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Hosted by Erin Gruwell
2 episodes with Erin Gruwell
2 episodes with Erin Gruwell
2 episodes with Erin Gruwell
2 episodes with Erin Gruwell
2 episodes with Erin Gruwell
2 episodes with Erin Gruwell
2 episodes with Erin Gruwell
2 episodes with Erin Gruwell
In this moving episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, host Erin Gruwell is joined by Freedom Writer Cynthia Ray-De La Vega. Cynthia courageously shares her extraordinary journey from a childhood marked by instability, food insecurity, and her mother's untreated mental illness, to finding healing and purpose in Room 203. Her resilience led her to sobriety, academic success, and a master's degree in Social Work. Today, Cynthia passionately serves vulnerable communities as a licensed mental-health professional on Los Angeles's Skid Row. Her story is an uplifting testament to the transformative power of compassion, second chances, and unwavering hope.
On this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell is joined by original Freedom Writer Erica Alcaraz for an intimate conversation about courage, empathy, and storytelling. As a teenager in Room 203, Erica penned Diary #62, a raw yet eloquent account of childhood sexual abuse, featured in "The Freedom Writers Diary." Decades later, her words continue to resonate, empowering survivors around the world to reclaim their voices and share their truths. Erica reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her life, from breaking her silence in Erin's classroom to unexpectedly choosing motherhood and raising her remarkable adopted son, Joshua, now a Freedom Writer scholarship recipient heading to college. She shares the emotional complexity of parenting after trauma, the realities of relapse and recovery, and her profound commitment to mentoring others through their darkest hours. This episode is a powerful reminder that writing can be activism, empathy is essential for healing, and even our most painful experiences can become catalysts for change. It's a tribute to all who dare to speak their truth — and a call to action for listeners to foster compassion, community, and courage.
On this episode, Erin Gruwell sits down with original Freedom Writer Norma Bravo-Lemler for a powerful conversation about family, identity, and the long road to realizing your dreams. As an undocumented student, Norma's college plans were put on hold — not because of grades, but because of a missing nine-digit number. But what began as heartbreak became fuel for her journey to motherhood, citizenship, and medical school. Norma opens up about the legacy of her grandfather, the quiet strength of her truck driver father, and the challenges of studying for finals while raising three kids. Through it all, she never let the flame of her dream go out. Now, just two years away from becoming a doctor, Norma is preparing to serve the very communities that shaped her — speaking to patients in their native language and redefining what it means to heal. This episode is a love letter to resilience, a celebration of second chances, and a reminder that some dreams are marathons, not sprints.
On this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell is joined by Dr. Edwin Gomez, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, and Sonia Rezkalah, an original Freedom Writer who now serves as the Administrator of Family Engagement at the Riverside County Office of Education. Both guests share their powerful immigrant journeys, Dr. Gomez from Peru and Sonia from Nicaragua, and how education transformed their lives. They discuss their shared mission of creating safe, supportive educational environments for all students, especially the most vulnerable. Their stories of resilience, purpose, and giving back highlight how education truly serves as the great equalizer in an unfair playing field. Together, they offer insights into family engagement, navigating political uncertainty, and empowering young voices in a diverse community of nearly half a million students.
In this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell sits down with original Freedom Writer Dr. Jessica Martinez to explore the power of persistence and the transformative nature of second chances. Dr. Martinez reflects on her early years navigating a childhood shaped by her parents' teen marriage, her family's struggles with instability, and the extended periods she spent separated from her mother. Despite these challenges, Jessica discovered a haven in Room 203, embracing vulnerability as a superpower and finding the support of the Freedom Writer family. Through honest, heartfelt storytelling, Jessica shares how she became the first in her family to graduate from college, ultimately earning her doctorate. She also discusses her current role as a caregiver — standing by her father's side after a tragic accident claimed her stepmother's life — and the delicate balance of showing compassion while preserving her own mental health. Listeners will hear how Jessica's determination, coupled with the encouragement of mentors and her Freedom Writer brothers and sisters, has helped her defy generational limitations. Join Erin and Dr. Martinez for an inspiring conversation about resilience, the importance of mentorship, and the enduring strength found in learning to love — and forgive — those who need it most.
In this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell sits down with original Freedom Writer Chirece Noonan to explore her journey from maintaining a perfect facade to embracing authentic connection. As a cheerleader who traveled 45 minutes by bus to attend Wilson High School, Chirece shares profound insights about navigating her parents' divorce, finding sanctuary in Room 203, and transforming her cheerleader spirit into a powerful force for positive change. Through her roles as a trainer, mentor, and mother, Chirece demonstrates how vulnerability and self-acceptance can create spaces where others feel empowered to be their true selves.
In this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell sits down with original Freedom Writer Kanya Sim to explore her extraordinary journey from surviving her family's escape from genocide to becoming an advocate for love and resilience. Kanya shares intimate stories about her refugee experience, her role bridging cultures in Long Beach's Cambodian community, and how Buddhist teachings have guided her life. As she now faces stage 4A cancer with remarkable grace, Kanya reflects on the meaning of "soft love," the power of community, and her unwavering belief that hardships only polish us to shine brighter. As Kanya undergoes chemotherapy and radiation treatment, we invite you to join us in supporting her journey: Donate to her GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kanya-fight-cancer-a-journey-of-strength-hope And a special thank you to the Port of Long Beach for generously sponsoring this episode.
Anchored in Compassion with Donald McFee by Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers
In this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell sits down with original Freedom Writer Tanya Payne to discuss her experiences growing up in Long Beach, navigating systemic inequality, and discovering the power of community. Tanya reflects on the life lessons she learned through failure, the importance of tough love, and how finding her place within the Freedom Writers helped her embrace her authentic self. As Tanya now faces a battle with cancer, we invite you to join us in supporting her: Donate to her GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-tanyas-brave-cancer-journey Assist through Lotsa Helping Hands: https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/request/tanya-payne-healing/select-email And of course a very special thank you to the Port of Long Beach for generously sponsoring this episode.
On this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell speaks with Calvin Williams III, a Freedom Writer whose journey from adversity to advocacy is a testament to resilience and transformation. Calvin shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped his path, from grappling with childhood bullying and living with grand mal seizures, to becoming a champion for empathy and inclusivity. As the beloved "Captain Tolerance" at the Freedom Writers Teacher Institutes, Calvin opens up about how acceptance, love, and a strong sense of family have empowered him to break the cycle of bullying and advocate for mental health awareness. Through his heartfelt story, Calvin highlights the power of community and the importance of turning personal pain into a source of strength. Tune in to hear Calvin's inspiring journey of overcoming trauma, embracing vulnerability, and fostering understanding in this moving episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast.
Maddy Podcast by Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers
On this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell speaks with Tye Leggins, a Freedom Writer who has transformed his life from a troubled teen to a passionate advocate for change. Tye shares his journey of overcoming trauma and personal struggles, emphasizing the power of empathy and self-acceptance. He also discusses the critical role of breaking cycles of violence, healing generational wounds, and the importance of compassion in creating change. Tune in to hear Tye's inspiring story of resilience, leadership, and his commitment to empowering others on this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast!
On this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell speaks with Trayvon Carter, an original Freedom Writer who has transformed his life from the basketball courts of Long Beach to a successful career in real estate. Trayvon shares his journey of overcoming racial profiling and systemic barriers, highlighting the critical role of mentorship, financial literacy, and community empowerment. He discusses the importance of guiding the next generation, building generational wealth in communities of color, and advocating for social justice. Tune in to hear Trayvon's inspiring story of resilience, leadership, and unwavering determination to make a difference.
