Freedom Writers

1. Why did the students behave the way they do at the beginning of class?
Their community Long Beach is riddled with gang violence. At a young age they were made aware
of their difference from normalAmerica. Death was a normal sight for them. Their community is
divided into cliques Little Cambodia, the Ghetto, Little Tijuana etc. Ingrained into their mind is the
desire to protect one of their own due to the injustices they have received earlier in life. This
behavior manifests in their classrooms by aggression towards people from different tribes. Most
important of all, they are all hurt children abandoned by society who are simply trying to survive.
2. How did the teacher react to the situation?
Erin employed several teaching techniques. Initially she used music and humour in trying to build
rapport in the classroom. She also tried to breakup existing dynamics changing the seating
arrangement integrating the students. She made them realize that theyre all similar, victims of gang
violence. She became a beacon of hope towards her students, awakening the potential within them
and inspiring them to go ahead and dream.
3. How did the teacher win the hearts and minds of the students?
Erins tenacious heart inspired her students. She continued to persevere in giving her students
quality education despite opposition from school management. She even went ahead and got
several jobs to support her passion. She chose to tackle topics in a manner that adheres to the
world view of her students. Introducing them to the horrors of holocaust made them realize that
theres some sense of immortality when you are written in the pages of history. The trip to the
museum, dinner, and meeting yung babae na nag help kay Anne Frank minove sil greatly kaya sowly
nagopen mga puso nila. Baguhin mo nalang here ahhahah
4. What were the different ways the students employed to manifest their desire to learn more?
Nagsulat sila
They applied in doing the right thing kahit pa against sa code nila na to each his own emerlu
Sumubok din silang i mend yung mga mistakes nila sa nakaraan
Cooperation doon sa dance kemerlu, fund raisers
Generally opening up and being unafraid to seek counsel
5. What was the biggest struggle they encounter as a class in wanting to maximize their learning
experience?

Societal pressures and bias. The students grew up in a cycle of violence which made them hostile
towards one another. The education system also played a part by creating an environment that
acted more like a prison rather than an institution of knowledge. An institution that mostly cared
about what those students can exhibit on tests. Bias from the administration gave these students
subpar instructional materials and didnt give them enough support for them to be able to function.
6. What do you like most of the movie?..
I liked its core idea, Hope. Hope for a better tomorrow, for another door to open mga ganyang
kemerlu. This also exhibited an ideal type of education wherein the school doesnt only mold their
minds academically but hollisyically as well.