During our very unexpected snow day today, I took the time to make some lasagna and sit down on the couch to watch Freedom Writers for probably the third or fourth time now. Not sure why I put it in the player, I just did.
Despite some of the typical "inspiring teacher inspires students" mantra that goes with movies such as Dangerous Minds or Stand and Deliver, I find that this movie gets me pretty emotional in parts.
It still makes me laugh though when I look back after watching it that my eyes began to well up at certain points of the film when the emotional heart strings are pulled. Maybe you have to be a teacher and not just be a teacher who teaches as a job but one who is truly passionate about connecting with students and providing a meaningful life-changing experience. When did I become so soft to allow my emotions to show like that? C'mon...it's an MTV movie...get real. Well..I can't help it sometimes.
When one student in the movie reads from his diary and explains the hardships that he's gone through and how the classroom with his teacher and fellow students is the only place he feels at home and inspired...that evokes an emotional response. There were numerous moments where you see lives being changed....that stuff is powerful. Whether you're a teacher or not...I highly recommend this movie to you. Very inspirational.