Finding Your Voice with Shanita Jones by Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers
Send us a Text Message.From the streets of Gary, Indiana, to the helm of Abundant Life Publications, Tavetta Patterson joins me, CJ Moneyway, to share a narrative that's as much about triumph as it is about the transformative power of storytelling. With Tavetta's guidance, we unpack how our most challenging moments can be alchemized into opportunities that not only uplift ourselves but also empower others. Her ability to help authors, including those with unique challenges like a blind writer, amplify their voices is the embodiment of turning adversity into advantage. As we converse, a synergy emerges, hinting at future ventures that promise to extend the impact of our shared experiences.My personal passage from a Gary guy to an author is interwoven with the inspiration I draw from Tavetta's journey. Our discussion also ventures into the realm of educational hope, illustrated by Erin Gruwell, and the "Freedom Writers," and the deep emotional healing inspired by an encounter with a Holocaust survivor. The thread of resilience is further woven through the revival of Steel Town Records, which stands as a beacon of support for GI's community and a testament to the undying spirit of its people. We wrap up with a nod to our commitment to nurturing talent and a spotlight on the fresh Michael Jackson-inspired merchandise, a tribute to the lasting legacy of GI's most famous son. Join us for a journey through pain, power, and the pursuit of purpose.Welcome to The CJ Moneyway Show Podcast! The Podcast Show where we Unlock Potential, One Dream at a Time. Today, we have another guest whose journey is truly worth hearing. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the Moneyway experience. Thank you for listening to The CJ Moneyway Show! Don't forget to share this episode with your friends, leave a comment, and drop a review. Be sure to tune in every Tuesday and Friday for more inspiring journeys. Who knows, your story might be next. Support the Show.The C. J Moneyway Showc.jmoneyway@gmail.comFacebook: Author Corwin JohnsonInstagram: c.j_moneywayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themoneywayshow8493https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-c-j-moneyway-show/id1707761906https://open.spotify.com/show/4khDpzlfVZCnyZ7mBuC4U1?si=kNrejibvQH-X3dOpRmu6AAhttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVMwsp-9xLNaTBO4U97He0Ct_HldYbnAp&si=bmlctXwgxJe0cjzdWhether you're an entrepreneur, aspiring author, or just someone looking for a dose of motivation, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review The CJ Moneyway Show on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us bring you more amazing guests and content each week! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-c-j-moneyway-show/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell sits down with Freedom Writer Sue Ellen Alpizar to discuss her powerful story of resilience and healing. Sue Ellen shares the challenges of growing up in a dysfunctional household, the impact of losing her brother, and her decision to break the cycle of silence surrounding mental health. Throughout the conversation, Sue Ellen offers valuable insights on the importance of seeking support, the benefits of various mental health treatments, and the power of using one's voice to inspire others. Her story is a reminder that no matter how dark things may seem, there is always hope, and that by embracing vulnerability, we can pave the way for healing and connection. Tune in to hear more!
On this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell sits down with Freedom Writer Shanate Jones. They discuss the traumatic experience of Shanate's youth, like having her childhood home invaded by police, the challenges she faced with disrespectful authority figures, and overcoming depression. Shanate also discusses her time in the military, the importance of integrity, and her "superhero" ability to connect with marginalized kids. Throughout the conversation, Shanate's wisdom shines through as she shares impactful metaphors and life lessons learned from her mother and reflects on the momentous achievement of graduating college alongside her twin sister and fellow Freedom Writers. Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with laughter, tears, and profound insights from a true queen.
Nghe trọn sách nói Viết Lên Hy Vọng trên ứng dụng Fonos: https://fonos.link/podcast-tvsn --Về Fonos:Fonos là Ứng dụng âm thanh số - Với hơn 13.000 nội dung gồm Sách nói có bản quyền, Podcast, Ebook, Tóm tắt sách, Thiền định, Truyện ngủ, Nhạc chủ đề, Truyện thiếu nhi. Bạn có thể nghe miễn phí chương 1 của tất cả sách nói trên Fonos. Tải app để trải nghiệm ngay!--Có một câu nói rất nổi tiếng của nhà sư phạm Xô Viết, viện sĩ Viện Hàn lâm Khoa học Giáo dục Liên Xô Vasilij Aleksandrovich Sukhomlinskij rằng: “Đối với người giáo viên, cần phải có kiến thức, có hiểu biết sư phạm về quy luật xã hội, có khả năng dùng lời nói để tác động đến tâm hồn học sinh, có kỹ năng đặc sắc nhìn nhận con người và cảm thấy những rung động tinh tế nhất của trái tim con người.” Ở bất kỳ quốc gia nào, trong bất kỳ nền giáo dục nào, câu nói ấy vẫn còn nguyên giá trị. Năm 1994, Erin Gruwell về dạy tại trường Trung học Wilson, Long Beach, California. Như nhiều giáo viên mới ra trường khác, cô phải đương đầu với một lớp học toàn những học sinh cá biệt. Ban đầu, gần như cả lớp đều tỏ thái độ chống đối cô bằng những trò quậy phá, đánh nhau trong lớp, trốn tiết,... nhưng cô vẫn không đầu hàng. Cô có niềm tin mạnh mẽ rằng giáo dục có thể chiến thắng cả những nghịch cảnh tồi tệ nhất. Một ngày, cô vô cùng ngạc nhiên khi phát hiện ra học sinh trong lớp không hề biết gì về cuộc tàn sát người Do Thái của phát xít Đức. Và dường như chính các em lại đang là nạn nhân của một cuộc chiến khác - một cuộc chiến không được tuyên bố nhưng không kém phần đau thương và thống khổ. Erin quyết định giới thiệu với cả lớp 2 cuốn sách về Anne Frank - cô bé nạn nhân của cuộc tàn sát người Do Thái trong Chiến tranh thế giới thứ hai và Zlata Filipovic - người thiếu nữ viết về cuộc sống của mình trong cuộc chiến ác liệt ở Sarajevo. Erin truyền cảm hứng cho các em bắt đầu viết nhật ký về cuộc sống đầy rẫy sự bất công của mình, tìm mọi cách giúp các em lấy lại niềm tin bằng nhiều hoạt động ý nghĩa như đi thăm bảo tàng về cuộc thảm sát người Do Thái, gặp gỡ với bà Miep Gies - người đã che giấu gia đình Anne Frank khỏi Đức quốc xã, gây quỹ để mời Zlata Filipovic cùng bố mẹ đến thăm Long Beach,… Erin Gruwell đã khiến ban đầu là cả trường, sau đó là giới truyền thông và cả nước Mỹ phải kinh ngạc vì những gì cô và các học sinh của mình đã làm được. --Tìm hiểu thêm về Fonos: https://fonos.vn/Theo dõi Facebook Fonos: https://www.facebook.com/fonosvietnam/
On this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, join Erin Gruwell as she speaks with original Freedom Writer Latilla Cain, who delves into her life's mission of championing for others. Through heartfelt stories, Latilla illustrates the importance of support, love, and understanding in forging paths to success and building stronger communities.
On this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, join Erin Gruwell and original Freedom Writer Carlos Barragan as they delve into Carlos' remarkable journey from the challenging streets of Long Beach to a life of purpose and success. In a candid conversation, Carlos opens up about his past as a graffiti artist known as 'Idol,' his struggle with family abandonment, and how his unique bond with Erin, akin to a mother-son relationship, helped him overcome life's adversities. This episode not only explores Carlos' transformation from being misunderstood and mislabeled in his youth to achieving financial and personal success but also highlights the power of resilience, unconditional support, and the strength of the human spirit. Listen in as Carlos' story unfolds, showcasing a journey of triumph over trials and the unbreakable bonds that can change a life forever.
