Curriculum Guide for the Teacher Cadet Course: Experiencing Education, Eleventh Edition
Freedom Writers: DVD Critique
It was Woodrow Wilson High School’s English teacher, Erin Gruwell, who realized that in
order for her “at-risk” students in Long Beach, California to excel, she would have to literally and
symbolically “tear down fences” that kept them from realizing their dreams and reaching their
potential. For too long, Gruwell’s students were constantly told they could not when she knew
that they could, and she wanted to prove it to them. The most important lesson, however, that
Gruwell taught her students was that they were the authors of their own life story, and if they
wanted to change, it had to start with them. Their words chronicled their stories and became
The Freedom Writers Diary!
Gruwell wanted to teach her students that the essence of change meant…the
contributions of the Freedom Riders to the Civil Rights movement; change meant…the signing
of the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln; change meant…the dream of Martin
Luther King, Jr. to have equality and justice for all American citizens, regardless of race; and
change meant…the heroic gestures of Miep Gies to help Ann Frank and her family during World
War II. While at Woodrow Wilson High School, Erin Gruwell immediately became cognizant of
her purpose there. You see, Erin’s purpose at that place- at that time- was to tear down fences
for her students. Because of her tenacity, she was able to make milestones assisting her
students.
Freedom Writers is an inspirational movie that depicts the story of true heroes, like
teachers, who are rarely acknowledged, but manage to make a difference in the lives of students
EVERYDAY, using the tenets and the underlying principles of school restructuring. As we reflect
on the Freedom Writers movie, we are reminded of the words of Mahatma Ghandi, who said,
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” It is also a perfect reminder for education leaders
to turn obstacles and hindrances into opportunities, in the face of adversity.
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