John Pinckney

The movie “Goodbye Mr. Chips” is a wonderful uplifting movie about a Latin teacher. Mr. Chips,at Brookfield Public School boys school. Set in a backdrop of magnificent Victorian architecture of stone and wood paneling, the movie amounts to a celebration of English Culture, Civility and Chivalry. The time period is just before WW1. Mr. Chipping teaches at the school for 60+ years, teaching grandfather, son, and grandson. His beautiful, sweet wife dies in childbirth, not an uncommon event in those years. Many of his former students are killed in the war. One take away: The Victorian boys schools were immensely successful in turning out productive, accomplished, articulate, noble men of the upper class. These were men who made great advances in science, music, architecture, industry, literature and exploration. English young men were taught to understand their Duty. Their Duty was a direct consequence of their privilege. Young people should see this movie and wonder if they are missing something. Imagine one and half hours of entertainment devoid of boorish behavior where people actually talk nice to each other.