1 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:34,731 There have been shots fired. 2 00:00:34,834 --> 00:00:36,825 Total civil unrest is happening throughout the Los Angeles area. 3 00:00:36,936 --> 00:00:37,904 Dozens of police are running down the streets. 4 00:00:37,904 --> 00:00:38,199 Dozens of police are running down the streets. 5 00:00:38,338 --> 00:00:39,464 Smoke reigned over the entire city. 6 00:00:39,606 --> 00:00:42,575 We're telling anybody who's in downtown South Central... 7 00:00:42,709 --> 00:00:44,233 There are 38 dead and more than... 8 00:00:44,377 --> 00:00:46,504 The EMT are having a hard time getting in... 9 00:00:49,349 --> 00:00:52,785 ...where truck driver Reginald Denny was pulled from his vehicle... 10 00:00:54,654 --> 00:00:56,417 The city resembles a war zone. 11 00:00:56,523 --> 00:00:58,150 Crowds gathered at Parker Center downtown. 12 00:00:58,258 --> 00:01:01,250 ...here in Hollywood, where looters have struck many businesses. 13 00:01:01,361 --> 00:01:03,829 There have been 3,600 structural fires. 14 00:01:04,564 --> 00:01:06,361 Thick, black smoke rising from the countless fires 15 00:01:06,466 --> 00:01:11,995 in Hollywood, downtown, Compton, Watts and Long Beach... 16 00:01:30,890 --> 00:01:32,187 In America, 17 00:01:33,193 --> 00:01:35,457 a girl can be crowned a princess 18 00:01:36,362 --> 00:01:39,763 for her beauty and her grace. 19 00:01:43,436 --> 00:01:46,098 But an Aztec princess is chosen for her blood... 20 00:01:46,473 --> 00:01:47,565 Eva? 21 00:01:51,077 --> 00:01:53,705 ...to fight for her people, as Papi and his father fought 22 00:01:53,813 --> 00:01:56,441 against those who say we are less than they are, 23 00:01:56,549 --> 00:01:59,848 who say we are not equal in beauty and in blessings. 24 00:02:07,627 --> 00:02:09,527 It was the first day of school, 25 00:02:09,629 --> 00:02:12,393 and I was waiting for my father to take me to the bus. 26 00:02:12,499 --> 00:02:13,727 Roberto! 27 00:02:18,304 --> 00:02:19,271 Eva! 28 00:02:20,073 --> 00:02:22,701 And I saw the war for the first time. 29 00:02:23,643 --> 00:02:25,611 Eva! Eva! 30 00:02:25,912 --> 00:02:27,539 Police! Open up! 31 00:02:29,716 --> 00:02:32,014 They took my father for retaliation. 32 00:02:32,418 --> 00:02:33,817 He was innocent, but they took him, 33 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:36,252 because he was respected by my people. 34 00:02:36,356 --> 00:02:40,486 They called my people a gang because we fight for our America. 35 00:02:40,793 --> 00:02:42,055 On your feet! 36 00:02:43,963 --> 00:02:46,329 When I got my initiation into the gang life, 37 00:02:46,432 --> 00:02:48,559 I became third generation. 38 00:02:49,569 --> 00:02:51,969 They beat you so you won't break. 39 00:02:53,540 --> 00:02:55,303 They are my family. 40 00:03:01,181 --> 00:03:04,480 In Long Beach, it all comes down to what you look like. 41 00:03:04,584 --> 00:03:07,417 If you're Latino or Asian or black, 42 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:36,316 you could get blasted any time you walk out your door. 43 00:03:36,316 --> 00:03:38,181 We fight each other for territory. 44 00:03:38,284 --> 00:03:41,776 We kill each other over race, pride and respect. 45 00:03:43,056 --> 00:03:45,115 We fight for what is ours. 46 00:03:49,429 --> 00:03:51,795 They think they're winning by jumping me now, 47 00:03:51,898 --> 00:03:54,196 but soon they're all going down. 48 00:03:54,934 --> 00:03:56,834 War has been declared. 