Some agree and some vehemently disagree with the film, but everybody seems to be talking about Davis Guggenheim's "Waiting for Superman." Now, a few dozen OnMilwaukee.com readers can see a preview screening of the film and decide for themselves.
We have 30 passes -- each allows admission on a first-come, first-serve basis for two people (seating is limited) -- to see a preview screening of this documentary about public education in America on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at Landmark's Oriental Theatre.
A few hundred people have already seen this controversial film -- from the director of "An Inconvenient Truth" and "It Might Get Loud," among others -- in Milwaukee when it screened Sept. 26 at the Milwaukee Film Festival. The Oriental Theatre screening was sold out and was followed by a similarly packed forum on education at UWM's Kenilworth Building across the street.
I, for one, am still digesting what I heard in the film and the seemingly endless commentaries, reviews and counter-arguments about it.
Certainly, I'm glad that public education is at the forefront of the American agenda right now. Whether or not you'll agree with Guggenheim's take on it is, of course, entirely up to you to decide.
However, before you draw any conclusions, I encourage you to read education expert Diane Ravitch's latest book.
If you want to see the film and find out, send an e-mail with your mailing address to contests@staff.onmilwaukee.com. The first 30 responders will get a pass.
The film opens in Milwaukee on Friday, Oct. 15.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
