School of Rock: Was Dewey Finn Actually a Good Teacher?

Okay, so I just finished watching School of Rock for like, the millionth time. It still slaps, don't get me wrong. Jack Black is a treasure. But something struck me this time around – was Dewey Finn actually a good teacher? Like, beyond just being cool and playing rock n' roll? I mean, think about it. He basically cons his way into the job, lies about his qualifications, and completely throws out the curriculum. He teaches history through rock anthems. He's got the kids dissecting song lyrics instead of… whatever fifth graders are supposed to dissect. Sure, it's entertaining. The whole montage where he's assigning band roles is iconic. But Miss Mullins is right to be a little freaked out. Is he actually educating them, or just indulging his own rockstar fantasies? Here's my theory: Dewey Finn inadvertently did a lot of good by tapping into the kids' hidden talents. The shy girl, Tomika, finds her voice. Zack the quiet kid, is a guitar prodigy. Summer, the overachiever, learns to chill and manage a band instead of just focusing on grades. He saw something in them that the regular school system didn't. Plus, that performance at the end? Pure serotonin. So maybe his methods are unconventional and arguably irresponsible, but is it possible Dewey's chaotic approach was more effective than the standard education system? I dunno, what do you guys think? Am I giving him too much credit? Also, side note, I still get chills during the end credits when they're all jamming together. The feels!