49 00:03:58,304 --> 00:04:00,329 - Here's your coffee. - Thank you. 50 00:04:04,077 --> 00:04:06,637 I brought my lesson plans. I'd love it if you'd look them over. 51 00:04:06,746 --> 00:04:10,307 Yes, and these are the classes you'll start with. 52 00:04:10,416 --> 00:04:14,876 Freshman English, four classes, about 150 students in all. 53 00:04:19,592 --> 00:04:21,355 Some of them are just out of juvenile hall. 54 00:04:21,461 --> 00:04:25,295 One or two might be wearing ankle cuffs to monitor their whereabouts. 55 00:04:25,398 --> 00:04:28,367 And you see here, we'll have to revise your lesson plans. 56 00:04:28,501 --> 00:04:32,335 And if you look at their scores, these vocabulary lists 57 00:04:32,438 --> 00:04:36,340 and some of these, the books, Homer's The Odyssey, 58 00:04:36,442 --> 00:04:38,034 they're gonna be too difficult for them. 59 00:04:38,177 --> 00:04:39,144 All right. 60 00:04:39,612 --> 00:04:41,170 Also, for most of them to get here 61 00:04:41,281 --> 00:04:43,545 it takes three buses, almost 90 minutes each way. 62 00:04:43,650 --> 00:04:44,639 My God. 63 00:04:44,751 --> 00:04:46,480 So I wouldn't give them too much of a homework load. 64 00:04:46,586 --> 00:04:49,350 You'll just be wasting a lot of time following up on overdue work. 65 00:04:49,455 --> 00:04:51,252 All right. Thank you. 66 00:04:52,792 --> 00:04:55,659 - You're from Newport Beach? - Yes. 67 00:04:57,697 --> 00:05:00,530 It's too bad you weren't here even two years ago, you know. 68 00:05:01,034 --> 00:05:03,935 We used to have one of the highest scholastic records in the district, 69 00:05:04,037 --> 00:05:07,598 but since voluntary integration was suggested, 70 00:05:07,740 --> 00:05:14,009 we've lost over 75% of our strongest students. 71 00:05:14,113 --> 00:05:17,571 Well, actually, I chose Wilson because of the integration program. 72 00:05:17,684 --> 00:05:20,778 I think what's happening here is really exciting, don't you? 73 00:05:20,887 --> 00:05:23,355 My father was involved in the civil rights movement. 74 00:05:23,456 --> 00:05:26,892 And I remember when I was watching the LA riots on TV, 75 00:05:26,993 --> 00:05:28,756 I was thinking of going to law school at the time. 76 00:05:28,861 --> 00:05:30,590 And I thought, "God, by the time 77 00:05:30,697 --> 00:05:33,131 "you're defending a kid in a courtroom, the battle's already lost." 78 00:05:33,232 --> 00:05:36,861 I think the real fighting should happen here in the classroom. 79 00:05:39,739 --> 00:05:42,037 Well, that's a very 80 00:05:43,042 --> 00:05:45,010 well-thought-out phrase. 81 00:05:47,513 --> 00:05:48,639 Erin, 82 00:05:49,449 --> 00:05:53,579 I think you're a lovely, intelligent woman. 83 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,681 But you're a first-time teacher. 84 00:05:56,789 --> 00:05:58,984 As head of this department, I have to be confident 85 00:05:59,092 --> 00:06:01,560 you're capable of dealing with what we have to face here. 86 00:06:01,661 --> 00:06:02,855 I am. 87 00:06:03,429 --> 00:06:06,694 I know I have a lot to learn as a teacher, but I'm a really good student. 88 00:06:06,799 --> 00:06:10,963 I am, and I really want to be here. 89 00:06:15,808 --> 00:06:20,336 - Those are lovely pearls. - Thank you. From my father. 90 00:06:21,814 --> 00:06:23,509 I wouldn't wear them to class. 91 00:06:39,098 --> 00:06:40,395 Honey? 92 00:06:43,669 --> 00:06:44,761 What? 93 00:06:46,439 --> 00:06:48,134 Do I look like a teacher? 94 00:07:05,458 --> 00:07:06,516 Hey! 95 00:08:31,043 --> 00:08:33,273 Hey, Chris, yo, what up? 96 00:08:49,495 --> 00:08:51,520 - Hello. - Hello. 97 00:08:52,765 --> 00:08:54,630 Hey, yo, let's sit right here, man. 98 00:09:00,973 --> 00:09:01,997 Hi. 99 00:09:32,038 --> 00:09:34,973 Hey, girl, you wanna give me some fries with that shake? 100 00:09:42,848 --> 00:09:46,750 My name is Erin Gruwell. Welcome to Freshman English. 