Ken did his benching thing and then he called all the media to tell them what he had done. The kids thought he was more interested in all the PR than in them. Davis had just been elected Gov and he shows up at a game along with several local politicians looking for the camera. I know other teachers resented the situation (told me so) and thought his motives were suspect.
Several of the kids went on record in a recent Contra Costa Times article saying that things weren't as they were portrayed in the movie.
Years ago I sat on my local school board (in WA state). We were searching for a new superintendent and ended up hiring a man, who while he was the football coach, canceled the remaining season when his players broke their contract. In their contract they not only agreed to not drinking alcohol, but to not be at parties where alcohol was being consumed by minors.
His players were busted at a party one weekend and the season was canceled the following week. We liked that idea and that was one of the reasons we hired him.
My son took a group of friends (and his parents) to see this movie for his birthday. There was lots of "exhuberance" from the audience. The movie was so-so and predictable. My son already knows the drill-a tutor if grades seem marginal, withhold sports participation if more study time is needed. I thought that was a known strategy and was shocked that a movie could be made about it. I thought it made Black parents look dumb, look like they just want to go to sporting events and keep ambition at bay by playing victim.(like typical DUers)