En este segundo episodio de Mujeres Atómicas te presento la historia de Erin Gruwell. Una rookie maestra que logró lo que para muchos maestros de gran trayectoria y experiencia fue una tarea imposible. Esta joven mujer llego a esta temida escuela en Long Beach, California a impartir el pan de la enseñanza a jóvenes que pertencían a gangas, a otros que estaban en probatorias de cárcel y en programas de rehab. El sistema educativo simplemente le había dado la espalada a esta población de chicos. Pero Erin estaba decidida a alcanzar el éxito de este complicado reto. La vida de Erin te evideciará que ningún obstáculo es imposible de superar. También te confirmará que el mayor recurso que necesitas para vencer lo es la creatividad. Sospecho que esta historia tiene todo los elemento para volarte la cabeza
In this episode, Erin Gruwell is joined by original Freedom Writer Melvin Logan to unfold a tale of change and growth. Discover how a single classroom note sparked a revolution in education, and follow Melvin's path from a troubled youth on the gang-riddled streets of 1990s Long Beach to a catalyst for change in classrooms across the globe. Now, as a proud husband, father, and speaker with the Freedom Writers Foundation, Melvin reflects on how a teacher's belief in his potential set the stage for a lifetime of advocacy and empowerment. We hope this episode leaves you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.
On this episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell and original Freedom Writer Mauricio Antonio "Tony" Becerra explore themes of ambition, identity, and hope. Tony shares his powerful story, starting with the significance of his name and the personal choice to adopt "Tony" as a means to avoid ridicule and mispronunciation by teachers. Through his candid conversation with Erin, Tony's story becomes a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of perseverance, inspiring listeners to find strength in their struggles and recognize the potential for growth and transformation in the face of adversity.
In this week's episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell is joined by Dr. Robert Alsop, President of Waldorf University. Dr. Alsop and Waldorf's commitment to fostering an environment where students feel seen, heard, and encouraged is truly inspiring, and we hope this episode leaves you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.
On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell speaks with Jayden Braddock, a student author who shares his journey of navigating an autism diagnosis and finding his voice through writing. Joining them is Jayden's mother, Dr. Freda Braddock, an educator who advocates for inclusive classrooms. Dr. Braddock offers advice to parents seeking accommodations for neurodivergent children. Together, they explore the power of language, harmful labels versus empowering words, and the importance of embracing neurodiversity with empathy and compassion.
On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell is joined by Jasmine Matthews, a disability advocate and student author from Dear Freedom Writer. Jasmine discusses her journey as a sight-impaired individual and the importance of redefining the language used to describe disabilities. They are also joined by Nare Garibyan, an esteemed author and educator who has been a mentor to Jasmine. Together, they explore the power of representation, the impact of accommodations in education, and the need for a supportive community. This episode is filled with invaluable insights, and we hope it leaves you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.
In this week's powerful episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, host Erin Gruwell is joined by four dynamic individuals who are making a difference as activists and educators. Tara Bordeaux, Dean Abraham, Jasmine Nelson, and Aaron Bos-Lun share their personal experiences and insights, discussing topics like representation, identity, and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in society. From the struggles of seeking acceptance to the importance of creating safe spaces for students, this enlightening conversation sheds light on the ongoing fight for equality and the power of love and understanding.
We just turned three! Bring out the birthday cake! Pop the champagne! Tune in! On this week's episode, Katie, Cort, and Cam get nostalgic. We'll focus on our newer listeners, catching them up on episodes that hold a special place in our hearts. Whether that be our most recent guest segment with Erin Gruwell (episode 154) or our Financial Focus on Forming a Family show (episode 84), we've got content for just about everyone. Don't miss this birthday celebration, and take a stroll with us down memory lane! The List: The Third Anniversary Gift (Leather) Hashtags: #HappyBirthdayBullCast #WereThree #OurCalfIsNowABull #WeeklyVolatility #AWalkDownMemoryLane — Visit us online: www.bullcastpodcast.com Produced by Cameron Spann | Powered by Pickler Wealth Advisors Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com
On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell is joined by original Freedom Writers, Melvin Logan and Carlos Barragan. Both Carlos and Melvin are inspiring and loving fathers who share what it was like growing up in Long Beach surrounded by poverty, racism, and gang violence. They discuss their survival, how they turned their pain into purpose, and breaking the cycle of generational trauma to prevail as the loving fathers they are today. This episode is a heartfelt look into what it means to be a dad, and we hope that this episode leaves you all feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference. Donate to the Freedom Writers Scholarship Fund: https://givebutter.com/4pIBzH
On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell is joined by Tony Award-winning actor John Benjamin Hickey – who plays Brian Gilford (one of the rival educators) in the film “Freedom Writers.” John shares his insights on the transformative power of storytelling, how his roles have influenced his outlook on life, and the lessons he's learned along the way from stage to screen. John's insights into character creation and the importance of empathy in acting are a must-listen for any aspiring creatives, and we hope this episode leaves you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.
This week, BullCast welcomes Erin Gruwell, celebrated teacher, author, and social justice activist. In this touching show, we'll explore the concept of hope and possibility for at-risk students who are deemed unteachable. We'll start the show with our list of the best movies about education. Then, we'll jump right in with Ms. G, discussing her story as a young teacher entering Room 203 and how the Freedom Writers came to be. In the show, we'll talk to Erin about what it was like having Academy-Award winner Hillary Swank portray her, how Erin inspired her students to believe in themselves, and why being an educator is so important to her. While we tried to keep this episode fun and full of laughter, we found ourselves deeply impacted by Erin's spirit and story. The List: Best Movies Based on Education and Teachers Hashtags: #ErinGruwell #FreedomWriters #FreedomWritersFoundation #Education #Hope #Room203 Freedom Writers Foundation: https://freedomwritersfoundation.org/ — Visit us online: www.bullcastpodcast.com Produced by Cameron Spann | Powered by Pickler Wealth Advisors Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com
#100: "And Tango Makes Three" Beyond the Ban w/ Dr. Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell by Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers
On this week's episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell is joined by Trudie Strobel, a Holocaust survivor whose astonishing path took her from a childhood of hardship in Ukraine to a life of strength and creativity in the United States. Together with Jody Savin, an acclaimed filmmaker and Trudie's biographer, they explore the impact of art, healing, and perseverance on the human soul. This conversation with Trudie and Jody is a testament to the unbreakable resolve that exists within all of us, and we hope this episode leaves you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference. Learn more about Trudie's work: https://www.trudiestrobel.com Purchase Stitch & Sewn: https://amzn.to/3nouSit
On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell is joined by Rwandan genocide survivor and activist, Dydine Umunyana-Anderson. Dydine shares her harrowing journey of survival during the Rwandan genocide, her path to healing, and her unwavering dedication to fostering understanding, empathy, and change. Dydine's story is remarkable, and we hope this episode will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference. To learn more about Dydine and her work, visit her website: https://umucolove.org Watch Dydine's TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/hHQ9WdpPdtg
On this week's show, Erin Gruwell speaks with three incredible guests: acclaimed actor Alex Feldman, Ukrainian playwright Uliana Klimchuk, and Emmy-nominated writer and producer, Laura Cahill. They discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, and how Young Playwrights Ukraine aims to give refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine a voice through theater. These amazing artists and activists are inspiring a new generation of Ukrainians to stand up, speak up, and speak out, and we hope their story will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference! To learn more about Young Playwrights Ukraine, check out this article about their show at the Orion Theatre: https://orionteatern.se/arkivet/hur-kanner-du-att-du-ar-radd/ To donate to the Young Playwrights Ukraine, check out their PayPal Fundraiser: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8RITNlGo6n
On this week's episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, join Erin Gruwell and four members of our Freedom Writer Family as they share some inspiring stories of African-American heroism in celebration of Black History Month. Freedom Writer Narada Comans honors the late Congressman John Lewis, Freedom Writer Teacher Lex Morgan shares the story of Ruby Bridges, Freedom Writer Kimberlee Morrison celebrates Nobel Laureate Tony Morrison, and Freedom Writer Teacher Dr. Ronnie Gordon reflects on everyday heroes who inspired him as a young man growing up in Washington State. We hope these stories leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.
