For the Right Reasons

Nicki and I went to see Freedom Writers on Wednesday night. There was an educator special deal at the AMC with the stadium seating.
When you wait all day to not pay for a movie, it doesn't even matter if it sucks. Frankly, I expected to hate it. It would have been appropriate for me to hate it. But I didn't hate it. I cried. And so did Nicki. Even though our seat neighbors repeated the poignant lines for the Lady who was Too Good for Assisted Hearing Devices.
Mini-gripes, keeping in mind that I cried:

1. Just once I'd like to see a blockbuster movie with a female teacher of color working with students of color in a life-changing-empowerment-Stand-and-Deliver way.
2. She stayed with them through their whole high school careers. The real challenge would be in repeating the success with various student groups each couple of years. Being brave and letting go are big important steps in education...
   

Anyway, we bought journals for our students. Inspired to give them a forum for their thoughts/ideas/inspirations. When I suggested it to one student today he said he'd be into it because it would get him "so much ass."
I'm going to be brave and let this kid go.



*Unfunny idea that I compulsively thought during the lobby/pre-show trivia: Me dressed as William Wallace, shrieking, "They can take our land, but they'll never take our Freedoooommmmm [Writers]!"