With the passing of Elizabeth Taylor today there has been clips from some of the biggest movies of all time across the media and this got me thinking about the greatest movies that are out there to inspire teachers and students.

The first list comes from the undisputed bible of all things film, TV and Cinema, IMDB

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Stand and Deliver (1988)

7.2/10

A dedicated teacher inspires his dropout prone students to learn calculus to build up their self-esteem and do so well that they are accused of cheating. (103 mins.)

Director: Ramon Menendez

Stars: Edward James Olmos, Estelle Harris, Mark Phelan, Virginia Paris

“ never believe that students are unable to learn. Instead of teaching to the lowest common denominator, Edward James Olmos in a true story as Jaime Escalante sets his sights much higher, getting them to pass the AP Calculus exam. Excellent, enjoyable choice. ” - ejazasi

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Dangerous Minds (1995)

5.9/10

An ex-marine teacher struggles to connect with her students in an inner city schools. (99 mins.)

Director: John N. Smith

Stars: Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza, Courtney B. Vance, Robin Bartlett

“ Michelle Pfeiffer is excellent as real-life former marine Louanne Johnson. ” - ejazasi

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Lean on Me (1989)

7.1/10

The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school that he is determined to improve. (108 mins.)

Director: John G. Avildsen

Stars: Morgan Freeman, Beverly Todd, Robert Guillaume, Alan North

“ I wish if more Principals stressed the importance of discipline and learning in their schools as he did. This film shows the importance of having strong leadership at the top. ” - ejazasi

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Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)

7.2/10

A frustrated composer finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher. (143 mins.)

Director: Stephen Herek

Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly, Jay Thomas, Olympia Dukakis

“ This memorable movie gives all teachers hope that they truly have an impact on their students. Richard Dreyfuss is wonderful as a musician/composer who must take a teaching job to support his family. ” - ejazasi

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Dead Poets Society (1989)

7.8/10

English professor John Keating inspires his students to a love of poetry and to seize the day. (128 mins.)

Director: Peter Weir

Stars: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles

“ The central message of the movie, to live life to the fullest everyday, is not lost. Further, Williams' poetry recitations are awe-inspiring. ” - ejazasi

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The Miracle Worker (1962)

8.1/10

The story of Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach the blind and deaf Helen Keller how to communicate. (106 mins.)

Director: Arthur Penn

Stars: Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke, Victor Jory, Inga Swenson

“ Very few people can watch the famous 'water' scene without experiencing a feeling of triumph and relief. ” - ejazasi

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Music of the Heart (1999)

6.5/10

Story of a schoolteacher's struggle to teach violin to inner-city Harlem kids. (124 mins.)

Director: Wes Craven

Stars: Meryl Streep, Cloris Leachman, Henry Dinhofer, Michael Angarano

“ This film shows the influence that one person's drive and vision can have on others. ” - ejazasi

Here are a couple more to take a look at

Top 10 Inspirational movies for teachers and students

Rama's Screen Top 10

Be sure to let us know what we missed on these lists.

Luckily there have been smarter people than myself to say inspirational words of wisdom to help get people motivated.

Some make perfect sense - and some are total BS. But I'll leave you to filter...

Below are a few that might come in handy next time you need to dig deep.

**Update: FEB 2012** We have just created an entire section for educational quotes with far more than is on this page. It can be found here.

Horace Mann
Education, then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance-wheel of the social machinery.
Aristotle
The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

Thomas Jefferson
Bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. Education and free discussion are the antidotes of both.
C. S. Lewis
The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.
Benjamin Franklin
Genius without education is like silver in the mine.

Albert Einstein
Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.
Oscar Wilde
Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.
Helen Keller
The highest result of education is tolerance.
Victor Hugo
He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
Jim Rohn
Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.
Henry Brooks Adams
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.
Nelson Mandela
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The secret in education lies in respecting the student.

'No problem can be solved by the same consciousness that created it. We need to see the world anew.' Albert Einstein

'Insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting the different results' Albert Einstein.

'Some people would rather die than think'. Bertrand Russell

'If we always do what we've always done, we will get what we've always got.' Adam Urbanski

'One can never consent to creep when one feels the compulsion to soar'. Helen Keller

'Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.' Oliver Wendell Holmes Jnr

'Ten geographers who think the world is flat will tend to reinforce each others errors….Only a sailor can set them straight'. John Ralston Saul, 'Voltaire's Bastards'.