In the beginning of the film,
The Freedom Writers, you saw Ms. Gruwell's department head suggest that she not to wear her pearls to class. We noticed later that she wore them anyway. Why do you think she ignored the advice? Also, you heard the teacher ask her students if they were aware of the Holocaust after she saw an ugly picture being passed around the class. Why do you think she asked her students if they had ever discussed the Holocaust? Did you think it was important for her to have asked her students that question - if so why?You will make a reflective comment to these questions and then make a comment on at least one other student's comment. Remember to use your First Name and your Last Name!
18 comments:
I believe it was important for Ms. Gurwell to ask her students if they knew about the Holocaust because she could explain the connection present day gang violence is similar to this historic event. I think as the movie continues, the teacher found a way to get her students interested in school and learning by connecting their lives with important historic events. I believe the principal knew how the students would react to a teacher who wears nice clothes and jewelry. The students felt they had no connection with the teacher, and did not respect her. Ms. Gurwell wore her pearls against the principals instructions because she believed if she wore her pearls, it would not affect her role as a teacher.
I guess one part of Ms. Gruwell ignoring the advice to npt wear the pearls was just how stubborn she is, and it shows that she won't back down or doubt these kids, even when the higher ups have already moved on and expect them to drop out. And I love her way of getting to these kids, capturing thier interest despite their front they have to put up at school. She makes the entire rest of the class time a discussion starting with a picture Jamahl just wanted her to drop and continue teaching usless lessons about Homer. She appealed to them by comparing them to the Nazis, which is probaly not a good thing to be compared to, and cheer about. If I noticed similar qualites between my students and the Nazis, I would ask them if they knew about the Holocaust, too, because they would need to know how bad they were getting, and what might happen, that should never happen again. That is why I think it is vital for everyone to learn about it. And Christine is correct when she says the students did not respect, as I quite clearly remember one student sayin, "why should I give you my respect, cuz you're a teacher?"
I believe Ms. Gurwell wore the pearls because she felt the students should be treated as normal people, not criminals. I think she asked her students about the Holocaust because she could see there was racial tension within the classroom and community, and wanted to use it as an example of how these prejudices could escalate to serious violence. I do think this was important because they can relate to that type of violence because many of them are in gangs that are strictly made up of one race.
I agree with how Christine said Ms. Gurwell asked them about the Holocaust because they could relate to it with the violence that occurred in the past and the violence occurring now.
I thought that this movie shows the struggles of urban life. The fact that they have to even state that wearing pearls might be a bad idea shows the extreme difference between the society that Ms. Gruwell is used to and that of her new students. I thought also that the fact that very few of them had heard of one of the most influential historical eras in world history but all of them had been shot at. That not only shocked me but also made me really realize how bad these kids have it and how lucky we do. I also disagree with Tara's statement. I don't believe that Ms. Gruwell was saying that they were like Nazis but rather that their killing ways resembled them. I also don't believe that they are going to even come close to the event that is the Holocaust. I also agree with Nick that she wanted to treat her new students as people as opposed to criminals.
I believe Ms. Gruwell wore the pearls for a couple of reasons. Firstly I think she was slightly naive. While I think she knew that she was in a school with children from a lot of different backgrounds, I don't think she knew just how bad it would be. Secondly, I think a part of her wanted to prove her department head wrong. I think Ms. Gruwell asked her students about the Holocaust because after one of her students asked her what it was she realized that they may not have been taught about it and was extremely shocked. It was very important for her to ask them if they knew what it was because it is a major part of our history and because not knowing about it could cause it to happen again. I also agree with Nick in saying that part of the reason Ms. Gruwell wore the pearls was to treat the kids like kids instead of criminals.
I think that Ms. Gurwell wore her pearls to class because the wanted to show that she was not worried about the students and that the had enough faith in them. She didnt feel that there was a need to leave them home, and she believed that there was nothing to worry about, despite the warnings by the other teachers. She also asked them about the Holocaust because it began in ways similar to the ones that she was seeing amonst the gangs in area. The racism and cruelty among the diggerent groups strong represented the Holocaust and the hatred that acompanied that time in history. She wanted to educate them in a way that related to them, and this was the way in which she wanted to do it.
I think the department head suggested she not wear pearls because she thought that Mrs. Gruwell would just get laughed at and never taken seriously. She had so much given up on the children that she didn't think they would connect or respect Mrs. Gruwell just because of the way she would percieve to them on the outside. I think she ignored this because she was strong in her opinion and person, and knew if she didn't wear them, then she shouldn't be teaching there. I agree with Nick that she asked her students about the Holocaust because of what she saw and she thought explaining this event in history would point out these prejudices. I think it was an important example to use in the class room because it got all the students connected on one level, so they all understood her message.
