PDers:

I also went to see this movie over the weekend - and yes, definitely an 
inspiring film for educators of all types.  Freedom Writers reminded me of 
the Paper Clip Project (<http://www.marionschools.org/holocaust/>), a 
similar project started by middle school students in Whitwell Tennessee. 
As a professional in the field of professional development, I am always 
encouraged when I hear about teachers who inspire their students beyond 
what is considered in a "typical" classroom.  We have proof that the 
learning that goes on by empowering students in the ways the teachers did 
in both these projects is so much more transformative and relevant than the 
"learning," if you can call it that, that goes on when students sit in 
their desks, flip through page after page in a workbook, and take a test to 
see how many additional worksheets they need to complete in order to 
"learn" what they don't know.  It's difficult for me to understand why a 
majority of teachers (in K-12 and in adult education) don't challenge their 
students more in the ways expressed in Freedom Writers and in the Paper 
Clip Project ( I know there are many who do, but definitely not a 
majority).  If it's the establishment that prevents this, then maybe we 
need an educational revolution.

To me, it's a "no-brainer" based on what we ALL know about learning - of 
course, students are going to be more engaged when the readings assigned 
for the class are relevant to the experiences of the students in the class; 
of course, students are going to be empowered when the assignments for 
class give them a voice; of course, students are going to perform 
exceptionally well when the expectations and the encouragements from the 
teacher model the expectations of exceptional performance; and of course, 
when students are respected, they will give respect, ...and the list goes 
on.

And yet, we see so little of this in most classrooms (and I include K-12, 
adult education and higher education) - WHY?!  I know there isn't one 
answer to this:  it's easier to do the norm, it takes more energy and more 
risk to do what the teachers did in the projects described above; fear of 
the unknown; pressures from the environments within which we work (the 
teacher in Freedom Writers definitely did not get the support from her 
leadership initially); it's difficult to "go against the establishment" 
when your job depends on maintaining the status quo (but this teacher knew 
what would empower these kids and was determined to provide what they 
needed) - and I'm sure it doesn't help that most of the teacher preparation 
programs in this country keep teachers "inside the box."  As professional 
developers in adult education, what more could we do to inspire, prepare 
and support instructors to create the types of learning environments 
provided by projects like Freedom Writers and the Paper Clip Project?  -and 
please don't say more time and more money, which are the two excuses we all 
use far too often to prevent change in our classrooms (it's easy to say, we 
don't have the money to do that, oh well...and let it go).

It would be my dream to get to a point in education when things that happen 
in our classrooms like in Freedom Writers and in the Paper Clip Project, 
aren't that big a deal and don't make national news - they're just a matter 
of practice....

-J

--On Monday, January 15, 2007 12:52 PM -0600 Micki Greer 
<mickiflips at hotmail.com> wrote:


>

>

>

> Hi all,

>

> I went to see Freedom Writers Sunday afternoon. I believe all teachers,

> and especially adult education teachers, should see this movie. In

> addition, I believe seeing this film would encourage adult ed. students

> to persevere with their education.  Based on a true story, the teacher in

> the movie uses lessons from the Holocaust to ignite a desire for

> tolerance, change, and success in the lives of her students. (Students

> are from dysfunctional homes, various cultures,  gangs, etc. in

> California)

>

> As a former participant in the Holocaust training in Adult Ed., I was

> especially moved by the events in the story.    Now, I want to read the

> actual publication (Freedom Writers).

>

> Has anyone else seen the movie? What were your thoughts? It was one of

> the best movies I've seen in ages!  And...based on true events.

>

> Micki Jaggars

>

> __________________________________________________

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> Get it now.




Jeffrey A. Fantine
Director, Literacy Center
College of Education
Ohio University
340 McCracken Hall
Athens, OH  45701
800-753-1519
Fax: 740-593-2834
www.ohio.edu/literacy