Be Heard: Erin on the Freedom Writers' Journals

[LuzMariaTorresII]

I WISH I HAD A TEACHER LIKE THIS!!!!!!!

[Kinaboxlol]

MADDY ER SYGT GAY!

[ArmandoG2013]

too bad teachers today are more concerned about not having to pay for their medical insurance and not the fact that half their students do not graduate and those that do are not prepared for life or college

[Gleekedgal]

@ArmandoG2013 not all teachers are like this.

[jazzmusicplayer]

If only more teachers cared and wanted to get in touch with the students like her then maybe America's public school system wouldn't be so messed up right now . . .

[brigette101ettegirb]

Freedom Writers.

[ady4more]

I watched this movie in my class. Definitely one of the most impressive and educative movies I've ever seen.

[Linababy101]

I was just watching this..

This was such a great movie!!

I'm definitely watching it tomrrow :)

[washmuki671]

Watching this movie in my class :) I love this movie!

[antigoniem06]

This woman needs a Nobel Peace Prize.

[ThePunisherFreak]

Anyone know where I can find the book/books and the movie?

[psycodude565]

@ThePunisherFreak probably at your local library or bookstore

[LivLondonista]

i just bought the book today and i couldn't put it down! i read straight through 137 pages!

[bibltech]

The Freedom Writers had a dream and they fulfilled it now we who have read their stories and seen the movie must carry the baton that they have passed on to us and "....be the fourth leg of the race" and use writing for change

[fstopPhotography]

I just finished watching the movie, and now I must read the book. When I'm done, it's time to make a change...in me. I am 47 years old and never has a story brought me to tears like this. The world needs more people like Erin Gruwell. I'm going to step up and do what I can to help.

[TheWritingShadow]

I'm reading the book right now and I'm not even finished with it yet but just reading it makes me want to meet this amazing woman. She changed the lives of so many people with what she did and it shows me what real heros are made of. Thank you to all those teachers who care and for those of you who are going to become educators one day good luck have faith and never stop believing in yourself.

[VampChick713]

I watched the movie and it was amazing! Then I read the book and cried a lot. Then I watched the movie again, knowing the book, the real stories as written by the Freedom Writers, it made the movie that much more real, and I cried harder than ever.

[TheFruitCase]

in the scene when the two little boys go to the bench and get a gun and accedently shoots himself, what song was that?

[TheAnd1Shot]

@TheFruitCase ...im trying to figure out that same thing, any luck?

[bubblesandlove78]

I just finished watching the movie and I was crying at the end. I was so touched by the movie and planning to get the books Ms. Gruwell is so inspirational and I thank you for giving me a different view on teachers. Some really do care!

[yangistan]

Why did you cry? It was a happy movie in the end.

[divadlite1]

people are ignorant as to just how little classroom teachers make. If they were money hungry they are in the wrong profession. Something is terribly wrong with them to go to a job with pressures from the state, administration, parents, school board, superintendent and naughty children that half havent been disciplined, dont have any desire to learn a thing, and act as if they have no sense at all. Donald Trump money wouldnt be worth it to me let alone the meer peanuts that they are given.

[danielleroque11]

i finished the 2 books and the movie, it was amazing! totally

im 12 :|

people think im too young

BUT NO IM NOT!

[ThePunisherFreak]

Kid, you ain't too young. Believe me... I'm 14 almost 15 and people think that I'm stupid 3/4 of the time to tell ya the truth.

[NickStockes]

I have never agreed with someone else that much before. Saw the movie and definitely I'll mark it as the best movie I have ever seen...

[sambojones123]

wow guys and girls im so happy that out of all the hatred and violence and differences in our country we as people can come together over a movie made from this women who made a real impact on us so thank you :) and it makes me happy to know theres people out there like you guys that actually listen my # is 801-739-1867 text me sometime

[icedragon005]

I've had many teachers in college who would just make us write paper after paper, never really taking an interest in any of us students. We were just a paycheck.

I can name less than a handful of teachers (starting from eighth grade on) who, like Ms Erin Gruwell, had a profound impact on my life. I thank them for inspiring me to pick up the pen at 15 years old and write.

Did you know that some teachers are not allowed to require their students to read the Freedom Writers Diary? How sick!

[hotdrumchick]

I just finished watching the movie...it had me crying. Thank God for teachers like Mrs. Gruwell, who give our kids hope and belief in themselves.

Too bad there aren't more who are willing to look behind what they see outside and give a kid a chance to shine.