I agree with Mikes statement of how movie shows the struggles of urban life. And I also agree with Sarah when she stated how Ms. Gurwell might be slightly naive about the principals comment on her pearls.
I think that Ms. Gruwell wore the pearls to class because she wasn't fully aware and and given enouhg knowledge on how these students actually act. I think that she asked her students if they've ever heard of the Holocaust because we learn history so we dont repeat ourselves, and if these kids learn what happened in the past, it might stop people from starting up another holocaust. I agree with Tara on how she appealed them by comparing them to nazis which is a very negative thing to compare someone to
I think Mrs. Gruwell ignored the advice of her department head and wore the necklace anyways because she was going to give the kids a chance, and not take the same view of the other teachers and let them go through school without getting a real education. She asked the students if they had ever discussed the holocaust because it was a very devastating event that stemmed from negative racial attitudes, and she wanted to show them that the violence they experience in their lives is very unnecessary. I think it was important for her to ask that question because many of the kids in the class can learn from the holocaust in the sense that they can realize what can result from constant hatred of others just for their race. I agree with Nick that Mrs. Gruwell is attempting to treat her class as people and not criminals, because she wants to show them that she believes they can change the way they act.
I agree with Tara when she said that Ms. Gurwell wore the pearls regardless of what the other woman said because she wasnt going to give up on these kids no matter what. She probably asked her students about the Holocaust because it is a major event in history and it is relateable to their lifestyles so maybe she thought that they did know something about a topic such as that. I think it was important for her to ask even if they knew about it or not because it is so relateable to the lives they live everyday
I beleive that Mrs. Gurwell wore her pear neklace after being advised not to wear it, because she wanted to show her students that she viewd them the same as everyone else. The reason she told the students about the holocoust was because not only is it very significant event, but she felt that the kids would be able to relate to the nazis. I aggree with nick that she wore her pearls to show the kids she didnt think of them as criminals.
I believe that Ms. Gruwell wore her pearls because she felt as though her students should be treated the same way that she would treat anybody else. Also, I believe it was because she was a new teacher who didn’t really know what she was getting herself into. I believe she asked her students if they were aware of the Holocaust because after seeing the fighting, the picture and the way they live she realized that if things don’t change they were beginning to live and treat others the same way Jewish people were treated during the Holocaust.
I agree with Sarah that a part of her wanted to prove the department head wrong and that she shouldn’t worry about the pearls.
I think Mrs. Gruell wore her pearls to class despite the department head's advice because she had a lot more faith and hope that these students would respect her belongings. As Nick stated before, she wanted to treat them as normal students, not criminals. I found it very interesting that only one student knew of the holocaust, while almost every student had been shot at before. I think Mrs. Gruell brought up the historical event of the holocaust as it could relate to almost all of the students present day lives. By teaching them about the holocaust, her students could learn how their violent ways can lead to tragic outcomes. I disagree with what Tara said about how Mrs. Gruell was comparing her students to Nazis. I don't think Mrs. Gruell would ever want to offend her students with this comparison amd just wanted to make a connection of how a lifestyle of violence and murder can escalate into a tragic massacre.
I think that Mrs. Gruwell wore the pears to class even though her department head said not to because she did not believe the kids could possibly be as bad as the way the department head had descried them. She wanted to see for herself first if they were going to act that badly. It was important to ask the question on the Holocaust because what they are doing presently with all the racial violence is very similar to what happed with the Nazis. If they could relate what they are doing to what happened before them maybe they could learn from it and but things in perspective. I also agree with Nick Judd about treating the class as human beings and not as second class citizens just because of the way they live their lives.
I think Ms.Gurwell decided to wear her pearls to school despite being told not to because it was her way of telling the rest of the faculty that she isn't afraid of the students. I think it was important for her to ask the students if they had ever heard of the holocaust because it would allow her to see what her students knew and helped put the whole situation in perspective for her when she found out that more students had been shot at. I agree with Christine thar Ms. Gurwell wants the students to know what the holocaust was so it will help them understand the way she compared it to the gang violence they see on a daily basis.
All of Ms. Gurwell’s students have lived in fear and doubt of themselves because of their gang life experiences. Her determination to spark her student’s interests is to never deal with doubt or fear but to move forward with what you know and have experienced to create a fresh start. When she tries to have the kids read books she buys new ones for them despite they might ruin them. She creates an environment for them that is the opposite of what they are used to witch is 2nd hand packets for people who are not smart enough. The reform school they are in is set up with no confidence in their students, figuring they will just drop out anyways. Despite the doubt and lack of support from the administration, Ms. Gurwell is willing to fit to her troubled classes needs including ignoring the advice from her superior, she does this to treat her students with a positive view, and not a group of delinquents. She works with them to find a hope for their life.
I blogged
Post a Comment