“Freedom Writers Diary” Author to Talk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2000
Lacey Williams
530-898-4143
“Freedom Writers Diary” Author to Talk
Erin Gruwell, the teacher associated with The Freedom Writers Diary, will share her inspirational story at California State University, Chico on May 10 from 1:15 to 3 p.m. in Ayres 106.
The Freedom Writers Diary is a collection of journals that Gruwell and her students wrote. The book tells the tale of a young teacher and the at-risk students she had reached.
Gruwell began her teaching career at Long Beach Wilson High School in the fall of 1994. In her position, she was assigned multiple sections of Freshman English, a total of 150 students. Her colleagues had dubbed these students “unteachable and at-risk.”
Gruwell made school interesting for her students. She threw out the meticulously planned lessons and brought subjects to life using new books, guest speakers and field trips.
Through a variety of circumstances, Gruwell taught this same group of students English all four years. Except for one student who died, all of these students now attend college.
The talk is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Center for Bilingual/Multicultural Education at 898-4026.
###