The most easily recognized teachers in our culture are on the big screen. So when we think about good teaching, it's almost impossible not to think of Robin William's character in Dead Poets Society standing on a desk and inspiring his students. This might be part of the problem. When teaching is associated with unrealistic Hollywood characters, it can create impractical or ridiculous assumptions about what teachers do. In this episode, we hear how the stereotypes of teachers may be contributing to teachers' decisions to leave education. Music: Theme Song By Julian Saporiti “NPC Theme” by HoliznaCC0 is in the Public Domain. “Sunny Afternoon” by HoliznaCC0 is in the Public Domain. “Infrastructure” by Scott Holmes Music is licensed under a CC BY-NC license. “Just a Blip” by Andy G. Cohen is licensed under a CC BY license. “Room With a View” by Jahzzar is licensed under a CC BY-SA license. Movie Clips: Freedom Writers (Paramount Pictures) Dead Poets Society (Touchstone Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) School of Rock (Paramount Pictures) Ferris Bueller (Paramount Pictures, United International Pictures) Transcript: Episode 3: “What Would Robin Williams Do?” There is a picture-day-esqu photo on my parents' fridge of me sitting on my dad's lap. I am wearing a tie-dye shirt and my orange hair is in its natural state of an Eddie Munster widows peak. My dad is in a blue button down and has on a tie. My cheeks crowd my eyes, my smile is so big. My dad, who doesn't always smile for pictures, has a cheeky grin. This picture was taken around the same time that my dad squatted down to eye-level with me and said: “When people ask you where you got your red hair, you tell them the milkman. Okay?” He didn't make a big deal about telling me this. It was just a directive, and I said okay. I figured, yeah, that makes sense. So as adults would come by, ruffle my hair and say things like, “Oh my, what pretty red hair. Where did you get hair like that?” I'd look up at them, smile, and tell them, “The Milkman.” They would guffaw, cough down a drink, blush, and I'd try to explain, “You know, because he delivers things.” And they'd laugh out an “I'm sure he does!” and find my dad who would have a grin settled between his bouncing shoulders as he muffled a laugh, and my mom would say something like “G-uh, Darcy Joe” Not to be heavy handed, but the stereotypes of what a milkman may or may not do when visiting people's homes is what makes the joke land. This joke was lost on me until high school. I didn't understand the baggage associated with being a milkman. Language matters. Words like milkman have connotations - they carry weight or have stereotypes attached to them. That's why I can't flip someone off and say, “Why are you upset,this means joy to me.” There are too many representations of middle-fingers that situate the digit as a symbol of the obscene. Repetition and representation give meaning. The middle finger or terms like milkman or teacher, carry a history of expectations and stereotypes. Last episode we heard about the historical inheritance of teachers, which is significant in how we view modern teachers. But history isn't the only thing that impacts how we view teachers. Today, we're going to look at the teacher stereotypes in pop-culture and how these stereotypes can be contributing to teacher attrition. This is Those Who Can't Teach Anymore, a 7-part podcast series exploring why teachers are leaving education and what can be done to stop the exodus. I'm Charles Fournier. Here is part 3: “What Would Robin Williams Do?” Molly Waterworth: I've gotten to the point where I see any TV show or movie where some sort of plot device hinges on the inspirational teacher. And I just roll my eyes. This is Molly Waterworth. We heard from her last episode, and she just left education after teaching English for 8 years. She points out a stereotype of inspiring teachers in media: Molly Waterworth:I just can't. I can't stomach it because it's so saccharin. It completely obscures the fact that these inspiring teachers that are either drawn from real life or the product of someone or someone's imagination, it completely obscures the fact that their inspirational teaching is very likely the outgrowth of massive mental health deficiencies. And like a complete imbalance of where they spend their time and where they're getting like their soul fed. Inspiring teacher stories make me feel awful. That shouldn't be the case, right? Inspirational teacher movies should INSPIRE. And they can and they do - they inspired me - but what Molly points to is a nagging reality in many inspirational teacher stories. Dead Poets Society Clip As you can hear in this scene from Dead Poets Society, Mr Keeting, played by Robin Williams, pushes his student, Todd Anderson.. And in this unconventional way Mr. Keeting helps Todd start to gain some confidence and see his potential. Similar scenes occur in other famous teacher movies, like Mr Holland's Opus, or Freedom Writers. These movies project a fantasy of heroism onto education, and people love it. Inspirational teacher movies are usually underdog stories: A teacher rails against convention and inspires and does amazing things for others no matter the personal cost. We are attracted to this as a culture. We want heroes that are selfless. We want to see ourselves as capable of being like Robin Williams' character in Dead Poets Society. And the way these movie teachers influence kids…man, that's the dream. But, several if not most of the teachers in those stories that inspire don't have the healthiest work-life balance. They give everything to their students - time, energy, love, inspiration. And these movie teachers inspire in the public comments like, “We need more teachers like this” or “I wish teachers would be more like (whatever movie teacher).” But we need to ask, what is expecting teachers to fit a stereotype asking of real teachers? Think of Freedom Writers, a movie based on the real-life Erin Gruwell, who is played by Hillary Swank. She is the epitome of the inspirational teacher stereotype. Halfway through the movie, her husband leaves her because she is spending so much time focused on her students, Freedom Writers Clip The film creates a feeling that the husband might be unrealistic. As an audience, we're rooting for Erin Gruwell because she does amazing things - her husband points this out. And don't get me wrong, Ms.Gruwell is phenomenal and her story is amazing, but there might be danger in presenting this story as a precedent for what good teaching looks like. Yes, she is a good teacher, but at what cost? In most other films about different careers, it's likely the main character would realize that work is taking too much and family is more important, but not in inspirational teacher movies. Expecting teachers to do what Gruwell does is expecting teachers to forfeit their own lives for students. It's expecting martyrdom. This is a stereotype. And the reality is different. Molly Waterworth: We're not martyrs, and we're not perfect. And there are things that can be said about the profession as a whole and certainly about individual teachers that needs improvement, absolutely. But I think a lot of it maybe stems from just this sense that teachers aren't entirely human - that we are saints. And so therefore, we shouldn't worry about all of these factors that are making our jobs harder, because we have this big calling on our lives that turn us somehow into people that don't have needs. This language that surrounds teaching is significant. It feeds the stereotype of selflessness, which in turn has an impact on how teachers are treated. Right now teachers are feeling burned out because this stereotype is unrealistic - it's creating an expectation that makes teachers want to leave education. I met up with Rachael Esh at Welcome Market Hall in Sheridan, Wyoming on the eve of her very last day as a teacher. Rachael Esh: It's a bit of a stereotype with teachers. It's like, Oh, this has been your calling since you were this age, or since this teacher impacted you. This idea of a calling is that you don't teach for the money, you do it for the kids because it is what you were meant to do. It is your destiny or purpose. A quote unquote “calling” can create a sense of guilt in teachers when they realize, crap, I'm not getting paid enough for this, which is in contrast to the narrative surrounding teaching like Molly points out: Molly Waterworth: People don't get into this for the money, why would they? But they're in it for the kids, and they're in it for that sense of purpose and mission. That's like, “Yeah, but I also would like to be paid.” So to have a calling is to feel like teaching is more than a job, more than a paycheck, it is a clear directive from some higher power for the direction your life should take in service of others. Rachael didn't feel like that stereotype matched her experience. Rachael Esh: And I don't feel like that's usually the case. It's more of a roundabout zigzag pattern. This surprised me. I grew up wanting to be a teacher because, as Rachael said, I had some amazing teachers leave an impact on me, but I never thought teaching was my calling. It was something that sounded cool, and it was made cooler by movies like Dead Poets Society. I wrote the movie's motto, “Carpe Diem” on all of my notebooks. And I liked reading and writing