101 00:09:47,553 --> 00:09:49,248 I give this bitch a week. 102 00:09:49,355 --> 00:09:50,379 Hi. 103 00:09:52,858 --> 00:09:55,725 Okay. Brandy Ross? 104 00:09:55,828 --> 00:09:57,557 Gloria Munez. 105 00:09:59,899 --> 00:10:02,026 Alejandro Santiago. 106 00:10:04,203 --> 00:10:06,000 Andre Bryant. 107 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:09,701 Eva Benitez. 108 00:10:09,809 --> 00:10:13,472 Eva, not Eva. 109 00:10:15,881 --> 00:10:17,109 Eva. 110 00:10:18,985 --> 00:10:20,418 I have to go to the bathroom. 111 00:10:20,519 --> 00:10:22,749 - Okay, make sure that you take a... - Yeah, I know. 112 00:10:26,225 --> 00:10:28,022 Ben Samuels? 113 00:10:28,761 --> 00:10:31,127 That white boy hoping he's in the wrong room. 114 00:10:31,230 --> 00:10:32,492 I gotta get out of here. 115 00:10:32,598 --> 00:10:35,658 - Sindy Ngor. - Right here. 116 00:10:35,801 --> 00:10:37,063 Is that correct? 117 00:10:37,570 --> 00:10:40,266 - Jamal Hill? - Man, what am I doing in here? 118 00:10:40,706 --> 00:10:42,503 This whole ghetto-ass class has got people in here 119 00:10:42,608 --> 00:10:44,576 looking like a bad rerun of Cops and shit. 120 00:10:44,710 --> 00:10:46,541 You know what I'm saying? It's true. 121 00:10:46,646 --> 00:10:49,206 - Are you Jamal? - Yeah. 122 00:10:49,315 --> 00:10:52,079 Well, for some reason they have you registered in this class. 123 00:10:52,184 --> 00:10:55,210 - Yeah, and that's some bullshit. - It's the dumb class, coz. 124 00:10:55,888 --> 00:10:57,446 It means you're too dumb. 125 00:10:57,757 --> 00:11:00,692 - Man, say it to my face, coz. - I just did. 126 00:11:00,726 --> 00:11:02,489 See what I mean? Dumb. 127 00:11:02,595 --> 00:11:04,927 - Man, I know you ain't talking to me! - Okay... 128 00:11:05,031 --> 00:11:06,589 Look, homey, I'll beat that ass, homeboy. 129 00:11:06,699 --> 00:11:07,757 Can you please sit back down? 130 00:11:07,867 --> 00:11:08,834 Look, I got your spot on the team. 131 00:11:08,968 --> 00:11:10,265 That's why you're over there wagging your tongue. 132 00:11:10,403 --> 00:11:11,631 Please sit back in your seats. 133 00:11:11,771 --> 00:11:14,365 Look, your spot is good as gone. I don't know why you keep wasting your time 134 00:11:14,507 --> 00:11:17,305 coming to practice with them two-year-old Nikes on your feet! 135 00:11:17,410 --> 00:11:19,401 You don't know nothing about me, coz! 136 00:11:20,579 --> 00:11:21,705 Broke down my whole situation. 137 00:11:21,814 --> 00:11:22,872 Jamal? 138 00:11:22,982 --> 00:11:23,949 So, now you're in my face now, right? 139 00:11:24,350 --> 00:11:25,874 Sit your punk ass down! Sit your punk ass down, homeboy! 140 00:11:25,985 --> 00:11:26,974 I will run that ass off the field. 141 00:11:27,086 --> 00:11:28,610 Shut your ass up. What's up, homey? 142 00:11:28,721 --> 00:11:30,279 I mean, what's up? Sit your ass down, homey! 143 00:11:30,456 --> 00:11:32,356 Excuse me, may I please get some help in here? 144 00:11:34,894 --> 00:11:36,589 So do something! Back up! 145 00:11:36,696 --> 00:11:37,685 You touching me now? 146 00:11:37,797 --> 00:11:40,231 Sit down, homeboy. Back up, I'm not gonna tell you again. 147 00:11:40,332 --> 00:11:41,526 You gonna look at my face now, right? 148 00:11:41,667 --> 00:11:42,929 You ain't taking nothing from me, homeboy! 149 00:11:43,302 --> 00:11:44,929 I will run your ass off the field! 150 00:11:45,071 --> 00:11:46,163 Boy, sit your ass back down. 151 00:11:46,305 --> 00:11:47,966 Don't even worry about it, I'm gonna see you. 152 00:11:48,107 --> 00:11:49,369 Tell him. Sit his ass down. 153 00:11:49,475 --> 00:11:50,567 Sit your ass down. 154 00:11:50,676 --> 00:11:52,644 Thank you. Let him out of here, man. That's some bullshit. 155 00:11:59,318 --> 00:12:00,376 Erin? 156 00:12:05,725 --> 00:12:08,193 Erin, this is Brian Gelford. 