Blog #3 – Movie Time! (Week 7)

            Last week we watched Freedom Writers, which turned out to be a really interesting, and amazing movie. It is hard to believe that this class in half way through the semester, oh how time flies. I will take a lot away from this class, and the movie that was shown. I got a chance to see how people react in situations that they are not used to and I don’t know how I would have acted if I was put into the same position Erin was. I think now that I have seen the movie it have me a greater understanding of how things can change I think now I would stick with it and keep pushing forward with the class. The cultural issues and diversity class makes me think of how I am going to be placed in situations that I won’t be familiar with and may have no clue at all what is going on. I think I’m starting to see that it’s more how you carry yourself in the situation rather than how much you know at the time. You may know a bit but for the most part you may be completely out of your comfort zone because it is something new to you. I finally understand the point f this class now J I love moments like that, they make everything seem possible.   

   

Movie Summary:

            The movie is about a new teacher, Erin, who gets the chance to work as a freshman/ sophomore teacher at Woodrow Wilson High school. The school was recently volunteered an integration program. The other teachers believe the integration program has ruined the school. They feel that their school has gone from the best honors to having students that can’t read and won’t graduate. Erin chose the school just because of the integration program, but she had no clue what she was in for. She decided she wanted to help change the student that she was working with and gave it her all. She put so much effort into the students and in the end it paid off. The students in the class don’t get along with each other well, let alone with Erin. They were all being racist towards each other and one day Erin brought up the holocaust and none of them heard of it before except for the only Caucasian boy. She then used the holocaust to bring the students together. She also did activities with the kids to get them to open up. She got them to write in journals every day, and she said that the journals wouldn’t be marked. If the students wanted her to read them she would, if not that was fine to. It turned out they all wanted her to read them and she got to know them each really well. They developed a strong bond and even a good bond with each other in the class. Erin starts to spend more time with her students and working second and third jobs to pay for the resources to tech her class. The school would not support her class because they don’t feel they are worth it. As times go on Erin and her husband begin to spend less time together and her husband leaves her.

My Thoughts and Reflection:

            I really enjoyed the movie, I learnt a lot from it and a lot of new approaches. The most powerful part of the film for me was when Erin got the kids to play “the line game”. The line game is where she had a strip of tape along the floor and got the kids to stand on either side. Then she would ask questions and if it applied to them they would stand on the line. She started off with simple and fun questions like who has what music alums. Then she started to get into more detail, like who has ever been shot at. Each time they would all step in towards the center and look around at each other. They got a better understanding of each other and they started to realize they have some similarities. This made me think a lot, I tried to see the many purposes of this game and why she would want to play it with the kids. It could give them the idea that everyone goes through similar things in their life no matter what race or ethnicity they are. It could also show them they no matter how much they don’t get a long they still have similarities and things in common with each other. I will use my learning from this game in the future. I may use this game to help me when I’m working with youth in the field that don’t get along with each other. It could be used as a great resource. Another part of the film that I found powerful was when Erin brought up the holocaust. She decided to use that as a hook since they seemed interested and could all relate to it in one way or another. Erin took them to the Holocaust museum and they raised money to meet the lady who hid Anne Frank and her family. Another part was the toast for change when they all took turns and made a toast with cider to what they are going to change. At first I didn’t know how the holocaust would tie in to the issues that the students were having. Then as the movie went on and I had time to think it fit in nicely. The holocaust was used to show hatred towards a specific race and how out of hand and harming it could be. She tried to get each student to relate to the holocaust in some way to make a difference. Another part in the film that made me think was when the one girl had to go on trial because she witnessed the shooting. I was interested in who she would say shot the gun and when she “ratted out” her own kind I could see how far she had come in the class. It was also amazing to see the friendship that she built with the girl that she started out hating in the beginning of the movie.  



           

Extra Research:



            I was interested in the fact that this movie was based on a true story so I did some research to find out what parts in the movie were real. I found a website online that had a lot of facts and compared the movie to what actually happen. Here is the site if you would like to check it out: http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/freedomwriters.php  I chose to write about only a few of the many points chosen on the website. I chose the points that stuck out the most to me.  I found out that Erin did have to work two extra jobs to buy supplies for her students. I also found out that at first she was not paid for teaching at Woodrow High because she was a student teacher and still had to pay tuition to the University she attended. I also found out that the story from their journals in the movie was taken right from the original freedom writer’s journal. Also in the movie Erin gets chalk dust on her but the first day. This was also true in real life, Erin recalls the students from the back of the room informing her of the chalk on her but and asking her if she wants some fries with that shake. I thought it was interesting that all of Erin’s students graduated from High school and some used the money from the freedom writers diary and went on to College. This movie relates to the field of child and youth work because of the approach that Erin took with her kids, and the fact that it was therapeutic. Erin believed in her students and helped them to better their future and their lives.  Erin used May different activities to get the kids to open up and to help them be comfortable. She used the journal writing, the toast for change, and the line game to get them to open up and to start thinking about changing themselves. She also helped them to fulfill their dreams of having the guest speaker come to the school; she taught them to fight for what they wanted. I enjoyed this movie and think it would be cool to have that freedom writers diary: teachers guide as a resource to use with kids in the future. 

