Southeast Missouri State University’s Department of Mass Media is collaborating with Kent Library to host a screening of the documentary "Teacher of Patience," complete with a resource guide, as part of the third annual See Me Series on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. in Rose Theatre.
"Teacher of Patience" features the parents of a daughter with Down syndrome. The father is a paramedic working with first responders to raise awareness. The story focuses on fundraising efforts while also highlighting the struggles and joys of daily life at home.
“Their story is important because disability desperately needs to be a part of the conversation, not only when training first responders but in everyday situations,” said filmmaker Carmen Vincent. Vincent will be in attendance to discuss the film after the screening. “To achieve this, the Felters welcome you into their lives to show the good and the bad and everything in between, painting an authentic picture of what it means to be disability advocates in a small town.”
The documentary has been screened at dozens of national and international film festivals and has won awards, including the Audience Choice Award at Southeast’s 2023 Fault Line Film Festival in March.
“I hope that anyone who watches this film comes away with piqued curiosity and a hunger to learn more,” said Vincent. “More than that, I would love for people to walk away from this having just a little more empathy for people who are different than themselves and the courage to start conversations with people they might normally shy away from.”
Joining Vincent after the screening for a panel discussion will be:
- Sheriff Ruth Dickerson – Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office
- Traci Ritter – Board Member with Cape County Board for Developmental Disabilities
- Claire Watson – Member of Heartland Down Syndome Community Group
All three women joining the panel discussion are also mothers of a child with a disability.
Kent Library is collaborating and supporting the See Me Series with a new research guide containing information about the film. It highlights relevant library books, eBooks, videos, and journal articles that enhance the film-viewing experience. A display featuring information about the film and the library materials is located on Kent Library’s main floor.
“The addition of the Kent Library guide to this year’s event adds even more substance to the film,” said Dr. Tamara Zellars Buck, chair of the Department of Mass Media. “It allows viewers to dive deeper into the material and explore relevant topics. We are excited to have the guide to supplement the documentary.”
Southeast’s See Me Series is an initiative developed to allow the University and surrounding community to explore and discuss diverse creative media work by bringing content to the community that either was developed by creators from diverse backgrounds or which highlights people or events representing historically marginalized identities.