The Last Class
Discussion Guide
The Last Class is a film about master educator Robert Reich teaching his final course and reflecting on a period of immense transformation, personally and globally. We viewers experience Prof. Reich in his classroom as never before—his inspirational and unexpected approaches to teaching, his profound humanity, and his unwavering belief in education’s ability to triumph over cynicism.
We’ve worked with Prof. Reich to develop the following discussion guide about topics raised in the film. We hope it will encourage learning, inspire hope, and build community.
Education
Throughout the film we see Prof. Reich talking about his approach to teaching—priotitizing curiosity, disagreement, and critical thinking rather than delivering his personal opinions. His classroom becomes a space for students to think for themselves and engage with one another, not just with him.
Questions:
How would you describe Prof. Reich’s approach to teaching?
Why is education important in a democratic society?
What does Prof. Reich mean when he says, I worry about who the teachers of society are today, and who is conveying the lessons and making sense of the world for others?
What do you think makes a classroom—or any learning space—come alive?
Aging
In the film, Prof. Reich grapples with the end of a defining chapter of his life. His reflections on teaching are intertwined with questions of aging, identity, and loss—what it means to step back from something that has long defined you.
Questions:
Why do you think Prof. Reich chose to retire when he did?
Why do you think the younger people in the film—his teaching assistants and students—are so drawn to the idea that this is his last semester?
Do you resonate with what Prof. Reich discusses about his self-image: The big surprise is not what you see in the photo, the big surprise is what you see in the mirror!
How have you seen differences in age and experience shape the teacher-student relationship in your own life?
The Nature of What He’s Teaching
Prof. Reich’s course, Wealth and Poverty, goes far beyond economics. It’s about power, fairness, and the moral choices that shape society. His lectures ask students to see data and policy as deeply human issues that affect how we choose to govern and live together.
Questions:
What do you think Prof. Reich is really teaching, beyond the subject of economics?
How do you think inequality shapes the world we live in today?
If you were doing the $1,000 experience, how much would you offer and why?
Prof. Reich talks about how we all have our own sense of fairness. How would you define fairness and how is it different from other people you know?
Leadership and Personal Responsibility
In his final class, Prof. Reich argues that leadership isn’t about formal roles—it’s about taking responsibility and fighting against cynicism. He tells his students that democracy depends on people who act, question, and care. The film becomes an invitation to see leadership as something within everyone’s reach.
Questions:
How do you define leadership?
When does silence become a failure of leadership?
What does it take to turn personal conviction into collective change?
The History and Story of the United States
The film places Reich’s teaching within a larger American story—of struggle, progress, and democracy against the constant tension between ideals and reality.
Questions:
How do the themes of the film connect to the broader story of America today?
How does the world the students in this film are growing up in differ from previous eras?
What do you think we owe one another today—as neighbors, citizens, and human beings?
How would you define the difference between pessimism and cynicism?
A Deeply Human Film
Beyond ideas, The Last Class shows Prof. Reich’s humor, humility, and emotion. We see him laugh, draw, remember, and even cry. The film reminds us that learning—and teaching—are as much emotional experiences as they are intellectual ones.
Questions:
What moments in the film felt most personal or human to you?
How does emotion play a role in how you learn or connect with others?
When has a teacher, mentor, or friend helped you see something differently through their own vulnerability?
What do you think Prof. Reich means when he says that approaching his final last class echoes with thinking about the arc of his life?
Our Current Times and the Future
Reich’s students talk about being the “Last Generation,” revealing both anxiety and urgency about the world they’re inheriting. The film captures his belief that pessimism can be honest—but cynicism is dangerous. He challenges all of us to stay engaged, even when the future feels uncertain.
Questions:
Why do you think so many young people today feel pessimistic about the future?
How do you tell the difference between healthy skepticism and giving up hope?
What gives you a sense of agency or optimism in your own life right now?