        

Blog #2 – Field Trip to Quinte Mohawk School (Week 6)

            Last week we didn’t have class, instead we went on a field trip to Quinte Mohawk School. We had the pleasure of joining in on their harvest festival ceremonies at the school. It was a new experience that at first I was unsure of. As time went on and the day passed I enjoyed myself a lot in the new surroundings and with the children. I missed about 30 minutes due to being late, but when I got there I got the opportunity to join in on some classes that were dancing in the gym. We did three different dances where we danced in a circle around the people playing the music. The first dance everybody joined in, the second one was just the girls dancing around, and the third was both again. The third dance was the dance that I found the most interesting. The girls lined up on one side facing the bys and the boys lined up on the other side facing the girls. The music started slow and the boys would move forward as the girls moved backwards. This went on for a while then the music would pick up and the boys would join hands with a partner and make an arch or tunnel. The girls would then all try and run through the tunnel. The music would go back to being slow and you would go back to either walking backwards if you were a girl or forward if you were a boy in your groups. After the dances we went and helped the kids with their crafts in the class rooms, and went out for recess and played with the kids.

We brought activities to play with the children outside. During recess I found it was easier to engage the younger children in activities with us rather than the older ones. The older kids would play with each other while the younger ones would come up and play with us. I also noticed that you had to reach out and ask them if and what they wanted to play. They wouldn’t directly approach you. At first I found this a bit challenging because I was a bit nervous. Then I realized that they were probably shy as well so I started to interact with them more. We also got an opportunity to play lacrosse with the kids. Then we went in and the CYW classes and teachers gathered in the gym and we had a turkey dinner. It was a lot of fun and a neat experience. I found it interesting when they spoke their language, to say thanks for the meal we were about to eat. It showed how thankful they are for the things that they have.

  I found the dancing and the music they were playing the most interesting and decided to research it and see what I could find. It was hard to find about a specific type of dance so I just looked up their powwows and I found out a lot of interesting things. I looked at this site and I found it really interesting.  I started reading about the Blackfoot dance. Dancing was a big part of their spirituality. They were very spiritual and believed that young men would go into the woods and have a dream or vision. This would give them a spirit to protect them throughout their life. During their dances tobacco was burned because they believed it was a way to reach the spirits. Their most important ritual is the sun dance, it is still preformed today. It takes place over three to four days and they celebrate and feast during this time. Part of the ceremony was a test of the warriors’ strength and ability to take pain. I thought this part was really strange. The worriers upper arm muscle would get cut and a rope would be tied around it. The other end of the rope was then tied to the center post of the Sundance lodge until the muscle broke, or the warrior fainted of pain or exhaustion. That test of strength seems very unique and like it was a very old tradition. There were other types of dances that they still do today, but I found the history the most interesting. Here is the link in case you wanted to check it out: http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/ict/2learn/mmspeight/blackfoot/html/powwow.htm    

This past week reminded me of the movie Pocahontas. It was one of my top movies as a child and I felt that it fits in with this week. In the picture above she is talking to Mother Nature, I never understood it then but I see now how it resembles how in touch with nature their culture is. I chose to add this video because it shows how First Nations can be so in touch with nature, and how they see everything.  They think of animals and nature as being one where some people don't have that opinion. Other people just see it as land and animals. This video is also very inspirational and can show you a lot.

Blog #1 – Guest Speaker (Week 4)

      Last class we had a guest speaker come in and talk to us about our career, and his experiences in the field. Andy was an amazing speaker and he had lots of interesting stories to tell us about his time as a CYW. The way he sees his job was a very inspiring and unique way. Andy owns a group home with 80-100 beds for Aboriginal youth that are in need of care and support. He talked about how he goes to their communities and brings these youth back with him. He described himself as a big click junkie, which instead of ignoring “f**k you!” from the youth he would respond positively to it. He described it as they are used to needing something and getting pain as a response then the “click” where they would relate need to pain. He tries to see their need and respond with nurture to get the “click”. That way he can change it so that the youth after a while will relate need to nurture. He also told us that the moment is everything, act in that moment. He also said that Curiosity is the best skill that you could have as a CYW because we aren’t curious about things that we don’t care about. Before Andy left he said “Fiercely guard your passion for what you want to do. Don’t let anyone rob you of your passion; it helps you make the stupid choices”. He was referring to the choices that you act on before you think about them, and eventually have a positive outcome. He also said “Fiercely guard your compassion, your compassion allows “the click” and sees the “f**k you” as a bid”. It was a very good experience and I took a lot away from it. Listening to Andy speak will help me out in my future career as a Child and Youth Worker. I felt that he gave really good advice, and intrigued me in his area of work.

      While I was listening to him talk I started to think about the aboriginal communities. I started wondering what their traditions, customs, and beliefs are so I decided to look it up. I found this link was the most interesting, and had a lot of relevant information on it. http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_groups_overview.html  This link talks about the historical overview, the trade, their government, their religion, and much more. I found their government the most interesting. The first nations had a complex social system which had different levels of government that was based on family, clan, or the tribe/nation. The chiefs of leaders where always people with special leadership qualities that brought respect from their people. In most tribes there is a council of elders who advise the chief. They would discuss a matter of importance and then make a decision that the majority agreed on. From what I have read the aboriginal people are very caring and considerate of our earth and each other. As Andy talked about, they don’t know how to help the youth that act out. The best they can think to do is leave them behind to fend for their self. I find their way of living and beliefs very interesting. While I was looking online I came across a healing song, at first I was like "this can't be to interesting it’s just a girl standing there with a drum". As she started and the song played on I was mesmerized and couldn’t even look away. I found it very fascinating and I have posted the video down below.

                 

                 Have a good week, until nex time :)