Freedom Writers Diary Free Choice Reading Post # 2

The freedom writers Diary is a book compiled of journal entries. These entries are by “unteachable, at risk” students and their teacher Erin Gruwell at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. These journal entries start with the students at the beginning of their freshman year in 1994 to their Graduation in 1998.

These next two entrees are by Journals #12 & 13. Their names have been taken out due to security reasons. Diary 12 says that Mrs. Gruwell has been reading a book named “Durango Street” with the class. Its about a an African American teenager named Rufus who had been released from juve. 12 says that he himself and many people can relate to Rufus. If someone In the class hadn’t been in jail, they know someone close to them that has. 12 said he has been in juve, and he was afraid Mrs. Gruwell would hold it against him. I saw that 12 had somehow learned a leason while he was in jail and is now a more careful person. 12 had a problem like Rufus. In junior high he was picked on Then one day he fought back and got in trouble. I honestly don’t blame him for being mad. I would be just as angry but violence never solved anything. 12 had kicked the boy who was picking on him so bad he looked like he was dead with his eyes rolled in the back of his head and blood running down his nose. As 12 was picked up and put in jail his parents weren’t there to get him. He was in there for 5 long days. I felt sorry for him but in the end 12 turned his life around.

13 is amazed what Mrs. Gruwell has done. Her teaching methods were amazing he said. After reading “Durango Street” they were going to make a movie of it. Making a class movie would be fun I thought. Using acting as a teaching method in English is fun. 13 was inspired to be Rufus from the story. He wanted the lead role because he was similar to Rufus. He lived in the run down parts of town and he never knew his father. Eventually 13 was given the role of Rufus. 13 then noticed that another classmate wanted the part of Rufus too. 13 learns that this boy’s father was a criminal when he met him and was scared and wanted to express his feelings in his character. I saw the kind of emotion will make you stronger and will make you want to do your best In the end the other boy got to be Rufus’s probation officer. They both did well in the movie and it was a very unique learning experience. One more thing like Rufus was that nobody expected to do well but they overcome their hardships to prove others wrong.