Freedom Writers

I loved the movie Freedom Writers, which is probably not a shock to those who know of my love of working with inner city kids.  Just a warning about the movie -- it is PG-13 mainly because of language, although there is a little violence (just not too bloody).  The language gets pretty bad at times, but anyone who has worked with inner city children and teenagers knows that the language is unfortunately better than you find in real life.  The movie is based on a true story about an English teacher in the Los Angeles area in the mid-1990s who decided to teach in one of the worst schools with the idealistic hope of changing the lives of the children she teaches.  

There are so many things to relate to in the story.  First, it takes a while for the students to trust her.  I know that feeling.  It took quite a few trips to New Orleans before I was trusted.  I probably am only trusted by some because others just see me as a part of society that cannot relate to the plight of persons in the inner city.  I don't know how many times I have been told that I don't understand how it is, and for the most part the person saying it is right.  Second, the lack of value in education and the lack of effort on the part of educators is frustrating to the teacher.  I feel the same way.  An education is so important, especially for those who are in the lower income or at least stereotyped that way, but children are not taught the value of an education.  Instead, those who are interested in education are often made fun of to the point that it becomes necessary to stop valuing education in order to survive.  However, this often leads to death, whether it be physically, death of a dream, or waste of a brilliant mind.  Teachers become disillusioned because of the attitude of the children and children feed off the disillusionment of the teachers.  No one wins and the cycle continues.

The teacher continues to act with determination, patience, and love towards the students.  The story should provide hope to anyone that has the calling to work in the inner city, teachers working in the environment, or those on the outside looking in usually in judgment.  I think that everyone needs to see this movie because it is important to see what is happening in schools even today.  It also shows that if someone who seemed to be secular, outside of the church, is willing to sacrifice that much time, effort, love, and support to impact the lives of a small number of students, how much more should God's people be willing to make some of the same sacrifices to affect those around them, to share the Gospel, to depend on God's love and grace flowing through them to impact the lives of people in need that God places in our path.  We need to stop depending on the schools or one or two individuals or the government to impact and change the lives of our children, but need to start depending on the power and grace of God.