Full Answer
Is Freedom Writers movie based on a true story?
Based on the true story of Erin Gruwell and her 1994 freshmen class, "Freedom Writers" at least intimates that the teacher has as much to learn as her charges.05-Jan-2007
How did Erin Gruwell change her students?
She encouraged her at risk students to re-think rigid beliefs about themselves and others, reconsider daily decisions, and ultimately re-chart their futures. With her support, they chose to forego teenage pregnancy, drugs and violences to become aspiring college students, published writers, and catalysts for change.26-Oct-2015
What happened to the real students from Freedom Writers?
0:002:21Original Freedom Writer speaks to youth - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipManny Scott an original freedom writer who inspired the 2007 movie spoke to local students and at-MoreManny Scott an original freedom writer who inspired the 2007 movie spoke to local students and at-risk youth today he told his life story his struggles.
What happened to the teacher from Freedom Writers?
Gruwell was right; Sue Ellen was dyslexic. And after the diagnosis, Sue Ellen's grades improved. She graduated from Wilson and obtained degrees from Long Beach City College and Cal State Long Beach. She now works in the Freedom Writers Foundation created by Gruwell in 1997.30-Oct-2017
Did Miep Gies visit Wilson High?
As depicted in the film, the real Miep Gies did come to speak to Erin's students after they raised enough money to fly her from Amsterdam. Miep was 87 when she came to speak at Woodrow Wilson high school in Long Beach, California. She came during the 1994/1995 school year. "People sometimes call me a hero," says Gies.
Who was Erin Gruwell married to?
Scott CaseyErin Gruwell / Spouse (m. 1990–1994)
Who is Manny Scott in Freedom Writers?
An original Freedom Writer whose story is told in part in the 2007 hit movie, Freedom Writers, Manny Scott has energized over a million leaders, educators, volunteers, and students worldwide with his authentic, inspiring messages of hope.
What happened to Andre Bryant Freedom Writers?
Gruwell and others. He also liked to participate in class assignments such as reading the diary of Anne Frank, and raising money for Miep Gies to come to Wilson High. But, when he went to his brothers trial and found out his sentence was declared, Andre went back to his old ways by selling drugs and skipping school.
Where is Maria from Freedom Writers?
0:0326:30Maria REYES on InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLiving in an urban world of segregation. And poverty she had no hope of escape.MoreLiving in an urban world of segregation. And poverty she had no hope of escape.
Who was Grant Rice in Freedom Writers?
Armand JonesArmand Jones, who plays Grant Rice, died in the lobby of a Denny's restaurant early on the morning of March 17. Mr. Jones was an ambitious, bright-eyed 18-year-old whose dreams of a career in entertainment were starting to come true with his role in the movie.06-Jan-2007
Is Erin Gruwell married now?
Scott CaseyErin Gruwell / Spouse (m. 1990–1994)
Who are the five most important Freedom Writers characters?
The Freedom Writers Diary CharactersErin Gruwell. ... The Freedom Writers. ... Anne Frank. ... Zlata Filipović ... Miep Gies. ... John Tu. ... Sharaud. ... Renee Firestone.More items...•30-May-2018
Why did Gruwell give her students journals?
Writing journals became a solace for many of the students, and because the journals were shared anonymously, teenagers who once refused to speak to someone of a different race became like a family. In the fall of 1995, Gruwell gave each of her students a bag full of new books and had them make a toast for change.
What did Gruwell tell her students about the Holocaust?
Gruwell told her students that it was drawings like that which led to the Holocaust. When one of her students asked her what was the Holocaust, she was met by uncomprehending looks -- none of her students had heard of one of the defining moments of the 20th century.
Who is Erin Gruwell?
Erin Gruwell (born August 15, 1969) is an American teacher known for her unique teaching method, which led to the publication of The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them (1999). The 2007 film Freedom Writers and 2019 PBS documentary, Freedom Writers: Stories from the Heart, ...
Who was the teacher that took the students to see Schindler's List?
Gruwell took the students to see Schindler's List, bought new books out of her own pocket and invited guest speakers. After her year of student teaching, Gruwell returned to Wilson as a full teacher, this time with a class of sophomores.
Who wrote the Freedom Writers Diary?
The Freedom Writers Diary is a 1999 book written by the Freedom Writers with intros by Erin Gruwell. It is the basis of the 2007 movie Freedom Writers, starring Hilary Swank as Gruwell, ...
What is Freedom Writers based on?
The 2007 film Freedom Writers and 2019 PBS documentary, Freedom Writers: Stories from the Heart, are based on her story. She was an incredibly influential teacher who not only taught her students, but ensured their safety at home.
How many Freedom Writers graduated from high school?
