Lean on Me is a film about a tough and abrasive principal who is called upon to fix the disadvantaged school of Eastside High to avoid being run by the state as opposed to the local school board. This film brought to light the controversial character of Mr. Joe Clark, played by Morgan Freeman. This film was released on March 3, 1989. Lean on Me was Morgan Freeman's first major film in which he starred as the lead. This film is loosely centered on Joe Clark, a real-life principal from Paterson, New Jersey, who, much like the fictional character Mr. Joe Clark, is tough, harsh, aggressive, and abrasive. The fictional character of Joe Clark, also nicknamed "Crazy Joe", was purchased at Eastside High School by an elementary school after being the former principal 20 years ago. It was named to help raise student's basic skills test scores. The state has set basic minimum skills test requirements, and this high school scored poorly. You tackle this almost impossible task by trying to get rid of the problem...