![]() ![]() One of the students from Woodrow Wilson High School, Sue Ellen Alpizar, recalls her problematic family background growing up, and how in school she was considered “ not college material”. These events took place in the 90s, so their protagonists have had time to reflect upon the experiences they lived and carry them on moving forward. Gruwell provides the students with diaries so they can use them as a vehicle to tell their stories. Upon seeing that everybody has gone through something of their own, the students grow closer together. Then, Gruwell asks her students to play what she calls “the line game”, which consists of taking steps forward if the students have experienced any of the events mentioned by the teacher. Grant is arrested later and Eva is called as a witness to the case, being torn between protecting her boyfriend or telling the truth.Īfter this incident, Erin decides to openly address racism and teaches her students about the Holocaust, which came as a surprise for most of the students except for Ben Samuels, a White student. Unfortunately, he hits instead one of Sindy Ngor´s friends, another fellow student of Cambodian ethnicity who was at the same location. ![]() Grant Rice, a fellow student of African American ethnicity who was involved in a brawl with Paco days before, is leaving the same store, and when doing so, Paco retaliates against him. The topics of gang violence, race and intolerance are displayed throughout the whole movie.Įva, of Latin American background, goes to a convenience store while Paco, her boyfriend, waits outside. The school used to be a prestigious institution until the enforcement of the voluntary integration of at-risk students and students of color, amidst the increase of racial tension. The events of the movie take place at Woodrow Wilson High School, in Long Beach California, in the 90s. Virginia, ordering the desegregation of interstate buses. The name also makes a reference to the multiracial civil rights activists known as ‘ Freedom Riders’, who are known for testing the U.S. The plot of the movie is inspired by the real stories that the students of Gruwell´s English class compiled themselves. Gruwell had already been in the spotlight for her labor as a teacher in the ABC News program Primetime Live, where her story was told by Tracey Durning in a documentary. BACKGROUNDīased on real life events, it depicts the story of Erin Gruwell, an English teacher at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California. The movie was written and directed by Richard LaGravanese and the character of Gruwell was portrayed by the actress Hilary Swank, who starred alongside other names such as Scott Glenn, Imelda Stauntan, Patrick Dempsey and Mario Dewar Barrett. What are your thoughts on this video? Pay close attention to how the nonverbal action of "standing on the line" effects the classroom environment.Cover of the movie Freedom Writers INTRODUCTIONįreedom Writers is an American film which was released on 2007 based on the book from 1999 titled The Freedom Writers Diary. Nonverbal communication has a clear and powerful impact on young people who are still in the process of growing physically, emotionally, and socially. Perhaps public schools should adopt a similar strategy - utilize more nonverbal communication activities in a classroom full of mis-communication, aggression, violence, and even hatred. For example, Chicago Public Schools four-year graduation rate was 69% in 2013, compared to Wake County Public Schools four-year graduation rate of 81%. Inner-city public schools in the United States experience lower graduation rates compared to districts who benefit from high tax-payer income and wealthy areas. Students did not use a single verbal message to communicate with one another, instead, the simple act of "standing on the line" was enough to create connections, instill resilience, and motivate. ![]() Differences in skin color, race, gender, and status was unimportant in that moment. Looking at the nonverbal communication between students, emotion was evident through the student facial expressions of sadness, grief, and even laughter. Swank is faced with a classroom of hatred due to race, gender, and cultural differences. Prior to this moment, the classroom is unbearable and impossible to teach. She instills a sense of self-worth, motivation, and a belief in a successful future. In a classroom full of potential high school drop outs, gang members, or drug dealers, who come from poverty, crime, and lack of support, Hillary Swank influences her students and taps into their inner potential. ![]()
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