[ReyNixz]

I hope this happens to our class....

[jeprey09]

a very capturing, motivatonal, inspariotnal movie!!!! thank you Ms. Erin Gruwell and the Room 203 ppl=)

[Disneybabe290]

I am a T.I.L. (Teacher in Learning) and I had to research you or her, and now you/she makes me proud to want to be a teacher, I just hope that I can be just as good as you/her.

[meboobrat]

i love da movie

[nay2213]

i think she is very inspirational!

i swear on everything---my teachers name is Ms. Draewell, and looks like her!!

[GottaLuvDK]

Great teacher. Great movie.

[slat13]

She is a true inspiration.

[Pazarcikli01]

the teacher ist very great

[Rumpelteazerpink]

Erin is an amazing teacher.

Not an actress.

Hilary Swank is an actress.

Hilary looks like her, and can easily play her in a film.

That is how casting works.

[cjs176]

Man great for her, she looks like Hilary Swank from the movie

[sTreetZsg2]

only if more teachers were like diz

all teachers shud be made 2 watch dis!!!!

[itswatevafools]

cuz.. alot of em dont care.. dey just wanna get thru the day.

[musiclover468]

she went that extra mile to make the kids understand each other and make a differecne in thier lives. I love the Freedom Writters movie, its one of my favorites

[solange305]

she looks different

[honduranpriincess]

nooo shes suppose too look exactly the same idiot.

[alaynaxluis08]

shut up maybe she/he didnt no

[honduranpriincess]

i was being sarcastic genuis.

[alaynaxluis08]

what i meant was you dont have to be mean about it meanin maybe dat person thought she looked da same as she did in da movie duh lol

[cuba93]

the person in the movie was just an actress. but this is actually her. that's why sh looks different. :]

[pbrucpaul]

Beautiful, bright, and committed. What a woman!

[peanutbuttercup11]

The Freedom Writers Diary

by "Freedom Writers"

I found on Amazon and in Target

[vintagefame]

I justs aw her speak today!!! It was awesome!! ^^

and Maria! ^^

[ShericeAjani]

I'm watching this movie in class right now.

And we're reading a journal entry every day now.

It helps us teens understand about each other now.

And my Lang. Arts teacher makes us have these Freedom Journals.

:]

[Tinamusicreggaeluv]

We are studying that now we do enteries too.

[roolin20]

I am a freedom writer and i would like to say Ms.Gruwell is the best.But let me tell u something the the movie was not based on the oringinal writers and the movie was not portrayed the right way.

[crayyawn]

how so?

[GBallaJ]

werent they given different names and stuff like that?

[JM61091]

i know that they use her real name and last. ERIN GRUWELL. but idk about the students.

[daoneandonlydon]

"We have many reasons to hope for great happiness, but...we have to earn it. And that's something you can't do by taking the easy way out. Earning happiness means doing good and working..."

Anne Frank.

[franscafe1]

check her freedom writers foundation website..

[doody91]

I am meeting Erin tommorow and I am so excited. I'm having dinner with her!

[chantalbernard]

I thought she was teaching college?

[Purpa333]

Does she still teach?

[freefriday]

no she quit after the freedom writers left because she had gotten so much money from preformences on shows and now the movie that she did not need to coninue to teach

[ploki777]

she should still teach, for the sake of children.

[Emmylou3]

Erin is absolutely amazing - THIS MOVIE WAS THE MOST BRILLIANT ive seen in so long!!

All for Erin - Amazing how segregated they "were" and hoow many had been attempted shot at etc. Amazing - i Havent llost anyone yet and they have lots 1 or more! Its just mind blowing how hard ppl hvae it and their stories are jusat amazing!!

[avatar209]

This movie teaches us to look at poeple on the inside isntead of the outside. People shouldn't seperate from other people just because theay have a different color of the skin or because they talk different. I think all the teachers like Erin don't do it because they will get big money or something..... they do it because they look out for the kids and protect them and they know what they can do. All of the kids have gone to things that we will never think that it could happen.

[OddLittleEmily]

People. Her color doesn't matter. That is kind of the point. Black teachers... and teachers of other races as well... do amazing things such as what Erin did every day. The reason this story made it to the big screen is because she got their stories published. The message is not that blacks cannot survive without the intervention of white people... the message is that this amazing woman inspired teens to look past race and further themselves despite the violence-ridden environment they lived in.