157 00:12:08,294 --> 00:12:11,092 He teaches Junior English and the Distinguished Honors Classes. 158 00:12:11,197 --> 00:12:13,995 - Hi. Erin Gruwell. Nice to meet you. - Hi. Nice to meet you. 159 00:12:14,100 --> 00:12:18,867 - You saw a little action today, I hear. - Yeah. It happened so fast. 160 00:12:19,405 --> 00:12:20,895 Well, don't be discouraged. 161 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,203 You put your time in, in a few years, you'll be able to teach juniors. 162 00:12:24,310 --> 00:12:25,504 They're a pleasure. 163 00:12:25,611 --> 00:12:28,273 By then, most of your kids will be gone anyway. 164 00:12:28,380 --> 00:12:33,113 - What do you mean? - Well, eventually, they just stop coming. 165 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:39,084 Well, if I do my job, they might be lining up at the door. 166 00:12:39,692 --> 00:12:40,989 - Right? - Yeah. 167 00:12:43,496 --> 00:12:46,795 - Nice pearls. - Thank you. 168 00:12:59,812 --> 00:13:02,212 If it was up to me, I wouldn't even be in school. 169 00:13:02,314 --> 00:13:04,214 My probation officer threatened me, 170 00:13:04,316 --> 00:13:06,841 telling me it was either school or boot camp. 171 00:13:07,186 --> 00:13:08,312 Dumbass. 172 00:13:08,420 --> 00:13:10,320 He thinks that the problems going on in Long Beach 173 00:13:10,422 --> 00:13:12,549 aren't going to touch me at Wilson. 174 00:13:13,526 --> 00:13:16,552 My PO doesn't understand that schools are like the city, 175 00:13:16,662 --> 00:13:18,721 and the city is just like a prison, 176 00:13:18,831 --> 00:13:23,131 all of them divided into separate sections, depending on tribes. 177 00:13:23,536 --> 00:13:25,299 There's Little Cambodia. 178 00:13:26,305 --> 00:13:27,738 The Ghetto. 179 00:13:28,007 --> 00:13:29,634 Wonder Bread Land. 180 00:13:30,042 --> 00:13:34,103 And us, South of the Border or Little Tijuana. 181 00:13:34,413 --> 00:13:37,246 That's just the way it is, and everyone knows it. 182 00:13:37,950 --> 00:13:41,442 But soon enough, you have little wannabes trying to hit you up at school, 183 00:13:41,554 --> 00:13:43,852 demanding respect they haven't earned. 184 00:13:44,490 --> 00:13:48,688 It looks like this, one tribe drifting quietly to another's territory 185 00:13:48,794 --> 00:13:52,423 without respect, as if to claim what isn't theirs. 186 00:13:53,265 --> 00:13:57,668 An outsider looking in would never see it, but we could feel it. 187 00:14:01,073 --> 00:14:02,802 Something was coming. 188 00:14:18,591 --> 00:14:19,751 Settle down. 189 00:14:19,859 --> 00:14:23,727 Let's go over the first name on the list, Homer. 190 00:14:24,029 --> 00:14:26,725 Homer's The Odyssey. 191 00:14:26,832 --> 00:14:28,527 I know Homer the Simpson. 192 00:14:29,835 --> 00:14:32,497 No, this Homer was an ancient Greek, 193 00:14:32,638 --> 00:14:35,903 but maybe he was bald just like Homer Simpson. 194 00:14:40,246 --> 00:14:41,372 Okay. 195 00:14:51,657 --> 00:14:53,022 What's up? 196 00:15:01,367 --> 00:15:03,358 Quietly, please. 197 00:15:05,337 --> 00:15:07,567 Mrs. Gruwell, he just took my damn bag! 198 00:15:07,673 --> 00:15:09,004 Shut up! Ain't nobody touched your damn bag. 199 00:15:09,108 --> 00:15:10,097 Yeah, I saw you. 200 00:15:10,242 --> 00:15:12,301 Jamal. Jamal. Get her backpack. 201 00:15:12,411 --> 00:15:13,742 I didn't do nothing anyway! 202 00:15:13,846 --> 00:15:15,006 - Jamal. Jamal. - Okay. 203 00:15:31,563 --> 00:15:35,932 Wait! Wait! Please, stay in your seats! Wait! Stay in your seats! Please! 204 00:15:51,383 --> 00:15:53,044 Slanty-eyed bitch! 205 00:15:57,957 --> 00:16:00,118 Return to your classrooms. 206 00:16:01,427 --> 00:16:04,021 Return to the classrooms immediately. 