Freedom Writers

I went to the movie Freedom Writers this weekend and enjoyed it--all teachers and parents should see it. Watch out for the bad language--ghetto kids do not normally say "O, my goodness gracious."

Those of who have been teachers know it would have taken longer in real life than in the movie to turn rebellious, potty-mouthed street kids into compassionate, responsible, heart-stopping readers and writers--but the message is still there: It can be done. The movie is based on a true story.

This movie should be invigorating for sales of Anne Frank and Durango Street by Bonham. The teacher in the movie used both books to great affect in the movie. They are both good books, and I am sure are still being used by teachers strong in the building of humanity's best traits. The students in the movie had never heard of the Holocaust. Their eyes were opened by the Diary of Anne Frank. They were so moved that they raised money to bring the woman who hid Frank to their school for a day of sharing.

The teacher fought administrative no's, collegial envy, and an unsupportive husband to bring her charges around. There were so many scenes in the movie when I wanted to say "Amen!" And, unlike real life sometimes, the happy ending of the story made my heart swell at the idea that a good teacher can change eternity. As Christa McAuliff said, "I touch the future. I teach."

The students actually had the journals they wrote published in a book called The Freedom Writers' Diary.

Go see it, but don't take the young ones.