Educating Peter

Winner: Academy Award(r) Documentary Short Subject

When Peter Gwasdauskis, a child with Down syndrome, was mainstreamed into a public school, he had a lot to learn about dealing with differences--and so did his classmates. Filmed over the course of the third-grade school year, this 1992 Academy Award-winning documentary vividly captures Peter's achievements and frustrations as he makes a place for himself among his peers. The program features interviews with Peter's parents, teachers, fellow students, and aides, and also illustrates how his classmates' wary tolerance grows into sincere acceptance as they actively involve themselves in his process of socialisation.

"You think that you're teaching Peter things, but really Peter's teaching you things. We might be teaching him stuff like how to do things, but he's teaching us more how to think and how to react to other problems." - Peter's Classmate

An HBO Production.