and teaching people, and teaching would give me a chance to coach. Not once did I get the sky part and shine a light on my career path. It wasn't a calling, and of the 30 teachers that I interviewed, hardly any of them felt like teaching was their calling either. For Rachael and Molly, they had different plans with where their lives were going to go. Rachael Esh: So my undergrad I actually got at Ohio University in environmental biology, and so I thought I was gonna maybe do field work or something like that. Molly Waterworth: I declared my major as geography, but I did it with the intent of being able to go into the forest service. But I found out pretty quickly that I really didn't care about any of my classes. And I found out that I was going to have to take calculus and I wasn't interested in doing that. So I kind of bounced around into various humanities areas. And both Rachael and Molly landed in education because they each had a summer experience in college that put them in front of kids. Rachael took an internship teaching environmental education and Molly went to China with a group from college and got to help kids with their conversational English. They both found their way to being educators because of positive experiences teaching kids. Rachael Esh: So I knew I either wanted to go on to park service or education after working with kids then. And so it kind of just worked out that getting my degree in education was just more accessible, and I kind of wanted to separate my fun time, which was like outdoors, from my work. So I decided to kind of go into education. And I mean, the kids are never boring. So you're like, well, heck this. This beats an office job any day of the week. And when Molly returned from China, she declared first as an elementary teacher. Molly Waterworth: I think that when I envision myself being a teacher, I thought of myself reading with kids, and talking about literature and talking about books and big ideas and stuff like that. And so at that point, I had the very obvious revelation that I should be a secondary English teacher because that would afford me that opportunity most often. So that was kind of my meandering path into into There was no bright light for either of these teachers, no calling. Nothing so profound. Like most people, they stumbled onto their desire to do a job because they took advantage of an opportunity and realized, “Hey, this isn't bad.” And Teaching wasn't a last option for either of them. They weren't failing at other things in life, which is tied to another stereotype of teaching. If teachers aren't depicted as martyrs, they're often seen as selfish or deviant or lazy or dumb or boring, like in Ferris Bueler's Day Off. Ferris Bueller Clip And this image of teachers perpetuates the idea that teaching is a last ditch option for people that can't do anything else. This stereotype often leads to a willingness to discredit teachers as experts in their field. Not being seen as experts in their field is a major reason teachers gave for leaving teaching. For Molly or Rachael, they became teachers by choice. They didn't need to fall back to something easier. It wasn't a School of Rock scenario, where Jack Black's character, Dewey Finn, hits rock bottom before becoming a long term sub proving that someone with no qualifications can be a better teacher than trained and dedicated teachers - a trope that we see over and over again. In the film, Jack Black's character even draws attention to a common saying that is tied to education. School of Rock Clip Dylan Bear is a PE teacher in Pinedale, WY. We sat at a picnic table in front of his house with a view of the Wind River Mountain Range, while we drank coffee, snacked on a loaf of banana bread he was gifted from a student, and talked about these sayings and images surrounding education. Dylan Bear: I think another thing, we've gotten a lot of quotes, like funny quotes in the society, like, oh, teachers, they take these jobs for June, July and August. I think that's something that needs to stop. What Dylan has noticed is the negative lens with which culture and Hollywood has viewed teachers. Like I mentioned earlier, we stereotype teachers as good or bad, the marty/savior type that saw teaching as a calling or the boring/lazy person who saw teaching as a backup plan. But, Dylan, like Molly and Rachael, didn't see teaching as a calling. He didn't see teaching as a fall back career either. Dylan Bear: So I started off as an engineer, and those were just not my people. And I was looking more for a little more social environment, a little more high energy versus analytical, consistently, day in and day out. And so I went from engineering to math in secondary math education because I liked working with kids. And then after a few years of that three years deep, looking at all the papers all the time, I just couldn't do it, so I switched from math. I was actually sitting in Prexy's Pasture and Laramie. And the special ed teacher came and sat down next to me and she said, What are you thinking about? Instead, there was my longboard. I said, I don't know if I can do math the rest of my life. Would you rather be teaching math or out playing a field, you know, and I thought like instantly. Dylan would rather be out in a field. Teaching was a good path for Dylan - not a calling and not a last ditch option. He takes his job seriously, and he is someone that plans on teaching for some time. And when Dylan started feeling a little burned out, he moved towns and got a change of scenery, so that he could keep teaching. He isn't naive to the reality of burning out or how difficult the job is, nor is he jaded in thinking that anyone could do this job. The key word here is reality. The reality of a teacher is that teachers are human, not a stereotype. We make mistakes and we have successes and we make some profound impacts on kids and we make some mediocre impacts on kids. Dylan Bear: Some teachers are really good, and some are really lazy. And some kids are really good, and some are really lazy. So it's like, we don't want to paint a broad brush over everybody. And I think sometimes we do an education because there's so many people in education. It's like one of the leading job forces out there. So you hear these stories that are negative about one or two teachers, and then you say all I'm doing the same with kids. I hate when people say, kids are always on their phone. It's like, no, no, some kids are on their phones. Some of them are waiting for you to talk and give them a good lesson. I think education gets those broad brushes which devalue people. And that's a dangerous world. Dylan recognizes the need for grace and the danger of broad generalizations of any groups. He recognizes the fact that people are human, but sometimes we only get a snapshot of education, which creates these generalizations that feed into the stereotype of teachers as either good or bad. Dylan experienced this first hand when he had a student continuously refuse to take off his hat. Dylan Bear: I was like, This is absurd. So I'm a climber, and so he was playing badminton, and I popped his hat off and ran up and jumped up the basketball hoop and climbed in the rafters and hung it from like, the highest point in the gym, like, 50 foot up. And yeah, not very smart, but it was like, I didn't think about it, but kids Snapchatted it. And all the kids came like, “Oh, we saw you but it was out that was so funny. That it's like you have to be aware of that.” The snapchat of Dylan only includes his climb. It doesn't include the warnings he gave the student from that day and previous days. It doesn't include Dylan's positive relationship with the student and the students' family, or all of the normal/positive interactions Dylan has with his other students, or the mundane aspects of his job that he does everyday. The Snapchat lacks context, and this is how stereotypes begin and are fed. A single image becomes the representation of the whole - even if it is a fragment of the reality. This is the kind of thing that becomes an overgeneralization - a stereotype of teachers. These stereotypes are on social media and in movies and they contribute to cultural narratives about education that are unrealistic. Some of these glimpses and snapshots might be part of what teachers expected education to be, which is misleading and could be contributing to the disillusionment leading to teachers quitting. Here's Molly again. Molly Waterworth: I think that the image probably came from a couple of places, a selective memory of my high school and middle school classrooms. So thinking back to those good experiences that I had as a student, I was like, “Okay, I want to create that for other people.” But I also had it in my head, the the image of the cool, thoughtful, worldly literary teacher that you see in like Dead Poets Society or any number of other movies like that - opening up doors and exploring identity and figuring out who we are all along the way. Dead Poets Society Clip I love Dead Poets Society, and Freedom Writers, but I remember telling my wife, after our first week in real teaching jobs: “This sure as hell isn't Dead Poets Society.” I had been fooled with what teaching would actually be, and this is also an image of what the public seems to see of educators. They want the engaging classroom, the teacher that inspires, and don't we