1. Mr. Hunderts quote "youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated, drunkenness sobered, but stupid last forever" is a very intelligent quote. Being stupid, like Sedgewick was, is proof of it lasting forever. He attempted to cheat twice even when it seemed like he had bought in to the Academy. Everything else in that quote is something that only lasts temporary (immaturity, drunkenness, and ignorance).
2. Mr. Hundert is struggling with Sedgewicks negative and positive leadership skills that he brings to the academy and shares with the other students. Mr. Hundert is also under pressure because Sedgewicks father has a high rank in the white house. He does not want to disobey the country and the people who have eyes on him. He is shook because he see's great values in his student, so much that he put him in place of another student for a contest.
3. The impact that Sedgewick Bell has on these other boys is huge. The other students follow while he leads. In the beginning, the students get comfortable enough with Sedgewicks ways that they start to experience reckless activities and lose focus from what they were there to do. When Sedgewick finally catches on with the school, the boys then regain focus and try to be the smartest one in class.
4.The dilemma Mr. Hundert experiences is the choice on wether or not to put Sedgewick in the contest or put Martin in the contest who actually deserved the third place spot. He see's how far Sedgewick has came and put so much effort in his process that he makes the switch and gives Mr. Bell a chance.
5.Mr. Hunderts second dilemma is when he takes notice to Sedgewick cheating by looking around and then eventually reading words off his sleeve. Mr. Hundert lets it pass by not calling him out in front of everyone, instead, he asks a question that he knows Sedgewick wouldn't have on his sleeve. When he confronts Sedgewick, Sedgewick lets him know that he figured that Mr. Hundert knew, but he didn't care and needed to win.
6. Mr. Hundert decides to host the contest because he knows that Martin will be there and he can allow him to re- enter the competition and let him know the truth. His hope is crushed because thinking that Sedgewick has really grown up and matured. He realizes that Mr. Bell is cheating again at the competition from someone in the back of the room, but his hopes were renewed when he asked another question that would trully test him just like twenty-four years ago. Mr. Bell did not know the answer and Martin ended up answering it.
7. The film definitely resolves this tension. Those words were true words from Sedgewick's heart and his son was in the bathroom the whole time listening to his dads horrible words. He was instantly confronted with life which Mr. Hundert was trying to explain to him in that same conversation. They never show how the relationship between him and his son turned out but it was probably the same as him and his father had experienced. Like father, like Son.
10. Mr. Hundert gets to see his done work when the men return. They all seemed mature with families and children showing him that they are living a well structured life and his teaching paid off. They all had different jobs and were contributing to society in a positive way.
Spot-on responses! Astute and well-crafted reflections here, Robert. I agree with you on all fronts, but especially with the final question and the fact that all the boys had become men who contributed to society in positive ways. That's a major component in the definition of "success." Nice job here. 31/30 points possible.
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