There is a scene in the film "Bad Teacher" in which Cameron Diaz, an irresponsible lush of a seventh-grade instructor, pulls aside a boy who has just publicly declared his love for a girl in his class. The boy, Garrett, is shy and writes poetry but is convinced that some show of bravery will win the girl's heart. Forget it, Ms. Diaz tells him. This girl is only interested in hot, popular boys. Garrett is sensitive, she points out, and "that's not a compliment." Maybe eighth grade will be better, the boy says hopefully. "I'm thinking college," Ms. Diaz tells...