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The Hobart Shakespeareans” Encore Broadcast Next Week on PBS

When: August 15, 2006 at 10pm

TIP: Days and times for P.O.V. rebroadcasts vary, so be
sure to check local listings for airdates and times for your
PBS station on our website.

Teacher Rafe Esquith has a point of view — a very strong one — about educating children of immigrants. Teaching in Los Angeles at one of the nation's largest inner-city grade schools, Hobart Elementary, Esquith leads his class of fifth graders through an uncompromising curriculum of English, mathematics, geography and literature. He inspires them with cross-country trips to learn history first-hand. And at the end of the semester, every student performs in a full-length Shakespeare play: in this case Hamlet, with advice from actors Ian McKellen and Michael York. Despite language barriers and poverty, these Hobart Shakespeareans move on to attend outstanding colleges, motivated by a teacher honored with a National Medal of Arts.

"The Hobart Shakespeareans” companion website offers exclusive streaming video clips from the film and a wealth of additional resources, including a Q&A with Mel Stuart, opportunities for viewers to “talk back” and talk to each other about the film, and the following special features:

For more information about the film, see the film website listed below, or visit MediaRights.org: mediarights.org/film/the_hobart_shakespeareans.php