Teachers (1984)

Lee Grant: Dr. Donna Burke

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Quotes 

• Alex Jurel : [determined]  I'm not going to resign, Roger.

  Dr. Donna Burke : [angry]  You're finished! You're out!

  Alex Jurel : Ah hell, Burke! I'm going to tell you something. I haven't even started! If you try and fire me, I'm going to be suing you.

  Roger Rubell : What's that going to solve, Alex?

  Alex Jurel : I don't know, Roger - let's try and find out. The damn school wasn't built for us, Roger. I wasn't built for your unions, your lawyers and all your other institutions. It was built for the kids! They're not here for us, we're here for them. That's what it's about: kids!

  Roger Rubell : Alex, half of them aren't even coming back after the alarm.

  Alex Jurel : But half will. I think they're worth it.

  [kids cheer him] 

  Dr. Donna Burke : Jurel! You're crazy, you know that?

  Alex Jurel : What can I say? I'm a teacher!

  [grins at the kids] 

  Alex Jurel : I'm a teacher!

• Dr. Donna Burke : Just what the hell are you guys running here, a goddamn zoo? I'm in the middle of a fundraiser breakfast when I'm informed that your school psychologist has flipped out in the middle of your goddamn office! And, then I get here and find out that there has been a stabbing, and if that's not enough, one of your kids tries to eat one of your goddamn teachers! Mr. Rubell, what the hell do you call that?

  Roger Rubell : Monday.

• Dr. Donna Burke : We, the board members present, think that you should tender your resignation.

  Alex Jurel : My resignation? What for?

  Dr. Donna Burke : Because, Mr. Jurel, no one here wants to go through the pain of firing you.

• Dr. Donna Burke : Mr. Jurel, do you know a student named Diane Warren? Is that true that you took Diane Warren, 16 year old student, to the free clinic to have an abortion? The abortion was performed without parental consent.

  Alex Jurel : [facing Roger]  Roger?

  Dr. Donna Burke : I'm waiting for your answer!

  Alex Jurel : [facing Roger]  Roger? Come on, Roger! Talk to me!

  Dr. Donna Burke : Do you think that this is proper conduct for a teacher?

  Alex Jurel : Well, it's a hell of a lot better conduct than the teacher who got her pregnant!

  Dr. Donna Burke : And what was his name?