A Los Angeles teacher guides his class of fifth-graders through a performance of Shakespeare: in this case Hamlet , with advice from actors Ian McKellen and Michael York.

Teacher Rafe Esquith has a point of view - a very strong one - about educating children of immigrants. Teaching in Los Angeles at one of the nation's largest inner-city grade schools, Hobart Elementary, Esquith leads his class of fifth graders through an uncompromising curriculum of English, mathematics, geography and literature. He inspires them with cross-country trips to learn history firsthand. And at the end of the semester, every student performs in a full-length Shakespeare play: in this case Hamlet , with advice from actors Ian McKellen and Michael York. Despite language barriers and poverty, these "Hobart Shakespeareans" move on to attend outstanding colleges, motivated by a teacher honored with a National Medal of Arts. Co-presentation with Thirteen/WNET New York. By Mel Stuart