207 00:16:08,300 --> 00:16:09,892 That's all you got? 208 00:16:11,203 --> 00:16:15,037 Clear the school lawn and the recreation field now! 209 00:16:19,411 --> 00:16:22,972 ...classrooms, or you will be subject to disciplinary action. 210 00:16:24,316 --> 00:16:27,479 You can best help yourself and your fellow students 211 00:16:27,586 --> 00:16:31,215 and your school by returning to your classrooms now. 212 00:16:31,457 --> 00:16:33,755 Please return to your classrooms. 213 00:16:33,993 --> 00:16:35,620 Get up, bitch! 214 00:16:36,628 --> 00:16:40,155 All students must return to their classrooms immediately. 215 00:16:43,135 --> 00:16:44,193 Erin? 216 00:16:46,805 --> 00:16:47,863 Erin. 217 00:16:49,241 --> 00:16:50,538 Hey, baby. 218 00:16:52,544 --> 00:16:53,841 You okay? 219 00:16:54,113 --> 00:16:55,080 Come here. 220 00:16:58,183 --> 00:17:00,083 Are you sure about this? 221 00:17:00,252 --> 00:17:03,483 Well, it's not exactly how I pictured it. 222 00:17:05,791 --> 00:17:07,520 Don't tell my dad. 223 00:17:08,227 --> 00:17:10,354 Hopefully, he hasn't seen the news. 224 00:17:13,899 --> 00:17:16,493 - So, how's work? - Dad. 225 00:17:17,102 --> 00:17:20,265 - I was asking your husband. - It's good. I mean, for now. 226 00:17:20,406 --> 00:17:21,532 It's a good company. 227 00:17:21,673 --> 00:17:23,607 I pretty much run the computer data department. 228 00:17:23,709 --> 00:17:27,008 - I thought you were an architect. - He is. He's just taking a break. 229 00:17:27,112 --> 00:17:28,807 And the money's good for now. 230 00:17:28,914 --> 00:17:32,518 How much are you making, $27,000 before taxes? 231 00:17:32,518 --> 00:17:34,213 If you know, why are you asking? 232 00:17:34,319 --> 00:17:36,150 So, what's everybody gonna eat? 233 00:17:36,255 --> 00:17:39,281 With your brains, you could run a major corporation. 234 00:17:39,391 --> 00:17:42,087 Instead, I worry all night because you're a teacher at Attica. 235 00:17:42,194 --> 00:17:44,162 Can you hear what you're saying? 236 00:17:44,263 --> 00:17:47,824 How many times have I listened to you about walking civil rights marches? 237 00:17:47,933 --> 00:17:50,731 These gangs are criminals, not activists. You read the papers? 238 00:17:50,869 --> 00:17:52,700 They said the same thing about the Black Panthers. 239 00:17:52,838 --> 00:17:54,772 I'll lay odds your kids don't even know 240 00:17:54,873 --> 00:17:56,932 who Rap Brown or Eldridge Cleaver were. 241 00:17:57,076 --> 00:17:58,737 You're gonna waste your talents on people 242 00:17:58,844 --> 00:18:01,312 who don't give a damn about education. 243 00:18:02,781 --> 00:18:04,510 It breaks my heart. 244 00:18:04,883 --> 00:18:07,010 I tell you the truth. 245 00:18:07,419 --> 00:18:08,511 Well... 246 00:18:10,622 --> 00:18:13,557 I'm sorry. I can't help that. 247 00:18:17,830 --> 00:18:21,129 - You think this is good enough for her? - Yeah, I do. 248 00:18:22,167 --> 00:18:23,634 Look, Steve, 249 00:18:24,236 --> 00:18:27,205 if Erin thinks she can teach these kids, she can. 250 00:18:27,806 --> 00:18:30,741 You telling her she can't is just gonna make her mad. 251 00:18:37,116 --> 00:18:40,711 So he doesn't like your job. So what? Why do you let it get to you? 252 00:18:40,819 --> 00:18:43,922 I don't know, it just does. I'm not used to disappointing him. I... 253 00:18:43,922 --> 00:18:45,150 Just let me know when I can brush my teeth. 254 00:18:45,257 --> 00:18:47,316 - I hate that we don't have our own sinks. - Come in. There's room. 255 00:18:47,426 --> 00:18:48,654 All right. Thank you. 256 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,888 I can't believe he brought up my salary. 