all. Or they expect the lazy, boring, slacker who got into teaching because their real goals didn't pan out. But education is more complex than a movie. Molly Waterworth: The crushing reality of grading was something that I hadn't quite prepared myself for. I think that I knew going into teaching, because obviously, you know, that you're going to have to grade and that's part of the job. So the grading part was overwhelming. You never see in movies, like staff meetings, or having to figure out the copier or the deeply existentially difficult process of figuring out the culture of the building in your first year. Just the kind of mundane but deeply tangible on a daily basis struggle of making sure that everything fits in your lesson plan. Like that's not glamorous. But it's, it's the part that makes or breaks you as a teacher of just balancing the day to day and making sure that you're hitting your standards and teaching the stuff that you don't care about, but you have to do anyway. Like, Robin Williams isn't gonna do that. I would love to have a b-roll version of Dead Poets Society where Robin WIlliams' character, John Keating, sits for 4 hours grading papers, intermittently standing up to stretch, get a coffee, shake his head and mumble things like, “I swear we went over that.” Molly Waterworth: You never see an inspiring teacher movie where they are tracking missing assignments. You never see them answering the onslaught of emails at the end of the semester, asking how to get my grade up. You never see that. You see the inspiring parts and that's it. Never the work that it takes to get there. So we see teachers that either act as martyrs like Keating who, don't forget, gets fired at the end of the film after a student kills himself, or we see teachers that make real teachers cringe. Molly Waterworth: I remember watching Glee when that was out. And it was not just unrealistic, but it was just so I thought it was insulting the way that the teachers were showing their like, as just unserious. Too involved in teenagers' lives. And, like, really, really concerned about both of those things. That I was just I couldn't do it. I couldn't put up with it. And again, why does this matter? Why does it matter that depictions of teachers are unrealistic? It honestly wouldn't matter if these depictions didn't seep into how teachers are currently being treated. If the cultural view of education remained realistic. But this is how stereotypes work. We may recognize a stereotype as wrong or dangerous, but they can still seep into our behavior. And they influence what parents expect from teachers, what students expect from teachers, and even what teachers expect from themselves. If teachers buy into the stereotypes, they may be striving for a sense of perfection and martyrdom that is unhealthy and unrealistic. So it's up to us, all of us, to push against these stereotypes. Like any other cultural stereotype, we need a massive cultural shift in how we think about teachers, which often starts with how we represent and talk about teachers. Unless we become conscious of our biases or of these stereotypes, things won't change, and in the context of teaching, teachers will continue to quit. The misconceptions surrounding teachers and education are very much influenced by what folks see on a consistent basis. This isn't to say that there haven't been realistic depictions of teachers. I love Tina Fey's character in Mean Girls. She was quirky and smart and imperfect. Her character felt more real to me, but this is an outlier in teacher representations. Stephanie Reese: Culturally, I think the media shows teachers as “Man, they just work tirelessly.” You might recognize Stephanie's voice from last episode. I met up with her at Blacktooth Brewery in Cheyenne, she's the general manager there. Stephanie taught PE from kindergarten to college, and she left education after 8 years. She points out how some of the perceptions of education bleed into the expectations placed on teachers. Stephanie Reese: They just love what they do so much. They love kids. They're willing to put in all these extra hours, because they just love what they do. And they're okay with that. And, and that doesn't actually give teachers a voice. And that, to me is bullshit because teachers are tired, they're exhausted, they're stressed to the max there. Some may love it. And fine. If you have that intrinsic motivation to love something without getting anything back. That's amazing. You are a superhero. When being a teacher is associated with loving kids as Stephanie points out, does that mean that leaving education means a loss of love for the kids? Or that not wanting to put in the extra hours is because teachers don't love the kids? This rhetoric is dangerous and it isn't helpful when thinking about why teachers are leaving. When teachers decide to leave education, they often hear, “You can't, you're so good for the kids” or something to that effect. This is said in praise, but it actually ignores what teachers are dealing with and it pushes this cultural stereotype that teachers ought to be willing to give everything for the kids. The reality is, the list of what teachers do, the extra work teachers have, is tremendous and all of that work rarely makes it into films. Here's Dylan. Dylan Bear: It's funny when you asked me to do this, I looked up, like, what are the job requirements for teachers and there was like, on the, on the description, it was, like 30 bullet points. It was incredible, like, lift 50 pounds, walk 100 yards. When Does anyone do that? We think teachers are just this, like square. But it's not, it's this open ended job that you can work your tail off forever, you know, or you can do the minimum and you still get paid the same. So it's like, I think a lot of people want to know, like, here's your job, and here's what you're gonna get for it. And that's not the case in teaching. And that list of job requirements is long and ambiguous and continuously added to. A big portion of what it means to be a teacher isn't simply “to teach” or “to inspire.” It's to manage a huge amount of expectations, which doesn't often get included into the stereotype of teachers, and if it does, it's only for a moment. Stephanie had strong thoughts about what teachers are expected to do. Stephanie Reese: This isn't going to be a positive one, Charles, I hope that you're not like, brace yourself, right? I'm not gonna sit here and say, oh, yeah, teachers are here to inspire teachers are here to you know, try to spark some sort of love or interest in something and help every single kid and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, like all that sugar coated shit. Fine. That might be the case. But to me, and I know a lot of teachers who agree, it's babysitting. So our roles are just sit tight, do your best, try to get in something that's worth value. Or maybe try to teach his kids to be decent human beings. The stereotype often clashes with the reality of teaching. Still many teachers try to live up to the inspiring teacher stereotype, which can be contributing to the sense of burnout lots of teachers are experiencing. Many teachers, whether they intended to or not, have wrapped their identity around education, which is kind of a cultural expectation - they are one with the school. This can make being in public and trying to have a personal life kind of awkward especially in small towns. Rachael Esh:Anywhere we would go. I'd be like, I can't go there. All my kids are gonna be there, you know? Or like, do you want to go bowling? No, I don't want to go bowling. So I have to talk to seven of my students online, like no, like, you know, so there's just places that I don't even want to go because I just get bombarded with children. Which is, I love them. But you know, you want to like, be away from work for a while and you're like, I've done this all day. I want adult time. It's adult time now. they'll walk by when I'm having a beer. I'm like, don't, don't you look at me. The teacher advocating for healthy boundaries or focusing on mental health in a genuine way is not a common teacher stereotype in pop-culture. This has only started bubbling up more recently on social media with teachers and former teachers drawing attention to their struggles in the classroom. There have even been some new television shows that have started to address what teachers are struggling with. They are pushing against the stereotypes. This kind of representation can help restructure how we think about and discuss teachers. Seeing teachers as stereotypes either creates standards so high it is absolutely unrealistic or we are creating a villain to be a scape-goat for all of our worldly problems. Both of these images are contributing to teachers leaving the profession, and both of these images are very common cultural tropes. To break free from stereotypes, we need to first recognize they are there and how they are working. I teach about stereotypes when I teach rhetoric. One of my favorite lessons to teach is about binary opposition. We get to address stereotypes and how we, as humans, often categorize ideas and language into this or that, and how such categorization is often a logical fallacy. Here's a quick look at how the lesson goes. I start by asking students what a binary star system is, then draw it on the board. Binary stars are two stars that orbit