[mostnved0101]

your an ass you obviously didnt understand the point of the movie it wasnt based on color..and all of the teachers that do things like this do count they dont need a movie to show it this was just one teacher that went over and beyond her job and she wrote a book about it and they made a movie abough her to represent all the teachers that are like her

[funkbrother216]

This isn't the 1st movie of it's kind. Before this, it was Dangerous Minds and then before that, Sunset Park. They are also biopics about some great white savior of the negroes. 1 or 2 of these flicks is one thing, but an overabundance of these types of flicks sends a bad message that blacks cannot function as a people without the intervention of a white person.

[mostnved0101]

ok you have a point but it doesnt send a bad message.. just because your taking it the wrong way doesnt mean that that's the message its sending its only your opinion

[funkbrother216]

You just choose not to see it. You are not black so you have that luxury. Erin, herself isn't part of it, but hollywood is using her story to promote an agenda.

[mostnved0101]

i dont have to be black to see it but im going to leave it here.

[treeheathen]

I've thought about that a lot. The only thing that's different about this one is that it was a true story. It wasn't fabricated. I don't think it's about the white savior. If it has anything to do with white people it's a message. Telling us to wake up, and how are blacks supposed to just, rise out of the hole miles deep we've forced them to dig? We have a responsibility to get our brothers and sisters of minorities where we are. It just depends on how you look at it I spose.

[thenexttwiggy]

ur so cool! im so inspired i hope one day i have a teacher like u

[gjmaiden4eva]

I've so much respect for you, I can't believe what you achieved! =)

[smilehan]

She's Amazing, i respect her so much for how much she believed in her students! The book is great aswell as the movie.

[degrassi3141994]

She's so sweet :(

[Lahydee82]

Luv the movie too much

[basskckn]

Just watched the movie...and was blown away. I applaud Erin Gruell and the Freedom Writers. Thank you for your story...truly inspiring. Made me look deep at myself and you helped me find the way. Thank you.

[fagbowsa]

thx for being so cool i wish u could be mah teacher 0.o hehehe

[hotelcalifornia22]

i love the movie i couldnt belive it all happend it is so inspiring, it takes alot to do what erin did . and i respect her for doing wat she did>

[yangml]

Thanks for believing in second chance. Not many people can do what you did! ^_^

[e1egant]

its completely different as how the school is in the movie there is no gangs and vandalism.

[jvann244]

she is an inspiration man. she is great teacher. i wish i had her in high school

[Rainy55]

I loved this film. I am a teacher in rural Canada, no gangs but after three decades of teaching, I know my students stories and as it depicted in the movie, there is heartache and joy everyday. Yes, I cried and I cheered.

[e1egant]

I go to wilson in long beach

[DogyGIR]

Oh just rub it in our face why don't ya!

[anjet148]

whats that skewl like

[irmia30]

I just watched this movie, and it's very inspiring. especially if you face the same situation as erin experienced. the hate-look, suspicious based on your race/colour, the socio-cultural construction that make people hate other people... i like this film.

[girly86girl]

i cried 3 times watching this movie! im a sucker for happy endings!

[DieVersity88]

It's understandable

[girly86girl]

lol yep

[Jeri38]

I just read the book it was good everyone should read it.

[kishadoll]

i saw the movie yesturday and cried 3 times ( 5 , cause i saw it twice, i missed the bigining ) but it was so great couldn't miss the end for the second time .. anyway gonna trie to get the book !

[justmenobodyelsex]

Lovedd itt amazing filmmm amazing acomplishment well done Erin & Freedom Writers!!

[clairesayshi]

This movie was so great. I cried a few different times throughout it. It reminds me of a teacher of my own this year whom I never thought I would like...nobody thought they would. But she was nothing but patient with us. she's incredible and such a wonderful person, and I can now say she's honestly the best teacher I've ever had.

[valaurwen]

She did an absolutely amazing job. But she's one of many. Teachers in my neighborhood and the schools around here try so hard to do the same thing and it's amazing. The BIGGEST issue is that we need to find a way to get the damn school districts and local governments to support these teachers in every way they can! They abandon their teachers so often, just like Mrs. Gruell.

[NoDayButToday552]

i really really really wanna read this book! omg... this movie made me cry with happiness... and i've never done that before. chilling.

[SweetThang1020]

im reading the book right now and its just amazing to hear wat they have to say its big its a must read

[lithiumluver33]

freedom writers is a very good movie my neighbor hood needs to watch this vid b/c we do the same exact thing not wit da guns but wid fightin and gang bangin

[dunechard]

OOOPS wrong vid....

[dunechard]

What...You pulled the comments...What a joke...