Marla Hendricks quotes from Boston Public

Marla Hendricks

[to the school board] Let me tell you something, let me tell all of you something. The reason I've had it is because I have to go into a room day after day after damn day and try to break through to a bunch of damn kids who don't want to listen, don't want to learn, and don't want to give me the decency of being quiet. Mr. Senate shot off a gun? I woulda rolled in a big cannon if I knew where to get one. I'd have tried anything. And you show me a teacher who doesn't almost lose his or her mind sometimes, and I'll show you a teacher who's not trying. I can show you some parents who aren't. You send them off to school thinking: job's done. It's up to the teachers now. Well, it doesn't work that way. You got to get in on this, too. Kids coming in every day singing that jingle: those who can't do, teach. They get that from their parents! Well, let me tell you, we're in there doing every damn day, and a lot of the doing we do is parenting! You want to compare failures? Step right up! Who's first?

Marla Hendricks

I have four cheeks, Harry. Pick one and bite it.

Marla

I got to bed at night thinking of some prince who's gonna swoop in and take me to some exotic island and lick champagne off my naked self. It's my romanticized version, I guess, of wonder and magic. In the real world, my prince, my magic, it's you kids. And some days, when I see your faces go dead, all the wonder just drains out of me. That's all that was happening. I'm better now.

Marla

I know teachers are not supposed to have fun, but it is not against the law for us to smile every so often.

Marla Hendricks

Harvey, Helen is dead. And as for your reputation... it's in worse shape than Helen.

Marla Hendricks

[to Scott Guber about Winslow's grading system] Look Scott, who's kidding who? The grading system here is all over the place. I mean, you've got a better shot at fairness going to the Olympics...as a figure skater.

Marla Hendricks

Just because a white boy can sing doesn't make him Jesus.

Kevin Riley

Think before you speak, Harvey.

Marla Hendricks

Then he'd be mute.

Marla Hendricks

Are you gonna say grace?

Harry Senate

Yep. I'm going to thank God that I'm not you.

Marla

Harvey, are you all right?

Harvey

Ooh, I think I'm gonna die. I feel so warm and fuzzy. What can do that to a person besides death?

Marla

(about Harvey) Is he a nut? A big one. A racist? Probably. But he doesn't come from hate and the kids know that.

Steven

Well, a lot of bigotry here does come from hate, Marla, and his behavior helps foster it, even if it's unintentional. There's no such thing as a benign bigot.

Harvey

I know I'm old-fashioned, but am I a racist?

Marla

Yes, Harvey, you are an old-fashioned racist.

Harvey

Don't sell yourself short, Marla. You've got a lot to offer. If I were 40 years younger myself... and blind.

Marla

Oh, if that's not the pot calling the kettle black.

Harvey

Why do you have to make everything about race?

Marla Hendricks

He's an institution here. The name Harvey Lipschultz is synonymous with institution.

Steven Harper

Because he belongs in one.

Marla Hendricks

Well you better get into it fast, because the parents …you're gonna have them crawlin' up your ass! Not to mention teachers, students, and me! …and I'm not gonna be squiggly like a itty bitty little gerbil! I promise you that!

Steven Harper

I can do without the imagery, Marla.