Freedom Writers Page #15

who have tenure,

Who have worked and committed

themselves for far longer

To attain a position of seniority.

Not to mention their experience

in teaching students of a higher caliber.

The Distinguished Scholars Program

is under our jurisdiction.

I don't want to replace

the Distinguished Scholars Program.

I just want to stay

with my kids next year.

She can't. I have the juniors.

The Board of Education

will not allow this.

Teaching rotations will be disrupted,

Retirement schedules

will be reevaluated,

Disrespecting teachers

who have earned their way far longer

And who focus on the classroom,

Not on public relations

and newspaper articles.

I didn't ask for those articles

to be written.

She's in the middle of a divorce.

Note, they stay late in her class,

they're eating, they're playing games!

All right, let's all just take a breath here.

All right?

Now I had hoped

that we could talk this out,

Maybe come to some kind

of arrangement.

- There is no arrangement...

- Margaret.

Carl, look.

Putting aside all obvious resentments

for the moment,

Even if an arrangement were made

And she could teach them as juniors,

there isn't an accredited course

In the curriculum for her to teach.

Unless Brian trades one of his

junior classes for a sophomore.

No.

Then there's nothing I can do.

So that's it?

Believe it or not, Ms. Gruwell,

There are other capable teachers

in this school.

If you've made the progress

you say you have,

Your students should be ready

to move on.

They might even gain something

from more experienced teachers.

You can't teach them.

You don't even like them.

What does that have to do

with teaching?

I've been an educator for over 30 years.

I have students that still remain

in touch with me.

I know what it is to be loved

by a classroom!

You have no idea

how many battles I've had

Fighting to be a better teacher,

And now, what, suddenly I'm incapable

of educating your students?

You know, if they move on

to our classes and they fail,

It'll be because they weren't prepared!

Lt'll be because you failed, not them!

Andre? Wait a minute before you go in.

I heard about your brother's conviction.

I'm sorry.

Is that why you've missed class

so much?

I had things to do.

About this.

The evaluation assignment

Was to grade yourself

on the work you're doing.

You gave yourself an F.

What's that about?

- It's what I feel I deserve. That's all.

- Oh, really?

You know what this is?

This is a "F*** you" to me,

and everyone in this class!

I don't want excuses.

I know what you're up against.

We're all of us up against something.

So you better make up your mind,

because until you have the balls

To look me straight in the eye

and tell me this is all you deserve,

I am not letting you fail,

Even if that means coming

to your house every night

Until you finish the work.

I see who you are.

Do you understand me?

I can see you.

And you are not failing.

So, take a minute.

Pull yourself together and come inside.

I want a new evaluation.

An F. What, are you tripping?

I want you all to know that

Dr. Cohn and I tried very hard.

But it's been decided we can't continue

with each other junior year.

- What?

- What?

You... Wait.

Wait. Guys. Everyone.

No! That don't fly, Ma!

Look, first of all,

I'm not anyone's mother in here, okay?

No, it doesn't mean mother.

It's a sign of respect for you.

Listen to me.

All of you.

Don't use me as another excuse

for why you can't make it.

You made it to your junior year.

Think about how you did that.

Everyone in this room

has a chance to graduate.

For some,

you'll be the first in your family.

The first with a choice to go to college.

Some may move faster than others.

But you'll each have the chance.

And you did that. Not me.

Now, I have one

Final project in mind.

- Ms. G.

- Yeah?

Ms. G wanted us to put our diaries

together in a book, just like Anne Frank.

She got this businessman, John Tu,

to donate 35 computers

so we could work.

She told us we have something

to say to people.

We weren't just kids

in a class anymore.

We weren't just kids

in a class anymore.

We were writers with our own voices,

our own stories.

And even if nobody else read it,

the book would be something

to leave behind that said we were here,

this is what happened, we mattered.

Even if it was just to each other.

And we won't forget.

Ms. G didn't promise

it would get published or anything,

but we could get it out there ourselves.

She asked us to come up with a title,

something to call ourselves.

I just received a call

from Karin Polacheck

At the Board of Education.

There's to be a meeting

with Dr. Cohn about your classes.

- Do you know anything about this?

- No.

These students, this class,

they've become a family.

To who? To you?

To each other.

Room 203 is a kind of a home for them.

Their trust is all wrapped up

in us being together as a group.

Once they're out of her class,

Believe me they'll slip back

into their old habits.

Their reading scores, their writing

has markedly improved, Ms. Campbell.

On paper. But what has

she accomplished in reality?

What about new students

that come in next year?

Can she repeat

this process every year?

Her methods are impractical,

Impossible to implement with regularity.

What if every teacher

performed in this way?

We have millions of children

To get through the education system

in this country,

And we need a means

of accomplishing that

Which allows as many students

to benefit as possible,

Not just special cases.

And you honestly think you can create

this family in every classroom,

For every grade,

for every student you teach?

I don't know.

Thank you.

Hey, there go Ms. G.

Hey, there go Ms. G!

What happened?

So? Are we gonna be together

for junior year?

No.

- What?

- What?

We're gonna be together junior

and senior year.

Yes!

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