"Up The Down Staircase" (1967) with Sandy Dennis as the visionary teacher, dealt of with the indiscipline in a New York High School, which was gradually brought under control, by the teacher using classic English literature ("The Best of times....The worst of times") to instil a sense of values to the students.
Maggie Smith in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969) was undoubtedly inspirational, but preaching too much freedom to her Scottish girl students in Edinburgh, led to one of her favourite girls to rebel against her.
Julia Roberts, teaching Art History in a Women's college in "The Mona Lisa Smile" (2003) encouraged her students to look at Art with new eyes. However, though popular with her students, she was unconventional enough to be shunted out by the college administration.
