The Freedom Writers Diary
How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them
- 280 stron
- 10 godzin czytania
Straight from the front line of urban America comes the inspiring story of a determined teacher and her remarkable students. As a twenty-three-year-old English teacher at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, Erin Gruwell faced a classroom of "unteachable, at-risk" students. When she intercepted a note with a racial caricature, she realized the need for change and used "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl" and "Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Sarajevo" to guide her students on a transformative journey against intolerance. They began to see parallels between the books and their own lives, recording their thoughts in diaries and calling themselves the "Freedom Writers," inspired by the civil rights activists "The Freedom Riders." Through a "Read-a-thon for Tolerance," they raised funds to bring Miep Gies, who sheltered Anne Frank's family, to California, where she praised the students as "the real heroes." Their efforts garnered significant recognition, including appearances on major media outlets and a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Education. All 150 Freedom Writers graduated high school and are now attending college. Featuring powerful diary entries and Gruwell's narrative, this uplifting account showcases how determination and hard work transformed the lives of a teacher and her students. Proceeds from the book support The Tolerance Education Foundation, which funds the Freedom Writers' college tuition. Gruwel






