Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)

William H. Macy: Vice Principal Wolters

Quotes 

• Principal Jacobs : Mr. Holland, it has come to my attention that you are teaching the students rock and roll.

  Glenn Holland : Is this a problem?

  Vice Principal Gene Wolters : Is this a problem? Yes, I think so. Our only job is to teach. We cannot teach and the students cannot learn if there is no discipline.

  Glenn Holland : Uh... I'm sorry, uh, what exactly is your point, Gene?

  Vice Principal Gene Wolters : My point is rock and roll, by its very nature, leads to a breakdown in discipline.

  Glenn Holland : Well, what would you like me to do? Deny that rock and roll exists?

  Vice Principal Gene Wolters : What I am... What we are saying is that you should be pushing the classics. Brahms, Mozart, Stravinsky.

  Glenn Holland : Stravinsky was the music of the Russian Revolution, if you want to talk about a breakdown in discipline.

  Vice Principal Gene Wolters : You are deliberately exaggerating.

  Glenn Holland : How about the Kingston Trio, Gene? How about Sing Along with Mitch?

  Vice Principal Gene Wolters : Oh, please!

  Principal Jacobs : Just a minute, gentlemen. Mr. Holland, I do not want to interfere in the curriculum of any teacher. But next week, I have a meeting with the school board. And there are people in this community who believe that rock and roll is a message sent from the devil himself. Now when that issue comes up, what can I tell them?

  Glenn Holland : Mrs. Jacobs, you tell them that I am teaching music, and that I will use anything from Beethoven to Billie Holiday to rock and roll, if I think it'll help me teach a student to love music.

• Vice Principal Wolters : Have you been to any of the football games this season, Mr. Holland?

  Glenn Holland : I can't say that I have, no.

  Vice Principal Wolters : Well, Mrs. Jacobs and I feel that there's something missing.

  Glenn Holland : Touchdowns.

• Vice Principal Wolters : I care about these kids just as much as you do. And if I'm forced to choose between Mozart and reading and writing and long division, I choose long division.

  Glenn Holland : Well, I guess you can cut the arts as much as you want, Gene. Sooner or later, these kids aren't going to have anything to read or write about.

• Glenn Holland : Well, congratulations, Gene. You've been looking for a way to get rid of me for 30 years, and they finally gave you an excuse.

  Vice Principal Wolters : You know, I'm not as popular as you. I'm not anybody's favorite anything.

  Glenn Holland : That's because you're the enemy, Gene. You just don't know it.

• Vice Principal Wolters : Corvair?

  Mr. Glenn Holland : Yeah.

  Vice Principal Wolters : I take it you didn't read Ralph Nader's book.

  Mr. Glenn Holland : Well, unless Ralph is willing to buy me a new car, I'm going to have to stick with this one until the wheels fall off.

  Vice Principal Wolters : Well, you might not have to wait that long. Heh, heh. Have a nice day.