257 00:18:52,397 --> 00:18:53,762 What's happened to him? 258 00:18:53,866 --> 00:18:56,130 He was like Atticus Finch to me when I was growing up, 259 00:18:56,268 --> 00:18:59,863 and now he's talking about salaries? I think he's playing too much golf. 260 00:19:00,072 --> 00:19:02,506 In fact, I think he needs an intervention. 261 00:19:03,041 --> 00:19:05,009 Why isn't being a teacher good enough for him? 262 00:19:05,110 --> 00:19:06,839 Honey, just calm down. 263 00:19:06,945 --> 00:19:10,210 You know, except for marrying me, 264 00:19:10,315 --> 00:19:12,875 you never seriously disappoint him. He worships you. 265 00:19:12,985 --> 00:19:14,316 He likes you. He just doesn't... 266 00:19:14,419 --> 00:19:16,614 He just doesn't think I'm good enough for you, which is fine. 267 00:19:16,722 --> 00:19:19,589 That's what fathers do. I'm sure I'll be that way someday. 268 00:19:19,691 --> 00:19:24,151 Look, just, you know, stop worrying about being his perfect daughter. 269 00:19:24,263 --> 00:19:26,823 You don't live in his house, you live in ours. 270 00:19:26,932 --> 00:19:28,559 Or until we find one. 271 00:19:29,568 --> 00:19:31,729 - Or until you build us one. - Yeah. 272 00:19:32,104 --> 00:19:34,197 With extra sinks. 273 00:19:41,013 --> 00:19:43,481 You're a teacher because you say you are. 274 00:20:01,233 --> 00:20:02,894 I have this idea. 275 00:20:03,101 --> 00:20:06,901 We're gonna be covering poetry. Who here likes Tupac Shakur? 276 00:20:07,005 --> 00:20:07,994 It's 2Pac. 277 00:20:08,140 --> 00:20:11,371 2Pac Shakur. Excuse me. Raise your hand. 278 00:20:12,878 --> 00:20:15,574 Really? I thought there'd be more fans. 279 00:20:15,914 --> 00:20:18,314 I have the lyrics to this song printed out. 280 00:20:18,417 --> 00:20:21,147 I want you to listen to this phrase I have up on the board. 281 00:20:21,253 --> 00:20:23,847 It's an example of an internal rhyme. 282 00:20:23,956 --> 00:20:28,450 What he does is very sophisticated and cool, actually. 283 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:31,495 "Man-child in the promised land couldn't afford many heroes 284 00:20:31,597 --> 00:20:33,963 "Moms was the only one there Pops was a no-show 285 00:20:34,066 --> 00:20:37,365 "And, no, I guess you didn't know that I would grow to be so strong 286 00:20:37,502 --> 00:20:39,936 "You looking kinda pale, was it the ale? Oh, pops was wrong 287 00:20:40,038 --> 00:20:42,404 "Where was the money that you said you would send me? 288 00:20:42,507 --> 00:20:44,805 "Talked on the phone and you sounded so friendly" 289 00:20:44,910 --> 00:20:47,879 - Think we don't know 2Pac? - White girl gonna teach us about rap. 290 00:20:47,980 --> 00:20:50,005 No, it's not that. See, what I was trying to do... 291 00:20:50,115 --> 00:20:52,982 You have no idea what you're doing up there, do you? 292 00:20:53,919 --> 00:20:55,978 You ever been a teacher before? 293 00:20:56,722 --> 00:20:58,451 And teacher gets nailed, y'all! 294 00:20:58,557 --> 00:21:01,958 All right, Jamal, enough. Jamal! That's enough! 295 00:21:02,494 --> 00:21:05,759 You know what? I want you to move to this front seat right here now. 296 00:21:05,864 --> 00:21:08,162 - What? - Come on. 297 00:21:09,368 --> 00:21:12,235 I am sick of these antics in my classroom. 298 00:21:13,272 --> 00:21:15,240 Well, there you are. 299 00:21:15,340 --> 00:21:18,002 I was wondering when you were gonna lose that damn smile. 300 00:21:18,110 --> 00:21:19,407 Switch with Ben. 301 00:21:19,511 --> 00:21:22,036 - Come on. - I can't go back there alone. 302 00:21:22,147 --> 00:21:24,138 - It'll be fine. - No, it won't. 303 00:21:24,249 --> 00:21:25,341 I'm not sitting near him. 304 00:21:25,450 --> 00:21:26,678 I ain't going up there without my homey. 305 00:21:26,785 --> 00:21:28,116 I'm not sitting back there alone! 