film!
Report this review
Absolutely incredible - perfect for every age.
Report this review
What's the Story?
Jackson is an 11-year-old boy from Kenya who must travel two hours to school with his little brother. Zahira is a 12-year-old girl from Morocco who must travel four hours to school every Monday with her friends. Carlos is an 11-year-old boy from Argentina who rides 18 kilometers to school on horseback with his little sister. And Samuel is a disabled 13-year-old boy in India who is wheeled and carried the four kilometers to school by his two brothers. ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL shows the tremendous challenges and difficulties many kids in remote parts of the globe face simply to attend school and get an education. Whether it's running across open spaces to avoid getting trampled by elephants, finding rides from strangers after spraining ankles on rocky mountainous terrain, or carrying one's brother in a wheelchair through irrigation canals, the situations in this eye-opening documentary should put into perspective something many in the more developed parts of the world take for granted.
Is It Any Good?
This eye-opening documentary should provide plenty for families to talk about. While it will most certainly give much-needed perspective to those of us who might complain about our commutes to school or work, what is especially astonishing about On the Way to School is how resilient and determined are these kids who are shown traveling far and treacherous distances to get an education. The challenges and difficulties they endure are almost beyond comprehension for those living in developed countries, and they underscore the problem of access to education so many in developing countries face.
While this documentary shows the "can-do" spirit of these kids, it only marginally touches on the inherent barrier placed on children and families living in these places where education is not as high of a priority or where kids must work to help provide food and sustenance. An argument could also be made that for all its implications about how it's relatively easy for kids in the developed world to get to and from school, the difficulties of kids trying to attend school in, say, Chicago's toughest neighborhoods could be equally as illuminating and worthy of investigation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about similarities and differences between the kids in this movie and the kids where you live. Did parts of On the Way to School make you think that kids everywhere in the world seem the same? Where did they seem different?
Think about how you get to and from school. What did you take for granted before seeing this movie? What were some of the difficulties these kids faced? How did they overcome those obstacles?
How do the kids in On the Way to School demonstrate curiosity, perseverance, and courage? What about humility and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: March 15, 2009
- On DVD or streaming: September 25, 2013
- Cast: Jackson Saikong, Salome Saikong, Samuel J. Esther
- Director: Pascal Pilsson
- Studio: Winds
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Courage, Curiosity, Humility, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 77 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 30, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Imba Means Sing
Vibrant, uplifting docu about African children's choir.
-
I Am Eleven
Charming, thought-provoking global docu about childhood.
-
Living on One Dollar
Earnest, inspiring docu shows realities of rural poverty.
For kids who love documentaries and inspiring stories
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate