In the beginning of the film you saw Ms. Gruwell's department head suggest that she not to wear her pearls to class. The English teacher commented on them as well. Later we notice that she wore them to class on the first day of school. Why do you think she was given the advice and why do you think she ignored it? Also, you heard Ms. Gruwell 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 almost none of the students had ever heard of the Holocaust? At one point she is having a conversation with her department chair about giving her students new books. What was the importance of that discussion? Finally, what do you think is the most important message of the film?
42 comments:
I think that teacher commented on Mrs. G's peal necklace to warn her not to wear them because she believed they would get stolen. Mrs. G continued to wear them to show that she did no think that they would get stolen and was not worried that the kids would do that. The conversation regarding the books illsutrates how Mrs. G was the first person to really believe in the students and give them a chance. The other teachers did not think that they deserved a chance to succeed and like Mrs. G explained that is the reason why the students never really tried because no one expected them to succeed. I have seen this movie multiple times and yet each time I feel like I learn a new and important lesson. It is a very powerful movie that shows how everyone deserves a chance and an oppurtunity to succeed despite their past actions. It also shows how stereotypes can be broken when people are given the oppurtunity to break them, as the students were.
The teachers warned her not to wear the pearls because they assumed the worst about the kids so they thought someone would take them. She most likely did not take their advise because she was very naive and did not know what she was getting herself into. While talking about the books the woman seemed as if she did not care about the kids and it felt like she had already given up on them. I feel that none of them knew of the Holocaust is because they were never truly taught because their grades reflected this. The main message of the film is to not judge others by how they look but by who thy really are.
I agree with Catherine about how not to make assumptions about a person by their past but who they can be in the future.
I think that Mrs. G was warned not to wear her pearls because of their value. They feared that the students would see them and take them or view her a just a rich girl, one who can't understand them. Nice things like pearls so far from what these kids know that no one could determine how they would react. Mrs. G continued to wear them because she wanted to show how much she trusted these kids. She wanted to make a point that there was more to them than their looks and street violence. The books further emphasized how the department head thought about these kids. She didn't see them as students but rather as scums who they just needed to occupy for a few hours a day without anyone getting hurt. She didn't see them having any potential because of where they came from while Mrs. G saw that they were not defined by their backgrounds but that they were individuals who could be taught and become productive members of society. Mrs. G got them the books to show the students that she believed in them and to get them to believe that they are worth something and they can be smart. I think the main message in the movie is how one person can truly make a difference. It was made clear that these kids were all going down the wrong path but when Mrs. G showed up in their lives, it not only change her entire classroom, but also the school. These kids could then go out and do something good in the world because of the lessons one person taught them and because of the way she got them to believe in themselve
I agree with Patrick that they didn't know of the Holocaust because no ever cared enough to teach it to them. The teachers may have believed it could put ideas in their heads when in reality, it would have made them more aware sooner in life.
I thought it was amazing how much Ms. G helped out her students. Even though nobody else had faith in them, she tried her best to change their lives around and she succeeded. Seeing the kids turn into responsible, well behaved people was really inspiring and interesting. This film really shows people that just because someone isn't white, has a tough life, etc doesn't mean that they don't have potential or don't deserve to be treated fairly/equally.
I believe that she ignored the teacher because she believed that the students wouldn't do something like that. I believe that none of the students heard of the Holocaust because none of the teacher in the school bothered to relate to the students and teach them the material. When she asked the department for new books it showed that she was willing to teach the students which no one else gave an effort to do. Overall I believe that the film showed be that you can teach anyone as long as you can relate to them and connect to them as well as teach them in a way that makes more sense to the student.
I agree with Catherine Martin that stereotypes can be broken if someone were to give them an opportunity to do something about it.
I agree with Julia about how a lot of times it only takes one person to make a big difference. Ms. G put a lot of her life on hold to help her students and better their lives.
Ms.Gruwell was told to not wear her pearls by the other teachers because the kids would either try to take them or judge her as being rich and snobby. I believe the kids hadn't heard of the holocaust because their previous teachers thought they would take nothing away from learning about it, or they just wouldn't learn anything at all. I agree with what Patrick said about how the teachers never cared enough to teach the kids about it. The importance of the book conversation was to show that the administration just didn't care about these kids and looked down upon them. I think the most important message of this film is that if you really get to know someone or a group of people one person can break down all prejudice judgments they had against each other like Ms. G did. She took the time to listen to each of them and understand them like no other adult had done.
Mrs. G wore the pearls because they were important to her and her father gave them to her. She failed to remove the pearls despite warning from the department head to she show that she was not going to judge the students and assumed they would steal them just because it was an inner city school. The fact that she continued to wear the pearls proved her trust and confidence in each one if the students.
The students were unaware of the holocaust because of their poor educational background that they had received. Before I learned about the holocaust in school my parents had mentioned what it was. For the teens in the movie we saw that they did not have particularly good parents that would be able to sit down and have an educational conversation.
Overall the movie portrays the overall theme that every individual despite their background is capable of success and happiness if they truly want it.
I agree with Avalon that watching Mrs. G help these students was very inspirational. It goes to show that no matter who you are if you really want to make a difference, small or large, it can happen if you put everything you have into it.
Mrs.G's want her class to be kind and stop the bad stuff like fighting and killing each other.
I think that the pearl necklace represents how the head department thought that someone was going to steal her necklace. I thought that the other teachers at the school never really cared enough for the students like Mrs G did. When Mrs G asked if they knew what the holocaust was, i felt that the other teachers didnt think it should be taught to them. I think that the importance of the discussion was that she really wanted the kids to persevere and she was determined to change that and also of what everyone thinks about them. I think the message of the film is that you can truly strive to success when you have someone who believes in you.
I agree with Erin's comment on how the administration looked down upon the students.
I believe Ms G was warned not to wear her necklace because of the type of kids she was teaching. Not only because they could try and steal them, but because they already think of white people as stuck up and rude and greedy and this might make that idea much worse. I think she chose to wear them anyway because she often only looked on the bright side of things and felt the kids had more to them than just theives even before she met them. The kid's past and the stereotypes that came with them led to teachers and faculity not to trust them. they werent thought of as intelligent and they didnt believe they could handle a responsibility simple as a book. The message of the film was to not jump to conclusions about a person and try and see who they really are and not just their appearence and background.
I agree with Avalong that Ms. G is a very inspirational teacher. I can only imagine the influence she had on the rest of the faculty and students at that school and throughout the country through this movie.
I think she was given the advice to not wear the pearls because the department head believed that the type of students she was teaching would steal them suggesting that they could not be trusted. Ms. Gruwell chose to ignore this advice because she had high hopes for her students and did not judge them based on their appearance or on what the other teachers said about them, Ms. Gruwell wanted to make a judgment on the students herself. I think that none of the students had ever heard of the holocaust because a lot of times the holocaust is not taught until Junior year in schools and since it was a freshmen class, they had not come upon that in the curriculum yet. The importance of this discussion was to show how the school was not willing to give these students any of the same attention or materials as their white students. It showed how teh department head was totally against the integration of teh school and resented the fact that these kids were in her school. I think the most important message of this film is that all anyone needs is someone to believe in them in order for them to be successful. The only reason why Ms. Gruwell's students were so successful was because Ms. Gruwell actually believed that they could do it and supported them when no one else was.
I agree with Catherine on how the movie demonstrates that everyone deserves a second chance despite their previous actions because people, when given the opportunity, can change.
I think the teachers warned her not to wear her pearls because they're so valuable, and they were afraid that the kids would steal them. She continued to wear them because she didn't know what the kids would be like, but also because she wanted to trust the kids and give them a chance. When Mrs. G was talking with the department chair about getting new books for her students, the department chair seemed like she didn't trust the kids at all. She assumed that they would tear the books and lose them, so she told Mrs. G that the school would't pay for new books for them. This shows that the department chair didn't see past the appearance of the kids. She viewed them as violent and untrustworthy without even getting to know them. Mrs. G ended up getting new books for the class anyways, which showed that she believed in them. I think the most important message in this film is how one person can change the lives of many people. Mrs. G gave these kids a chance to be successful. She believed in them, which allowed them to believe in themselves.
I agree with Julia, that Mrs. G prepared the kids to go out and do something good in the world
I believe that Mrs. G was told to not wear the pearls by the teacher because of their value and because that teacher was skeptical about how the kids may act when they saw them. The teacher didn't want Mrs. G's pearls to get stolen. However Mrs. G decided to wear them anyway because she wasn't worried about how the children would see her with them on. Mrs. G wanting to get books for the children showed how much she cared about their education and futures. She wanted them to succeed and she wanted to give them every opportunity that she could. I believe that the main message of this movie is that in being given a support system anything is possible. Clearly everyone doubted the non white children at the school because they were getting into trouble and performing poorly on exams. However, the only reason for this is that these children were never given the tools for success. They were not loved or appreciated by the school system and school was simply a daycare for them because the teachers didn't think that the children could do anything with their lives except cause trouble.
I agree with Catherine's comment about stereotypes being broken. I also believe that when people are given the opportunity to, they can prove what they are really worth and meant to do in this world, that they can make a difference.
