Freedom Writers come to Truman
Baillie James
Issue date: 2/11/10 Section: News
The movie "Freedom Writers" will come alive in Kirksville next week. Two students from Room 203 that inspired the film will speak at Truman on Monday night.
Erin Gruwell began teaching an English class at an at-risk high school in Long Beach, Calif., in 1994 and led the group to graduate from high school and pursue higher education. Their stories inspired teachers everywhere after "The Freedom Writers Diary" was published in 1999. Two of Gruwell's students, Tony Becerra and Calvin Vanderhoff, will discuss their triumphs against gang violence, English as a second language, unstable home lives and other struggles at 7 p.m. Monday in Baldwin Auditorium.
"We're just punk kids from the hood who made it out," Becerra said. "We're not rich. We're not famous. … I don't think we're anything special. We're just people who wanted to change."
Yet schools throughout America, Canada, Mexico and Argentina think differently as they vie to get one of the original 150 Freedom Writers to visit. Becerra and Vanderhoff travel once or twice a month to present at schools, juvenile halls and conferences.
Becerra said the Freedom Writers offer their life stories as examples. They try to show students that no matter where a person comes from, he or she can get an education, even when faced with the judgments of outsiders. When not traveling, Becerra works in Los Angeles teaching first generation Americans and migrant children how to read and write, especially poetry.
Ryle Hall director Liz Raine serves on the Residence Life Diversity Committee and said students who attend this event should come away with a greater understanding of tolerance. She said she wants students to realize that although all of the Freedom Writers were "at-risk" students, one person managed to change their lives.
Danielle Noring, community coordinator for Missouri Hall, said the Diversity Committee has been working to bring the Freedom Writers to Truman since a student adviser suggested the idea in October. Multiple organizations, such as the Center for Student Involvement, National Education Association, New Student Programs and Student Senate, collaborated to make this event financially possible. Noring considers this presentation a great opportunity for Truman students, especially for the education department.
To prep students for this presentation, "Freedom Writers," starring Hilary Swank, will play at 6 p.m. Saturday in Kirk Gym and 9 p.m. Saturday in the Student Union Building Hub. A question and answer session will occur after the presentation Monday, followed by a book signing. Both "The Freedom Writers Diary" and "Teaching Hope: Stories from the Freedom Writer Teachers" can be purchased at the presentation.
Erin Gruwell began teaching an English class at an at-risk high school in Long Beach, Calif., in 1994 and led the group to graduate from high school and pursue higher education. Their stories inspired teachers everywhere after "The Freedom Writers Diary" was published in 1999. Two of Gruwell's students, Tony Becerra and Calvin Vanderhoff, will discuss their triumphs against gang violence, English as a second language, unstable home lives and other struggles at 7 p.m. Monday in Baldwin Auditorium.
"We're just punk kids from the hood who made it out," Becerra said. "We're not rich. We're not famous. … I don't think we're anything special. We're just people who wanted to change."
Yet schools throughout America, Canada, Mexico and Argentina think differently as they vie to get one of the original 150 Freedom Writers to visit. Becerra and Vanderhoff travel once or twice a month to present at schools, juvenile halls and conferences.
Becerra said the Freedom Writers offer their life stories as examples. They try to show students that no matter where a person comes from, he or she can get an education, even when faced with the judgments of outsiders. When not traveling, Becerra works in Los Angeles teaching first generation Americans and migrant children how to read and write, especially poetry.
Ryle Hall director Liz Raine serves on the Residence Life Diversity Committee and said students who attend this event should come away with a greater understanding of tolerance. She said she wants students to realize that although all of the Freedom Writers were "at-risk" students, one person managed to change their lives.
Danielle Noring, community coordinator for Missouri Hall, said the Diversity Committee has been working to bring the Freedom Writers to Truman since a student adviser suggested the idea in October. Multiple organizations, such as the Center for Student Involvement, National Education Association, New Student Programs and Student Senate, collaborated to make this event financially possible. Noring considers this presentation a great opportunity for Truman students, especially for the education department.
To prep students for this presentation, "Freedom Writers," starring Hilary Swank, will play at 6 p.m. Saturday in Kirk Gym and 9 p.m. Saturday in the Student Union Building Hub. A question and answer session will occur after the presentation Monday, followed by a book signing. Both "The Freedom Writers Diary" and "Teaching Hope: Stories from the Freedom Writer Teachers" can be purchased at the presentation.
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