This show features a Black woman lead, Quinta Brunson, who's also the show's head writer and creator. The main cast is primarily Black, and there are supporting characters from diverse backgrounds, including South Asian and Latino. One of the show's main teachers is LGBTQ+. Characters are of different ages and body types, and all transcend stereotypes as full, funny, and well-rounded people. They all work together to educate underserved kids.
Clear messages around being passionate about your work and bringing your authentic self to what you do. Also, try to make things better, be optimistic, ask for what you want, be honest, and care for those who need it. Perseverance is worth the effort, and teamwork pays off.
Positive Role Models
a lot
There are many role models among the veteran teachers, and there are very human people learning how to do their best in a challenging environment. Brunson plays an idealistic and utterly caring teacher who tries (albeit not always with success!) to be an inspiration to her peers. Though they sometimes struggle, the teachers persevere and have the kids' best interests at heart.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Abbott Elementary is creator/writer/star Quinta Brunson's mockumentary-style comedy series that takes place in a diverse elementary school in Philadelphia. The humor is tongue-in-cheek as kids pee on rugs, barf on themselves, etc., while the adults scramble to cope. Language includes "hell" and "ass." There are some moments of conflict and confrontation -- i.e. a teacher walks out of the school and flips the school a (blurred out) bird, and a teacher kicks a kid after he kicks her, and she's fired (the teachers then agree in mock interviews that you can yell at kids, threaten them, yell at the parents, threaten the parents, but "you never kick a kid") -- but there are also clear messages around optimism, being passionate about your work, and bringing your authentic self to what you do. Other eyebrow-raising moments include the principal of the school making passes at a new hire, calling him mildly suggestive names, and references to Xanax and drinking.
Funny, generous show exploring American's public education system through the lens of a group of teachers
This show is educational, diverse, well written, and very funny. I am shocked by the Common Sense ratings actually. I have never seen a show that teaches about the discrepancy between schools in America around class and race, as I do here. The show is full of positive messages of teachers working very hard with nothing to accomplish a good deal. Characters are human. It isn't cloying, it's just, terribly enjoyable. My kids, 11 and 16 love watching with me. I like having a cast of characters on a moral spectrum that isn't overly pudgy, it give us things to talk and think about, to laugh at.
This is an amazing show!! It has been ages since there was a show this good that could be enjoyed by the entire family. My daughter loves it just as much as I do. My husband is not a fan of tv, but when this show is playing he will sit down with us and laugh just as hard as we do! I said ages 10 and up, but honestly all ages would be fine watching this show. They do have some episodes that contain profanity but it’s not so much that it burns your ears, the really bad words are always bleeped out. Great show for the entire family!
What's the Story?
In ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, a young, optimistic teacher named Janine (creator/writer Quinta Brunson) finds herself over her head at an underserved Philadelphia elementary school. As she watches the other teachers drop like flies while getting by with very few resources, she observes the incompetent school principal (Black Monday‘s Janelle James) making matters worse. Her colleagues are either as green as she is or so jaded that they can't find the time to help her. Will Janine's optimism help keep her afloat? Or will the kids in the second grade eat her alive?
This award-winning comedy brings knowing humor to the plight of the underfunded, overwhelmed school system. Though there's nobody giving the camera a deadpan stare to deliver quips about the chaotic environment he finds himself in (cough, Jim from The Office, cough), there is an optimistic young teacher who has high hopes for her class. Janine idolizes the kindergarten teacher, Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph of Moesha), practically tripping over children in order to get closer to her. A tough South Philly teacher named Melissa (Lisa Ann Walker of The Parent Trap) "knows a guy" who can help with about anything. Add to the mix a principal who lacks principles and a cute new substitute (Tyler James Williams, Everybody Hates Chris), and you've got all the makings of a solid comedy about education. Teens will appreciate the self-depreciating, optimistic Janine. And adults will root for the underdog teachers, knowing that cleaning up barf is a job that nobody wants.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about teamwork in Abbott Elementary. How do the teachers work together to help their students? How can teamwork elevate a challenging work or school environment?
Janine is a new teacher who approaches her job with optimism. At what point is her optimism challenged? How does her perseverance help her succeed?
Kids at Abbott Elementary don't have access to technology in their school. How can technology help with education? Are there apps that you find are helpful in your educational journey?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
