Take Note

Heartburn: Teachers and administrators at Central Park East 1 Elementary School are not giving thumbs up to "Music of the Heart," the new movie about an acclaimed violin teacher who taught at the progressive school in New York City's East Harlem.

The movie dramatizes the struggles of Roberta Guaspari, who taught violin at the school from 1980 until last year, to keep the music program alive despite budget cuts. But the portrayal of Ms. Guaspari as a lone champion for music education, at a school that has had a well-regarded music program since it was founded 25 years ago by the prominent educator Deborah Meier, has riled staff members there.

The critics are upset at the movie's portrayal of a school plagued by crime and filled with uncaring teachers. Some scenes—including a drive-by shooting—were...