All 150 Freedom Writers graduated from high school and many went on to attend college. Between 1994 and 1998, the Freedom Writers garnered a great deal of media coverage, including appearances on Primetime Live, The View and Good Morning America.
Why did Erin Gruwell's father think she was making a mistake teaching there?
Erin Gruwell’s father thought that she was making a mistake teaching there because it was dangerous, and even her husband thought she was wasting too much time with kids who would never learn or respect her. On Parents’ Night, no one showed up to visit her classroom. This showed Erin that her students were right.
Where did Erin Gruwell go to high school?
Erin Gruwell was born on August 15, 1969 in California. She graduated from Bonita High School, in La Verne, California, and the University of California, Irvine. She went on to California State University, Long Beach to earn her Master’s Degree and teaching credentials. From there, she went on to her first teaching job at Woodrow Wilson High School ...
Who is Erin Gruwell?
Erin Gruwell. Erin Gruwell is a person who wanted to prove the impossible. She proved that she could teach kids who are “unteachable”. She was able to inspire kids who wanted to be in gangs, and kids from bad homes to want to learn and read.
Did Erin know about the Holocaust?
Erin found that her students never even knew about the Holocaust, but it was something that intrigued them, and it was something they could relate to. When she saw how her students were reacting and changing, Erin even invited some Holocaust survivors to a dinner with her students so they could speak in person.
Why are Freedom Writers called Freedom Writers?
Her students became known as the Freedom Writers because they finally felt free to tell their stories. In 1999, these journal entries became a best selling book called, The Freedom Writers Diary. In 2007 the story was told in the movie called, Freedom Writers. Erin Gruwell no longer teaches in the classroom.
What is Erin's plan for Wilson?
(full context) Adapting herself to her students’ life stories and interests, Erin plans a curriculum that will keep them engaged. She chooses the diaries of two adolescent... (full context) Part III: Diary 25.
What does Erin Gruwell recall in the epilogue?
Epilogue. Erin Gruwell recalls that, during the Freedom Writers’ trip to Washington, someone suggested that their next... (full context) Erin also takes part in a transition of her own, as she leaves high school and... (full context) ...of them have known what it feels like to believe in violence as a solution.
What is the epilogue to Room 203?
Epilogue Quotes. Without the comfort of Room 203, they had to adjust to new environments and their newfound freedom. Initially the transition was difficult. Room 203 wasn't just a classroom, it was home, a safe haven. I realized that in order for them to grow, they had to branch out and explore new ground.
Did the young men in Columbine share a community like the Freedom Writers?
Unfortunately, the young men in Columbine didn’t share a community like the Freedom Writers. Instead, they were alone and on the fringe. Their cries for help fell on deaf ears. And rather than picking up a pen and finding a solution, they turned to guns and bombs instead.
Is Freedom Writers a white savior?
From Jinh0574 on Wikipedia Commons. As a teacher in inner-city Baltimore, the movie Freedom Writers has a very mixed reputation, to say the least. Some see the movie as inspiration al, but others see it as a white savior movie that implies that all inner-city kids need is a white savior teacher who can change their lives.
What did Erin Gruwell say about self promotion?
In defense of the critique of being too self-promotional, Gruwell said that it was attention forced upon her in the media as a catalyst for education reform. She said that she would be profiting from self-promotion if she were, but she hadn’t. Erin Gruwell in 2015 — From Erin Gruwell on Wikipedia Commons.
Who is the supporter of Gruwell?
Supporters of Gruwell, including Carl Cohn, former Long Beach Superintendent, defended her devotion to her students. “She turned her classroom into a family,” Cohn said. “And this family was a positive substitute for the negatives — the really big-time negatives — in their lives.”.
Did Erin Gruwell work at Woodrow Wilson High School?
In real life, however, Erin Gruwell actually did do some great work at Woodrow Wilson High School (whose name a Change.org petition is now urging to change) in Long Beach, but real life is, of course, more ambiguous than the movie. Gruwell did a lot of good with her student, but other teachers in the school did too.
What does Polacheck say about Gruwell?
Polacheck says that she understands why teachers and staff at the school might be upset. Gruwell’s classes had kids who wanted to transfer in, and Beard said that when students wanted to transfer classes, “it wasn’t really a big deal.”.
Who was the teacher in the movie "Wilson High School"?
Another Wilson teacher, Sue Westphal, who was the head of the English department during Gruwell’s time at Wilson high school also lamented that the film portrayed the school as “a gang-infested school where nobody cares,” but acknowledged that during the Rodney King riots, there was a fight involving 20 or more kids on campus.
Did Gruwell ask to keep her kids all four years of school?
As a final note in Butler’s article, Gruwell’s request to keep her kids all four years of school was not conventional and was usually not allowed. As a teacher myself, I know how it is: you teach your grade level and stick with it because other kids need your help beyond the ones you teach in a given year.