Parent trigger laws allow parents to seize control of failing schools, in effect turning them into charter schools that are still publicly funded and open to all. Such schools could hire and fire staff minus the constraints of union contracts.

Among groups pushing for trigger laws are the American Legislative Exchange Council, which receives funding from conservative oil billionaire Philip Anschutz, owner of Walden Media, the studio that produced “Won’t Back Down” and other family targeted films.

Both Bush and Rhee favor such legislation and lobbied for a failed parent-trigger bill that was bitterly fought over, and narrowly defeated, earlier this year in Florida.

“As a mother, I know that I’d be willing to do whatever it takes to make sure my daughters get a great education,” Rhee said in a statement. “This movie speaks to the importance of great teachers and sends a touching, powerful and important message that transcends party divisions: Every child deserves a great education, too many aren’t getting one, and whether we’re Democrats or Republicans we have to take action and change that.”

Plenty of educators and education advocates aren’t too thrilled with the movie, however, saying it unfairly depicts teachers and their unions. Their complaints are similar to those lodged about Waiting for ‘Superman.’

Weingarten said moviegoers will be moved by the characters and story in “Won’t Back Down” and conceded that the film successfully drives home the sense of urgency parents and educators feel for overcoming obstacles to provide the best possible education for their children.

See also:

Readers: Parents not experienced enough to run failing schools

Opinion: This ‘Superman’ doesn’t fly

School Reform Center at eSN Online

“But instead of focusing on real parent empowerment and how communities can come together to help all children succeed, ‘Won’t Back Down’ offers parents a false choice: You’re either for students or for teachers, you can either live with a low-performing school or take dramatic, disruptive action to shut a school down,” she said.

In the movie, Davis’s character asserts that union rules prohibit teachers from working past 3 p.m. “I know of no contract or local union that would ever prevent a teacher from remaining after school to help a student or do the work necessary to help children,” Weingarten said.

“I don’t recognize the teachers portrayed in this movie, and I don’t recognize that union. The teachers I know are women and men who have devoted their lives to helping children learn and grow and reach their full potential.”

Johnson said he disagreed with Weingarten’s take and was particularly miffed by her statement that the film “advances the ‘bad teacher’ narrative through the character of Deborah.” Deborah, played by Nancy Bach, is a teacher who uses her cell phone in class, refuses to stay late to help students, locks poorly behaving children in closets, and won’t let the students use the restroom.

Said Weingarten: “Let’s be clear—this teacher, or a teacher who engages in such deplorable actions against children, should be fired for this outrageous behavior.”

“From her letter, she’s positioning a union that should be or wants to be but one that isn’t,” said Johnson. “I don’t think the villain in our movie is one bad teacher. I think the villain is a system. Remember, it’s a fictional movie based on actual events. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character is not a political animal. She is just advocating for her daughter, who needs help.”

Barnz, the son of two public schoolteachers, said he was encouraged by the packed bipartisan audience at the Aug. 28 screening in Tampa but added that he was hurt that his movie was being attacked as anti-union.