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This book is a compilation of diary entries from 150 high school students in Long Beach, California, who call themselves the Freedom Writers. Their English teacher, Erin Gruwell, discovers that her at-risk students have never heard of the Holocaust.Jan 16, 2009.
I rated The Freedom Writers Diary a 5/5 on Goodreads. It was truly moving and inspirational
I rated The Freedom Writers Diary a 5/5 on Goodreads. It was truly moving and inspirational
DISCUSSION POST #1:
Topic: Gangs
Mrs. Gruwell summarizes the reasons for gangs as being all about receiving pride, an identity, and someone to blame. Is her point of view accurate? Consider Mrs. Gruwell’s description of the Holocaust and the Nazis being the biggest gang in the world. Explain how the Holocaust should help students understand that gangs only hurt rather than help. If you disagree, also explain why.
Mrs. Gruwell summarizes the reasons for gangs as being all about receiving pride, an identity, and someone to blame; considering Mrs. Gruwell’s description of the Holocaust and the Nazis being the biggest gang in the world, I can definitely agree that teaching about the Holocaust could help students understand that gangs only hurt rather than help. A gang is a group or society of people with the same agenda and fighting for the same cause. During the Holocaust, the Nazis were a prominent gang because The Nazis sought to strengthen the Germanic people, under their leader Adolf Hitler; Hitler strived to establish a new racial order in Europe dominated by the Germans including only the “pure race.” The students of Woodrow Wilson High School are part of gangs within their own communities. They have witnessed, first hand, unnecessary gang violence in this world.
Mrs. Gruwell summarizes the reasons for gangs as being all about receiving pride, an identity, and someone to blame. Is her point of view accurate? Consider Mrs. Gruwell’s description of the Holocaust and the Nazis being the biggest gang in the world. Explain how the Holocaust should help students understand that gangs only hurt rather than help. If you disagree, also explain why.
Mrs. Gruwell summarizes the reasons for gangs as being all about receiving pride, an identity, and someone to blame; considering Mrs. Gruwell’s description of the Holocaust and the Nazis being the biggest gang in the world, I can definitely agree that teaching about the Holocaust could help students understand that gangs only hurt rather than help. A gang is a group or society of people with the same agenda and fighting for the same cause. During the Holocaust, the Nazis were a prominent gang because The Nazis sought to strengthen the Germanic people, under their leader Adolf Hitler; Hitler strived to establish a new racial order in Europe dominated by the Germans including only the “pure race.” The students of Woodrow Wilson High School are part of gangs within their own communities. They have witnessed, first hand, unnecessary gang violence in this world.
DISCUSSION POST #2:
Topic: Respect
“To get respect you have to give it.” Do you agree or disagree?
Write your definition of respect. Does it differ from the students’ point of view in the novel? Why are the students willing to die for their respect? What roles do poverty and discrimination play in the student’s value of respect?
I strongly agree with the quote “To get respect you have to give it;” I feel quite passionate about the fact that respect is earned. I define respect as the admiration for a person or thing influential in your life. Towards the beginning of the book, I personally feel that the students were confusing the terms respect and loyalty. They feel loyal to their specific groups mainly due to poverty, and that is perfectly understandable, but the students seem to be blindly throwing out the word respect to an individual that clearly is not influential, nor earns their respect. With the feeling these teens hold of loyalty, they feel loyal to die if that what its comes to. Throughout the novel, I feel that Mrs. Gruwell changes the students’ views on respect. Mrs. Gruwell taught the student what it feels like to be shown respect.
“To get respect you have to give it.” Do you agree or disagree?
Write your definition of respect. Does it differ from the students’ point of view in the novel? Why are the students willing to die for their respect? What roles do poverty and discrimination play in the student’s value of respect?
I strongly agree with the quote “To get respect you have to give it;” I feel quite passionate about the fact that respect is earned. I define respect as the admiration for a person or thing influential in your life. Towards the beginning of the book, I personally feel that the students were confusing the terms respect and loyalty. They feel loyal to their specific groups mainly due to poverty, and that is perfectly understandable, but the students seem to be blindly throwing out the word respect to an individual that clearly is not influential, nor earns their respect. With the feeling these teens hold of loyalty, they feel loyal to die if that what its comes to. Throughout the novel, I feel that Mrs. Gruwell changes the students’ views on respect. Mrs. Gruwell taught the student what it feels like to be shown respect.
DISCUSSION POST #3:
Topic: Ignorance
Does ignorance play a role in the students’ violence against each other? Explain. Why is it a defining moment for Mrs. Gruwell when all the students have been shot at (Except Ben) yet they know nothing about the Holocaust?
“Ignorance breeds violence” Explain this statement.
I believe that Ignorance plays a huge part in the violence in this novel. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge or information; In the book, most of the students lack much of the "basic" knowledge we know. Mrs. Gruwell asks the students how many of them knew about the Holocaust, only Ben raised his hand, She then asked how many of them have been shot at, all of them raised their hand except Ben. In this moment Mrs. Gruwell realizes the violence in her students' lives. She then thinks of the great idea to read The Diary of Anne Frank and relate it to their lives. “Ignorance breeds violence” because ignorance leads to fear, fear leads to hatred, hatred leads to violence.
Does ignorance play a role in the students’ violence against each other? Explain. Why is it a defining moment for Mrs. Gruwell when all the students have been shot at (Except Ben) yet they know nothing about the Holocaust?
“Ignorance breeds violence” Explain this statement.
I believe that Ignorance plays a huge part in the violence in this novel. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge or information; In the book, most of the students lack much of the "basic" knowledge we know. Mrs. Gruwell asks the students how many of them knew about the Holocaust, only Ben raised his hand, She then asked how many of them have been shot at, all of them raised their hand except Ben. In this moment Mrs. Gruwell realizes the violence in her students' lives. She then thinks of the great idea to read The Diary of Anne Frank and relate it to their lives. “Ignorance breeds violence” because ignorance leads to fear, fear leads to hatred, hatred leads to violence.
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I personally loved the movie; I believe it was a great representation of the novel. I have never said this before but I think I enjoyed the movie more than the book. I loved everything they included, but the biggest event that I was looking forward to seeing was the Graduation. My biggest takeaway from this film/novel was that I want to make an impact on others. I also think it is important to document important moments in your life.