each other. They rely on each other for survival. If one dies, the other dies. In this binary, one star is larger than the other, it carries more weight. Even so, if the other star dies, the larger star will also die. How we categorize language and ideas is similar. Things are good or bad, and we often privilege one side of that opposition. And we wouldn't know good without bad. The poet Wallace Stevens wrote, “Death is the mother of Beauty,” which means, without death, we wouldn't know beauty. At this point, a few of the students are nodding, others are usually staring, but as I move around the room, their eyes all follow me. This is when you know that you've got ‘em. Now, I move to the board again and ask the students to picture the perfect and stereotypical 1950s couple. I give a few seconds - they don't need long. Then I ask, “So, who are they?” Right away, students establish a white, able-bodied couple, made up of a man and woman. This is when I turn my back, marker ready, and say, “Okay, tell me about the woman.” They yell over each other rattling off the same image of a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman with a light color poodle skirt, wearing minimal makeup. She cooks, cleans, and takes care of children. Her only vices are gossip and the occasional cigarette. I then have the students describe the man. He's tall, has dark hair, wears a dark suit, and works in an office. His vices include drinking, smoking, fighting, and adultery. In less than two minutes, my students always describe Don and Betty Draper perfectly. Then we continue with other opposing stereotypes under men and women. We agree that these are stereotypes as a class, but I point out that they came up with these opposing lists in about 5 minutes total. It takes that long because I can't write as fast as they yell out ideas. I tell them, even if they don't believe in these stereotypes, they are ingrained in their brains because of the culture in which we live, and if they're not careful, they might unconsciously let them dictate their behavior At this point, I pause the class and take a different colored marker and circled qualities on both sides of the list. Then I tell the students, these are things that make up who I am. I have a lot of qualities under both men and women circled: I cry more than my wife, I am emotional, I like to cook, I'm terrible with vehicle maintenance, but I am also a woodworker, I was an industrial ironworker, I've been in fights, I was a college wrestler. We talk about monoliths, and the reality that in a binary, most people live in the gray. We're not one or the other, and that doesn't make us less-than. Even so, we tend to categorize ideas based on binary opposition. Thinking back to the binary of men and women, I ask the students who is good and who is bad. Kids argue and defend, but we don't have a consensus. Then I ask who wears what on a stereotypical wedding day. Men wear black, black is associated with bad. Women wear white, which is associated with good, (which is problematic in its own right). Inevitably one of the students says this isn't fair. They're right - it isn't. That's the danger of binary logic, of assuming things are either good or bad. It creates an all or nothing scenario and double-standards.Binary logic is a fallacy. Now, if we only think of teachers as either good or bad, we are forcing them into unrealistic stereotypes. When teachers are associated with being martyrs, saints, nurturers, or people following a calling, and if all of this is seen and represented as good, then as soon as a teacher doesn't want to give their life to education or be like the teachers in the inspirational movies, then there is a cultural damnation that they must be bad or selfish or deviant or lazy or mean. It sounds ridiculous, but teachers are either leaving because the expectations for being a teacher are more than what they're willing to give, or they are seen as lazy and unintelligent. Either way, teachers are leaving as a result. As my students point out every single year, binary logic is simplistic and unfair and most things aren't simple enough to be one or the other. But, this is often how we interpret the world, it's good or bad, Democrat or Republican, wrestling or basketball. You get the idea. So what can be done? As I said earlier, we need to first recognize that there is a stereotype and why that stereotype might be dangerous. Then, the next step would be to listen to real teachers and be able to differentiate stereotypes from reality. The way teachers are talking about leaving education is not cinematic, it's real, and it's happening. Unlike the stereotype, real teachers are listening to their friends and family. Molly Waterworth: And I was talking about it with Ryan, and he was like,” Molly, you cannot keep teaching. You just can't because it ruins it ruins you emotionally.” And I'm like, Yeah, you're really right because I live for months with just dread, dread, and exhaustion. And you don't want to see anybody that you love feel that way. And it sometimes it takes that external viewpoint of like, No, this is wrecking you to to actually recognize that like, Oh, this isn't just something that I feel internally terrible about. It's obvious to other people. So this is a problem. They realize that education doesn't have to be a life sentence of martyrdom. Rachael Esh: I've given this job and these kids everything that I have, and I don't have anything left. And that's just the reality. And it's like, I had to pick myself over them. And it's, it's like, I love them dearly, and I care about them. But I can't put my mental health on the backburner for the rest of my life. When people decide to become a teacher, I think everyone thinks like, oh, my gosh, you're a teacher, and you're going to be my kids teacher. And you're going to be a teacher forever. And like, that's your, that's your identity. I've always felt like this wasn't necessarily my forever career, like some people have. I was like, I'm gonna do this and I want to see how it goes. And the first few years, I was like, yes, like this is, this is my jam. I'm learning so much. I just started thinking I was like every year is just the same. I'm like a permanent sixth grader, and I was like, I am not the kind of person that can stay in a job for 30 years if I don't have any room to grow in it. I just started seeing that cycle. And, when summer comes, it's like, such a huge relief. And then when you start going back to school, just the anxiety about thinking about that already. I was like, no, I would rather have a job all year that I am not going to be completely stressed out about. What I heard teachers tell me is that they are dynamic humans, not cultural stereotypes. I feel that too. Teachers live in that liminal gray space in-between, just like everyone else. They are neither wholly good nor bad. So it would be great to see a cultural shift, teachers included, in how we discuss teachers - it can start by framing them as complex humans rather than cultural tropes. This will include allowing teachers to voice concerns they have about the profession, so that things can be addressed and we can keep great teachers. Now, a common cultural reaction to this last statement and to teachers airing their grievances in general, is to say that, “Well, they're just whiners.” So, if this was your reaction, it is a good time to review that lesson on binaries. If you thought the teacher sharing a concern was a whiner, then it seems like you would prefer that teacher to remain silent. To, in essence, be a martyr. But just like binary logic, expecting teachers to be martyrs is not helpful and is based in stereotypes. So it would be worth reflecting on our own stereotypes about teachers, and try to humanize them. They really are just humans. But if folks continue to struggle to separate real-life teachers from the stereotypical, dramatized, fictionalized, news-worthy, or social-media teachers, we'll continue to struggle with holding onto brilliant teachers who won't fit into the restrictive categorization. Next time, we will talk about the purpose of public education. Many teachers are leaving because our country cannot reach a consensus on what public education is for and who it's for. That will be next time on Those Who Can't Teach Anymore. Thank you for listening. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share episodes with everyone you can think of. This episode was produced by me, Charles Fournier. It was edited by Melodie Edwards. Other editing help came from Noa Greenspan, Sarah-Ann Leverette, and Tennesee Watson. Our theme song is by Julian Saporiti. All other music can be found on our website. A special thanks to Rachael Esh, Molly Waterworth, Dylan Bear, and Stephanie Reese for taking time to sit down and chat with. This podcast is funded in part by the Fund for Teachers Fellowship. With movie clips from Freedom Writers (Paramount Pictures), Dead Poets Society (Touchstone Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures), School of Rock (Paramount Pictures), Ferri Bueller (Paramount Pictures, United International Pictures)
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In the first hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Thursday, November 17, 2022, we talk with Erin Gruwell, a California-based English teacher who initiated the Freedom Writers project.
