Freedom Writers

Books:
Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer
Anne Frank by Anne Frank

Statement:
My favorite part which was also the most touching part of the book for me was when the Freedom Writers were holding hands in the rain on the Lincoln Memorial. They were remembering that this is the spot that Martin Luther King Jr. gave the I Have a Dream Speech. The book reads, "Ironically, when I looked at the Freedom Writers holding hands in the rain, I realized that we are his dream cme true." I thought that this really summed up the book well. It made me realize how big of an impact that the teacher had on each one of the students and what a big step it was for them but worth it in the end to make friends with everyone no matter who they are or what they look like.

Question:
These students were able to overcome lots of obsticles in school and in their real life. They were able to deal with the issues with the help of their teacher Ms. G. Do you think they would have been able to do it without her? What do you think the education system would look like if every teacher was like Ms. G? Would all the "at risk" students be able to succeed just like the Freedom Writers did? What should some of us do as future teachers to make sure that we make all of our students believe in themselves and in the end be successful?

Mary Ellen Korby