Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docu about LeBron-founded school shows education challenges.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
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Where to Watch
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I Promise
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
I Promise chronicles the first year of the I Promise School, which was founded by LeBron James to help at-risk elementary school students in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The documentary follows students and teachers as they face the challenges of the school year: the excitement of starting, "the dip" that happens when students struggle, the way kids act out when things get hard, the real world difficulties outside the classroom, the academic milestones that the state requires, and the way that school itself can often feel like an institution rather than a place where children can grow and thrive.
Is It Any Good?
One of the most stunning things about I Promise is that, alongside telling compelling stories about the students and the school, it offers a new model for public schools. Several of the teachers mention that school can often be a "pipeline to prison" for at-risk children. The I Promise school sets out to move away from traditional schooling toward education that invests in its students emotionally and offers holistic solutions for their challenges. Obviously not every public school can be founded by LeBron James or endowed by his many sponsors, but what makes I Promise special is the faculty's true investment in its students' growth. In an era when the work of teachers and the needs of students are often dismissed or taken for granted, illuminating the actual challenges that they face every day is important work.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about elementary school. What is challenging about school? How are the challenges different for different students? What are some ways those challenges are or were addressed at your schools?
How does the I Promise School approach the task of educating at-risk students? What are some of the goals and philosophies of the school? How do they try to achieve them? Which ways seem successful or unsuccessful?
What is unique about the I Promise School? What makes it different from other public schools? How do you think those differences help its students? Why is having LeBron's presence and involvement important for the school?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 28, 2021
- Cast : LeBron James
- Network : YouTube
- Genre : Educational
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : December 13, 2021
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