306 00:21:28,220 --> 00:21:29,517 - All right. - Shut up. 307 00:21:29,621 --> 00:21:30,713 All right, you know what? 308 00:21:30,822 --> 00:21:33,290 I want you all to move to this side of the room. 309 00:21:33,392 --> 00:21:36,520 You in the back, up here. Sindy and all of you, move to the back. 310 00:21:37,162 --> 00:21:39,790 Come on. Let's go. Now! 311 00:21:43,235 --> 00:21:44,998 Get your ass back to China, all of y'all. 312 00:21:47,706 --> 00:21:51,039 - You're all little midget-ass punks. - Move before I stomp your peanuts. 313 00:21:57,983 --> 00:21:59,109 Boo! 314 00:21:59,851 --> 00:22:01,819 Get your ass to the back, boy. 315 00:22:23,809 --> 00:22:25,208 Get off my desk. 316 00:22:35,153 --> 00:22:36,916 So, everybody happy with the new borders? 317 00:22:44,863 --> 00:22:46,160 Eva? 318 00:22:47,332 --> 00:22:48,959 Where are you going? 319 00:22:49,101 --> 00:22:50,432 Hey! Hey! 320 00:25:05,403 --> 00:25:07,462 This is bull! Come on, man! What the... 321 00:25:09,808 --> 00:25:11,776 What the hell? Damn! 322 00:25:13,578 --> 00:25:15,170 I want my money back! 323 00:25:17,582 --> 00:25:21,143 This shit took my damn money! I want my damn money back! 324 00:25:22,053 --> 00:25:23,748 Look what you putting me through. Shit! 325 00:25:23,922 --> 00:25:26,652 Learn to speak the damn language! You're from this country, aren't you? 326 00:25:26,758 --> 00:25:28,555 I want my money back! 327 00:25:28,927 --> 00:25:29,394 I want my money back! 328 00:25:29,394 --> 00:25:30,884 I want my money back! 329 00:25:53,652 --> 00:25:55,119 Come on! Let's go! 330 00:25:58,823 --> 00:26:00,518 Come on, come on, girl! Let's go! 331 00:26:23,748 --> 00:26:25,375 Paco was scared. 332 00:26:25,617 --> 00:26:27,107 In the car, he said, 333 00:26:27,218 --> 00:26:30,187 "You can't go against your own people, your own blood." 334 00:26:30,288 --> 00:26:33,825 The same words my father used so many times. 335 00:26:33,825 --> 00:26:35,452 Only I saw Paco. 336 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:37,352 The others were turned away. 337 00:26:37,462 --> 00:26:41,660 So when the police questioned me, I knew I had to protect him. 338 00:26:45,637 --> 00:26:49,073 All right, everyone, we need to get started so classes won't be too delayed. 339 00:26:49,174 --> 00:26:51,108 Principal Banning would like to say something 340 00:26:51,209 --> 00:26:53,177 in the light of last night's events. 341 00:26:53,311 --> 00:26:55,074 I've spoken to the police. 342 00:26:55,180 --> 00:26:57,808 As you might already know, there were persons involved 343 00:26:57,916 --> 00:27:01,317 in last night's shooting who are Wilson students. 344 00:27:01,486 --> 00:27:05,388 Grant Rice has been arrested as a prime suspect. 345 00:27:05,423 --> 00:27:06,856 Ms. Gruwell, 346 00:27:06,958 --> 00:27:10,689 apparently one of your students, Eva Benitez... 347 00:27:10,795 --> 00:27:13,889 - Eva. ...has identified him as the shooter. 348 00:27:13,999 --> 00:27:16,399 She's the prime witness in the case. 349 00:27:16,534 --> 00:27:20,664 It is our policy not to discuss the subject inside the classroom. 350 00:27:20,805 --> 00:27:22,773 - Thank you very much. - Thank you. 351 00:27:40,659 --> 00:27:42,286 Hey, Tiny, check this out. 352 00:27:49,267 --> 00:27:52,168 Hey. Hey! 353 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:09,245 Yes? 354 00:28:11,156 --> 00:28:12,521 All right. 355 00:28:14,192 --> 00:28:15,250 Gloria? 356 00:28:15,860 --> 00:28:17,487 Please read the first sentence on the board. 357 00:28:17,595 --> 00:28:18,584 Why me? 358 00:28:18,697 --> 00:28:20,562 Because I know how much you love to read. 359 00:28:20,665 --> 00:28:22,394 Close the magazine. 