Freedom Writers

Lori Pyles who spoke on The Freedom Writers Foundation had such an amazing story to tell. First of all, there was the inside scoop of The Freedom Writers and Erin Gruwell, especially concerning the storyline of the Freedom Writers movie. I think any future English (or current English teacher) has this hope/wish/dream that they will make as big of an impact as Gruwell did. I watched that movie just thinking, 'Wow, if only I could do something like that.' While, the pessimist in me thinks that it is never going to happen, Lori Pyles personal story exemplifies the idea that everyone is capable of evoking change and being important in their students' lives. The emotion and dedication she displayed throughout her presentation just really highlighted to me that teaching really is a two-way street. Her students depended on her in so many ways, but in a way she depended on them, they became her story.
As a future teacher, her stories of the detention center just really brought to light the issues that students are facing today. It made me think about all those students in the regular classroom suffering through the same things as her student. How as teachers can we help keep students "out of the system?" When I think of students who are abused, who parents are AWOL and who are just struggling to make it day to day, it makes me worried. Worried that I won't be able to do enough or be enough. How do you know that you are? It just seems to me that the lines of being a teacher are often so blurred. We are supposed to keep students at this professional distance, yet we are given many of the same responsibilities as parents. I just hope I live up to the expectations and standards that all those great teachers have placed before us.