Most households depend on two working members for economic survival, and yes, we are still faced with violence in the schools. The message of Blackboard Jungle is still pertinent today. While the easy route may be to turn our backs on the problems that exist in the schools, that certainly will not make them go away. It's technique is in your face, just as the students are in Dadier's face. Brooks lends an almost documentary feel to his story.
Nothing is wasted in extraneous exposition.
Brooks keeps focused on the heart of the matter, the students and Dadier. The storytelling's flow is extremely fast and effective. Glenn Ford turns in a sterling performance as Dadier. Ford easily embodies the spirit of the idealist. The mixed emotions that are roiling in him are evident on the screen, and despite the powerful emotional content of the role, Ford manages to impart a relaxed physicality to Dadier.