In To Sir, With Love, Sidney Poitier’s character, Mark Thackeray’s (Sir) interactions with the students was not only entertaining to watch, but it also gave great insight on the effectiveness of alternative methods of teaching. He got a group of seemingly unruly students to not only respect him, but by the end of the movie, they all grew quite fond of each other. Instead of having lessons solely dedicated to algorithms or how to use citations, he made the lessons relatable. I think teachers today, (as well as students) could benefit from this method. Relevant, relatable and meaningful lessons help engage students emotionally and helps to strengthen long-term memory. It wasn’t clear from the film if Sir also taught more traditional lessons, however, I still believe that (seeing as his class consisted of high school seniors) , we saw him teach the most valuable one; how to survive in a world that isn’t always so forgiving. He taught his female students how to respect themselves so guys would know to treat them accordingly. He taught the guys that poor hygiene wasn’t going impress girls for very long. He taught them that every action doesn’t need a reaction and that every choice has a consequence. He taught them things that they couldn’t just read from a textbook or in a newspaper. Scientists have claimed that information commits more to memory when students have personal connections to the material and also builds a longer lasting impression, especially if coming from someone you personally have a connection to. Sir was a positive male figure (for some, like Pam, he was the only) in their lives who became more of a mentor than a teacher. He made the lessons personal, and the way the kids responded attested for the fact that school should be more tailor made to the students.