I think that the teachers suggested that Ms. Gruwell not wear her pearls to class for fear that they'd get destroyed or stolen based on their prejudice towards the students of freshman english. I think Ms. Gruwell ignored the advice and continued wearing her pearls to make the point that she would not act on any prejudices that other faculty members warn about. After the event involving the ugly picture one of the students drew, I believe most of the students had not heard of the Holocaust because no teachers before had ever had the patience and understanding to teach these students about such a subject. The trend in the class was that the students had low reading levels, low interest levels, and low attendence at school. This led to very little effort to find engagement from any past teachers. I feel the importance of the conversation between Ms. Gruwell and the department chair was that it highlighted how severely these types of students were put at a disadvantage. Students in the past reacted negatively toward books and work because it was taught without encouragement and motivation. Now in the present, these students that look or act similarly to those past students are prejudged and assumed to do the same thing as those in the past, only creating a mistrust and making it even more difficult for the students to want to succeed and for the teachers to form a bond with their students. However this drive that Ms. Gruwell has for her students, changes their perspectives on learning, each other, and life. In the end, I think the most important message of the film is to never judge a book by its cover. The idea that a person can't be defined by what they look like on the outside, and that how teachers can make or break a student based on their capability to understand their students and create a comfortable environment for their students.
I really liked how Meghan described the main idea about success when given the right tools to accomplish these goals. Its interesting to actually imagine school as simply a daycare for highschool students, which is what it was for these students before Ms. Gruwell.
I think Mrs G was given advice to not wear the pearls because they made her seem wealthy and upper class, to kids who hate that kind of person. I think she chose to ignore it because she wanted to prove to the kids that that stereotype is wrong by wearing the pearls and gaining their respect. The kids probably didn't know about the Holocaust because they didn't seem to pay much attention in school, or were not taught about it because maybe teachers didn't think they could handle it.
I agree with Kylie's point that you should never judge a book by its cover. That point is definitely proved in the movie when the kids overcome stereotypes.
james yi
i like the movie because i think that the teacher inspired the students. i think that Mrs G helped the student to realize how important life is and how school is important. i dont think that people should be judge how they look and what kind of race they are.
abner
i think that this movie was good. i think people should not be treated differently because they are different
I agree with catherine in that stereo types can easily be broken if people jist take the time to get to know someone so that they could aee that we are all not so different from eachother.
I was absent from class on March 12.
I was absent from class on March 11.
I think Mrs. G's department head told her not to wear the pearls because she thought that the kids would steal them. I think she ignored it because she wanted to trust the kids. I think that the kids didnt know about the holocaust because they have not been in a good school system and have never been properly educated before. This discussion is important because it shows that most of society doesnt believe the kids deserve or want more knowledge or want to better themselves, but that Mrs. G believes in them despiteall of that. I think the most important message is that you shouldnt judge people before you really know them.
I agree with Kylie on her point that it was Mrs. G's determination and dedication to the students that caused them to want to better themselves.
I think that the teachers commented on the pearls because they were so used to how the school was already that they have seen teachers come and go after being driven out by the bad students. Also, it was important to realize that the kids didn't know about the holocaust because it is something that people in WHS know very well and would seem so weird to us to see kids our age not know about it, which shows really how uneducated they were and how much they didn't care for school. Also, the teacher asking for new books implied that the school wasn't well funded enough and maybe that was the problem the kids weren't getting the proper education as when she got the new books the students began to fain interest more and more in learning.
I agree with pat about the pearls completly. She didn't expect the kids to be as bad as they were, the pearls showed her naive tendency towards teaching as she was a new teacher to begin with.
I think that teacher commented on Mrs. G's peal necklace to warn her that they might get stolen by the students. Mrs. G continued to wear them to show that she did had faith that they would not be stolen. The conversation regarding the books illsutrates how Mrs. G believed in the studentsand wanted to give them the chance to be treated like real students. The other teachers did not think that they deserved a chance to succeed because they would all end up as dropouts. This movie is a very powerful showing how everyone deserves a chance and an oppurtunity to succeed despite their their situations and the steroetypes surrounding them.
I agree with Patrick. The students were never properly taught about the Halocaust because no teacher felt like they would view it as important or that they would relate to it. This movie does show its very important not to judge.
Ms G. decided to wear pearls to her lcass eve after she was advised against it because she ignored the condescending messages that the teachers were sending her. It was a leap of faith and a symbol of trust on her part. This movie shows the power of the individual, and that anyone can achieve their goals as long as they keep on trying.
As for the lack of lessons on the Holocaust, I agree with the comments above. It was because most of the teachers at the school wrongly believed that the students would not pay attention long enough to learn and they didnt care and they couldn't relate. Ms. G proved how wrong they were.
Mrs. G wore the pearls because her father gave them to her. I think she also wanted to challenge the other faculty and show she could do this on her own. This shows she began her career with confidence.
The students were unaware of the holocaust because of their poor education.
Overall the movie shows if you work hard enough, you can get anywhere no matter where you started.
I agree with Erin when she says that every individual despite their background is capable of success and happiness if they truly want it.
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