Freedom Means No Fear: A Reflection

The movie entitled "Freedom Writers", for me, was completely a heart-warming film, and in addition, I admired how this true-based story really touched my heart to pursue my course right now. I was moved by the determination and endless love of protagonist for her students. She cleared the gaps and built genuine relationship towards each other. She taught her students not only academic things but also the core values in life that could possibly inspired them to become a better person.

QUESTIONS:

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

The movie clearly describes that Mrs. Gruwell is one of kind teacher who wanted to prove the impossible. A teacher who has that I-will-never-give-up-on-them-because-I-believe-that-I-can-change-them kind of attitude. Indeed, she is so selfless to the point that she has given up her private time in order to help her students find the personal value in their education, their voices, and pursue their dreams.

The class of Mrs. Gruwell is tough and racially divided. Of course, any teacher will find it hard to handle that kind of class. With that, Mrs. Gruwell creates a bridge for everyone to demolish prejudice and discrimination. She relates the education in the classroom to real world – connecting learning to life experiences.

It is observed in the movie that in the first days of Mrs. Gruwell as a teacher, she teaches only within the four-wall classroom – writes on the board, gives students the instruction – this made her a teacher of yesteryear. But eventually, Mrs. Gruwell abandons this kind of curriculum and she introduces new strategies to her students. She became more flexible in her ways. She develops meaningful professional relationships with her students to gain their trust. She gives her students a voice of their own.

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

Mrs. Gruwell’s class is compose of students with different nationalities and personalities and who are labeled as “people who weren’t expected to change” – there are gang-infested students, other students experienced abuse, while some came from broken homes.

There is a part in the movie where one could clearly conclude that racism is present in Mrs. Gruwell’s class. It is when Tito draws a shrewd picture of a black man with big lips which is passed around the class and eventually gets to Jamal and he gets offended by it. This scene only shows that there is a gap of discrimination between blacks and whites.

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

For me, the principal is a concern man who thinks about the condition of his subordinate. On the other hand, Margaret Campbell, Mrs. Gruwell’s coordinator, strongly disagrees about Mrs. Gruwell’s teaching tactics. She thinks that the students in Room 203 are cannot be trusted.

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

One of the activities that Mrs. Gruwell used in her class is the Line Game, where Mrs. Gruwell would state a question and the students should step on the line if they had been through this. This activity made her students come to a sudden realization that despite all their differences, they still have so much in common. Another activity she used is called “Toast for Change”. The goal of this activity is to validate her students’ past experiences, while offering them an opportunity to change the direction of their lives. It is a symbolic way to make her students realize that whatever they may have done before stepping into their classroom does not matter. The “Toast for Change” means a fresh start to rebuild their dreams.

Mrs. Gruwell also buys new books for them – books that could make her students relate. She provides them a notebook – a kind of journal where they should write on it every day about their feelings, their dreams, their experiences, and anything. Mrs. Gruwell always assures her students that there is someone who still believes that they could make a change.

These strategies and activities that Mrs. Gruwell incorporated in her class made a big improvement. Mrs. Gruwell made her classroom much more comfortable and better than before. She made learning meaningful and relevant to her students by appreciating their diversity and finding ways to connect their backgrounds.

5. Is there a use of technology in the class? Elaborate.

The use of technology is present in the movie. It is when Mrs. Gruwell gives the last task for her students by typing what was written in their journal. She compiled her students’ stories and printed it out. Its goal is to give everyone a place where they could express themselves safely and accept one another regardless of their social group.

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

I'll handle that class with strict observation. Students should know discipline and show respect not just to teachers but also to their classmates. To do that, I must show them strict implementations of rules and violations will be imposed if they break the regulations.

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

After watching the movie, I came to look back at my past experiences which until now still haunt me. Like in the movie, I consider myself as one of these freedom writers who use writing to express themselves. Indeed, this movie creates a big impact in my life. I came to a sudden realization that whatever my past is, I should leave them behind, and that I am the one responsible with my life – it’s either I’ll live it to the fullest or I’ll live it to the foolest.

8. What is the symbolism of Room 203? And how did it help the students?

For me, Room 203 symbolizes a “room for improvement” and a “Home”. It is a place where these ‘unteachable’ students found their hope because of Mrs. Gruwell.