On this week's episode, join Erin Gruwell as she speaks with Nyaz Burhan, a Kurdish student author from our new book, Dear Freedom Writer, and his amazing Freedom Writer Teacher, Michael Wegmann, who hails from Germany. They discuss Nyaz's harrowing journey as a Kurdish refugee, and how the power of education has helped him to heal, find his voice, and build a new life in Europe. This story is both heartbreaking and heroic, and we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference. Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N Donate to Our Student Authors: tinyurl.com/DearFWFundraiser
On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell is joined by two Ukrainians currently living in the United States. Our first guest, Lenny Shtyenberg, is one of the co-founders of UkraineNeedsYou.org - an impressive mental health care non-profit that provides services to those affected by the conflict. Lenny makes a passionate plea about what you can do to help support their efforts. Later, we are joined by a Ukrainian member of our Freedom Writer family, Laurence Bezinover, whose parents escaped the former Soviet Union, but instilled in their children a profound respect for their people and culture. This episode is a heart-wrenching look at the human cost of conflict, and we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference. Donate to Help Ukraine: https://www.UkraineNeedsYou.org Learn More About BlueCheck Ukraine: https://www.bluecheck.in/
On today's episode, Erin Gruwell speaks with dramaturge, author, and the new dean of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine, Dr. Tiffany Lopez. They discuss Dr. Lopez's journey from being a first generation college student to becoming a leading voice in the fight for diversity and inclusion in higher education and the arts. This episode is packed with inspiring insights, and we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference. Purchase Dr. Lopez's book, Growing Up Chicana/o: https://amzn.to/3Sn7Brq Purchase The Freedom Writers Diary: https://amzn.to/3LM2w9D Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: https://amzn.to/3LLDOq1
On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell speaks with Krish Sharma, a British student author from our new book, Dear Freedom Writer, and his fabulous Freedom Writer Teacher, Sam Norwood. They discuss Krish's struggles with bullying, how important trust is for victims of bullying, and how parents, teachers, and students alike can protect students from bullying. This episode is a powerful look at how to find strength in the face of adversity and we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference. Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N Donate to Our Student Authors: tinyurl.com/DearFWFundraiser More About the "Write Back" Program: Write Back is a UK based charity founded by Freedom Writer teacher Sam Norwood. Like the Freedom Writer Foundation, Write Back is guided by the belief that every young person has a story to tell and the capacity to tell it. Its mission is to build the confidence and capacity of young people to express themselves creatively through the sharing of their stories. The charity does this through collaborative after-school storytelling programmes for marginalised young people which develop their creativity, self-esteem and agency. Its work is inspired by the work of the Freedom Writers and Ms G. Website: www.write-back.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writebackuk Twitter: https://twitter.com/writebackuk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writebackuk/
On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell speaks with Lucas Hammeken, a Greenlandic student author from the new book, Dear Freedom Writer, and his former headmaster, Torbjørn Ydegaard, a dedicated Freedom Writer Teacher who hails from Denmark. They discuss the linguistic challenges faced by students in Greenland, how Torbjørn and Lucas braved the COVID-19 pandemic in their rural village and the pride that Lucas feels as an author in Dear Freedom Writer. This episode is a fascinating look into how language and culture impact education and we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference. Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N Donate to Our Student Authors: tinyurl.com/DearFWFundraiser
On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell speaks with New Zealand's Gisborne District Councillor, Meredith Akuhata-Brown, and her daughter, Casey - two proud, Maori members of our Freedom Writer Family. They discuss the history of the Maori people, the effects of New Zealand's colonization by the British, and the importance of knowing and accepting your cultural roots. This episode is an eye-opening look into the lingering effects of colonization, and how community activism and involvement can overcome that intergenerational trauma. We hope this episode will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference. Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N Donate to Our Student Authors: tinyurl.com/DearFWFundraiser
Today's episode is serious and somber as we share that our Freedom Writer Family has lost a beloved member. Alexi Rodriguez, whom we affectionately refer to as “Lexi," tragically took her life. As a student author in our new book, DEAR FREEDOM WRITER, Lexi penned her pain in the letter "Perpetual Patient.” The loss of Lexi compelled us to create a safe space to discuss suicide, to encourage those experiencing thoughts of suicide to seek help, and to increase factors that promote suicide prevention. In this episode, Erin Gruwell is joined by six of our Freedom Writer Family members who have each been touched by Lexi personally. They reminisce about the unforgettable moments they shared with Lexi, process her passing, and seek to turn their pain into purpose. Lexi has impacted all of us, so this episode is raw and it is real. We hope, in her honor, that it will inspire you to take action for mental health awareness. To Learn More About the Alexi Emilia Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship Fund, Please go to https://bit.ly/3ySrzBM or text “LEXI” to 44-321. Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N
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Hello everyone! Welcome to part two of my talk with Erin Gruwell! Last week, we discussed the power of writing, stories, and teaching honestly. In this episode, we dive into HOW to create a workshop that that is an empowering writing community and why this should be our goal. Backstory: Over twenty years ago, the students in first-year teacher Erin Gruwell's high school class in Long Beach, California, were labeled “unteachable”—but she saw past that. Instead of treating them as scores on a test, she understood that each of them had a unique story to tell. Inspired by books like Anne Frank's diary, her students began writing their own diaries, eventually dubbing themselves the Freedom Writers. Together, they co-authored The Freedom Writers Diary. In Dear Freedom Writer, the next generation of Freedom Writers shares its struggles with abuse, racism, discrimination, poverty, mental health, imposed borders, LGBTQIA+ identity, and police violence. Each story is answered with a letter of advice from an original Freedom Writer. With empathy and honesty, they address these young people not with the platitudes of a politician or a celebrity, but with the pragmatic advice of people who have dealt with these same issues and come out on the other side. You do NOT want to miss this one. Want to support the podcast and learn how to empower writers? Check out: WRITEFULLY EMPOWERED Tap into the Transformative Potential of the Writing Workshop The time has come to shift how we think about writing in our schools. In Writefully Empowered, Jacob Chastain calls on educators to embrace the deeply personal, powerful, and transformative potential of the writing workshop by pivoting toward a classroom that honors each student's individual voice. As Chastain argues: “When we let-no, push-for students to use their voices for their own purposes, we give them what is rightfully theirs as human beings: the tools to shape the world in their image.” Writing through this lens is an exercise in agency, empowerment, and self-determination. Chastain outlines key considerations for creating a writing workshop that centers freedom, equity, and equality of opportunity. He begins with what writers need, classroom routines, and how to catalyze creativity through mini-lessons, independent work time, and conferencing. He also addresses how to track growth, advocate for equitable practices, and navigate the trauma that sometimes emerges in student work. A clear-eyed call to action informed by Chastain's years of classroom experience, Writefully Empowered will equip educators with all the tools they need to facilitate dynamic practices in their own spaces. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new classroom resource, Math by the Book by Sue O'Connell and colleagues. Math is everywhere—even in great children's books! Teachers and students love a good story. But those stories can also help elementary students make sense of important mathematical concepts. Math by the Book shows teachers how to use high-quality children's books to teach grade-specific math skills and content. You'll find activities, investigations, and teaching strategies…all paired with lists of carefully chosen K-5 literature. So, if you're looking for a fresh way to bring math teaching to life in your classroom, visit MathByTheBook.com to download a free sample or order a copy. That's MathByTheBook.com.
Hello everyone! Over twenty years ago, the students in first-year teacher Erin Gruwell's high school class in Long Beach, California, were labeled “unteachable”—but she saw past that. Instead of treating them as scores on a test, she understood that each of them had a unique story to tell. Inspired by books like Anne Frank's diary, her students began writing their own diaries, eventually dubbing themselves the Freedom Writers. Together, they co-authored The Freedom Writers Diary. In Dear Freedom Writer, the next generation of Freedom Writers shares its struggles with abuse, racism, discrimination, poverty, mental health, imposed borders, LGBTQIA+ identity, and police violence. Each story is answered with a letter of advice from an original Freedom Writer. With empathy and honesty, they address these young people not with the platitudes of a politician or a celebrity, but with the pragmatic advice of people who have dealt with these same issues and come out on the other side. In this episode, we discuss the power of writing, stories, and teaching honestly. We discuss legacy. We discuss purpose. You do NOT want to miss this one. Want to support the podcast and learn how to empower writers? Check out: WRITEFULLY EMPOWERED Tap into the Transformative Potential of the Writing Workshop The time has come to shift how we think about writing in our schools. In Writefully Empowered, Jacob Chastain calls on educators to embrace the deeply personal, powerful, and transformative potential of the writing workshop by pivoting toward a classroom that honors each student's individual voice. As Chastain argues: "When we let-no, push-for students to use their voices for their own purposes, we give them what is rightfully theirs as human beings: the tools to shape the world in their image." Writing through this lens is an exercise in agency, empowerment, and self-determination. Chastain outlines key considerations for creating a writing workshop that centers freedom, equity, and equality of opportunity. He begins with what writers need, classroom routines, and how to catalyze creativity through mini-lessons, independent work time, and conferencing. He also addresses how to track growth, advocate for equitable practices, and navigate the trauma that sometimes emerges in student work. A clear-eyed call to action informed by Chastain's years of classroom experience, Writefully Empowered will equip educators with all the tools they need to facilitate dynamic practices in their own spaces. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Four Essential Studies: Beliefs and Practices to Reclaim Student Agency by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher. Four Essential Studies is based on the belief that secondary students can only be prepared for life after high school when we purposefully shift the decision-making in our classrooms over to them. By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, digital composition, and sustain talk in book clubs, we can ignite student curiosity, independence, and decision-making skills. Penny and Kelly share the strategies and activities they use in their own classrooms over the course of each unit, and show us what is possible when we expect more than compliance from our students. Learn more about how to transform students' relationship with literacy. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Four Essential Studies.
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