I think educators have such a hard job that every once in awhile I spotlight someone who does something fantastic. Recently, I gave kudos to Oprah Winfrey for starting a school in South Africa. Awhile ago, I gave kudos to a principal who spent the night on the roof as part of a reading challenge in his school. (You’ll definitely have to look at that blog for a more thorough explanation!)
Today I’m giving kudos to Erin Gruwell and her students–”The Freedom Writers” You will likely here about this story soon as Hilary Swank is playing the part of Erin Gruwell in the film.
I have to be honest: I love and hate stories like these all at the same time. I cannot tell you how many teachers I’ve met who have come to the inner city watching movies of inspirational teachers in the inner city, thinking that they too will have the same kind of impact. There is a high turn over rate in the city and these teachers are typically the first to go.
But I love these stories as well because the truth is there are lots of teachers inspiring at risk students every day. This is just a one snap shot of what it can be like when students who have been written off realize that they too, can and should contribute.
Erin Gruwell, faced with a group of students who had been deemed “unteachable” by the education system, decided to introduce them to literature that they could relate to: The Diary of Anne Frank, and Zlata’s Diary. Both of these books are about kids the same age facing similar issues: racial tension, violence, and despair. Through reading these books and through the affectionately known “Ms. G”, these kids realized that they had a voice that they could make heard. They started chronicling their lives, struggles, dreams and thoughts and dubbed themselves “The Freedom Writers” (named after the Freedom Riders who fought against segregation during the Civil Rights movement.)
These kids went on to publish a book, titled the Freedom Writers Diary and now have a foundation. Their foundation provides scholarship assistance, staff development to teachers, and inspiration to thousands of inner city and at risk youth.
So kudos to Erin Gruwell for refusing to write off a bunch of kids even though they were difficult to teach. Kudos to the Freedom Writers for seizing the opportunities presenting before them.
Related Articles:
Stressing the Need for Diligence
My Inner City Story: Inner City Conditions