Freedom Writers

1. Describe Mrs. Gruwell as a teacher. How did she handle her class? What are her qualities that made her a teacher of yesteryear? 21st century teacher?

Erin Gruwell is a very enthusiastic and thrilled teacher whose heart, compassion and dedication to her student's changed their lives. She took on multiple jobs to provide the books and materials that the school refused to provide for her class. She took the extra mile, even when she didn't have to. Even when the students hated her for it. Despite the faculty, and even the student themselves, telling her that she should leave or treat them as if they were not human beings capable of change and should not care about their lives and well being. She never faltered, she never gave up and in time, the students began to see that the teacher shouldn't be the one to change, but them. Observing Mrs. Gruwell in the movie, she doesn’t seem to have the qualities of a yesteryear teacher. On the other hand, Mrs. Gruwell manifested several 21^st-century-teacher qualities. She allowed students to take responsibility of their own learning; is technology literate; used a variety of teaching methods; gave performance-based assessments; and made use of manipulative materials.

2. Describe the composition of Mrs. Gruwell's class? How is racism manifested in the movie?

Room 203 are composed of students who segregated themselves into different groups - Cambodians, African-Americans, Latinos and Whites. These kids tried to survive on the power of hate, some of them are part of gangs and some experience having their friends killed. These kids didn’t care about their present or future because they were hopeless that anything would ever change. Racism is clearly shown in the movie in the way that the students all hang out in small groups of racial cliques, and the way that they all hate each other and fight with each other with the color as reason. Even though they do not know each other, but still they judge one another just because of their skin color.

3. Describe the principal and Mrs. Gruwell's coordinator. How would you relate their characters and views in real life?

The principal does not appear much in the movie but was very professional in the meeting about Mrs. Gruwell teaching in junior and senior year. On another note, Mrs. Gruwell’s coordinator was deeply against the change Mrs. Gruwell has brought in school. Both the principal and Mrs. Gruwell’s coordinator give very little support to Mrs. Gruwell’s teaching needs. Both also suggest that she should rather instill concepts of discipline and obedience in her classroom. They easily doubt Mrs. Gruwell’s teaching ability and somewhat underestimate her capabilities in handling the class. In real life situation, there will be people who will not support you in the changes you want to bring for the betterment of the majority because of the how much it will affect them (financially). People, instead of treating us like human being, would treat us like robots. There would be people who will not give you the opportunity to be creative for the reason of inconvenience. Somehow, discipline and obedience to rules that benefits them financially is convenient.

4. What are the strategies and activities she used in her class? How did it help in making her class successful?

In the movie, Mrs. Gruwell uses a very different approach to teach these “not teachable” students. Erin tries to earn the students' respect by approaching them on their level using a Tupac song to teach them about internal rhyme. She also brings her students to the Holocaust museum and let her students read the Diary of Anne Frank.  She also made her students write letters for Miep Gies – the one who hid Anne Frank from the Nazis – inviting her all the way from abroad so that she can give inspiration to the students. The real progress comes when the students are given diaries to write their own stories. Through the exercise of reflection and writing journals, students began to see each other as people and not adversaries that need defeating.  Collectively these encounters raised the vision of her students so that they could believe that a better life was possible. She make them see how similar they are and how each one’s story is almost the same.

5. Are there uses of technology in the class? Elaborate.

They didn’t have all the advance technologies that we have now, but there were uses of technology in the class. The teacher used a cassette to play Tupac Shakurs songs which was the first attempt to make her students participate in class. Second, they went on a field trip and used some of the building’s computers to learn about the Holocaust survivors. Lastly, they got to use a computer received as donations to typed in their diaries.

6. If you'll be assigned with a class or students in conflict, how will you handle it?

 We believe that the best way to deal with a class in conflict is to look at their differences and similarities. Instead of paying no mind to the situation and continuously discussing, we will think of different kinds of activities constructed to their liking and interests. Activities that would make them share their differences and similarities. Through this, it would help students interact with each other which would lead to a better understanding of each other. If there is a need of an authoritarian approach, we will do so in a respectful and mindful manner.

7. What are your insights and learning after watching the movie?

A lot of teachers are still afraid to take the risk of going the extra mile for their students. The fear of damaging resources available limits the opportunity of students to learn. These teachers are depriving these students their right to access knowledge through these resources. There will be always those who are opposed to the ways which benefits students because it does not benefit them. Being a teacher does not just mean the mastery of a subject but this also requires character that persistently stands in the midst of adversary; a character that shines through the dark. Good character will always bring you to good places or outcomes you did not anticipate. As what is depicted in the movie, students don’t care what you teach if you don’t even care about them. What majority of teachers lack lately, compassion, is what the students need.

8. What is the symbolism of Class 203? How did it help the students?

Class 203 stands as a safe haven for people of diverse backgrounds. This class helped students to be themselves without the fear of being discriminated. Without the fear and hate in their head, they actively participated in class activities which improved their marks on reading and writing. The social skills and technology skills of these students were also seen to have improved because of the exposure in technology and diverse group activities.