Freedom Writers Notes

Hilary Swank plays as Erin Gruwell, starting her first teaching job as both freshmen and sophomore English teacher.  She seems to look only on the positive side of things to where as all the other teachers have already given up on the students there.  After getting shot down by her students you would think she would also not put as much effort in but this teacher is different.  Many of the students in her class are involved in gangs and feel what's the point in trying if everyone else has just given up on them and let them down.  Prime example being none of the students have even heard of the Holocaust when many kids learn about the Holocaust around fifth grade.  Gruwell makes sacrifices not only with herself, but for her husband as well.  She has gone and gotten two additional jobs on top of her teaching jobs to go out of her way and buy books and as well as take her students on trips.  It's hard enough for majority of people in today's world to have one job without complaining, let alone three.  This right here would lead back to what makes a good teacher.  Showing she cares and not giving up on her students.  She sees something in all of her students that not everyone sees.  In fact, I don't see Erin Gruwell as just a good teacher, I see her as a great teacher.  Students aren't fortunate enough to have many good teachers anymore, especially in high school.  Gruwell does a fine job at being a good teacher and is a great example to others and the impact she has made.  I'm not saying teachers have to get two additional jobs or even one additional job on top of their teaching to buy books and such.  But it's her compassion and showing she is not going to give up is what makes her teaching so great.