360 00:28:25,370 --> 00:28:28,066 "Odysseus had no sense of direction." 361 00:28:28,206 --> 00:28:30,174 Now, none of these sentences are correct. 362 00:28:30,308 --> 00:28:33,766 I'd like you to rewrite these sentences using the proper tenses 363 00:28:33,912 --> 00:28:36,380 and spelling on page four of your workbooks. 364 00:28:42,353 --> 00:28:45,457 I don't have a page four. It got torn out. 365 00:28:45,457 --> 00:28:48,949 Okay, why don't you just use the next blank page? 366 00:28:54,099 --> 00:28:55,726 What's going on? 367 00:28:58,670 --> 00:29:00,900 What is that? Give it to me. 368 00:29:17,789 --> 00:29:20,223 - What is this? - Just leave it alone. 369 00:29:26,464 --> 00:29:28,432 You think this is funny? 370 00:29:29,300 --> 00:29:30,426 Tito? 371 00:29:31,436 --> 00:29:34,098 Would this be funny if it were a picture of you? 372 00:29:34,472 --> 00:29:35,769 It ain't. 373 00:29:45,817 --> 00:29:47,580 Close the workbooks. 374 00:29:55,059 --> 00:29:58,586 Maybe we should talk about art. Tito's got real talent, don't you think? 375 00:29:58,696 --> 00:30:01,597 - Yeah, yeah. - Go, Tito. 376 00:30:02,534 --> 00:30:04,126 You know something? 377 00:30:04,269 --> 00:30:08,000 I saw a picture just like this once in a museum. 378 00:30:08,973 --> 00:30:12,374 Only it wasn't a black man, it was a Jewish man. 379 00:30:12,477 --> 00:30:15,241 And instead of the big lips, he had a really big nose, 380 00:30:15,346 --> 00:30:16,938 like a rat's nose. 381 00:30:17,048 --> 00:30:19,073 But he wasn't just one particular Jewish man, 382 00:30:19,184 --> 00:30:21,379 this was a drawing of all Jews. 383 00:30:21,786 --> 00:30:24,016 And these drawings were put in the newspapers 384 00:30:24,122 --> 00:30:26,613 by the most famous gang in history. 385 00:30:27,959 --> 00:30:29,551 That's us, dawg. 386 00:30:32,230 --> 00:30:34,528 You think you know all about gangs? 387 00:30:35,900 --> 00:30:37,492 You're amateurs. 388 00:30:38,002 --> 00:30:40,129 This gang would put you all to shame. 389 00:30:40,271 --> 00:30:44,537 And they started out poor and angry, and everybody looked down on them. 390 00:30:44,642 --> 00:30:47,577 Until one man decided to give them some pride, 391 00:30:47,679 --> 00:30:51,137 an identity and somebody to blame. 392 00:30:51,883 --> 00:30:53,851 You take over neighborhoods? 393 00:30:54,853 --> 00:30:59,153 That's nothing compared to them. They took over countries. 394 00:30:59,257 --> 00:31:00,656 And you wanna know how? 395 00:31:01,125 --> 00:31:03,616 They just wiped out everybody else. 396 00:31:03,795 --> 00:31:05,592 - Yeah. - Yeah. 397 00:31:05,697 --> 00:31:08,097 Yeah, they wiped out everybody they didn't like, 398 00:31:08,199 --> 00:31:11,327 and everybody they blamed for their life being hard. 399 00:31:11,469 --> 00:31:14,097 And one of the ways they did it was by doing this. 400 00:31:14,239 --> 00:31:16,730 See, they'd print pictures like this in the newspapers. 401 00:31:16,875 --> 00:31:21,835 Jewish people with big, long noses. Blacks with big, fat lips. 402 00:31:23,214 --> 00:31:25,580 They'd also publish scientific evidence 403 00:31:25,683 --> 00:31:29,915 that proved Jews and blacks were the lowest form of human species. 404 00:31:30,855 --> 00:31:32,584 Jews and blacks were more like animals. 405 00:31:32,690 --> 00:31:34,021 And because they were just like animals 406 00:31:34,125 --> 00:31:36,320 it didn't really matter whether they lived or died. 407 00:31:36,427 --> 00:31:40,659 In fact, life would be a whole lot better if they were all dead. 408 00:31:42,233 --> 00:31:44,531 That's how a holocaust happens. 409 00:31:44,769 --> 00:31:46,134 And that's what you all think of each other. 410 00:31:46,237 --> 00:31:47,261 You don't know nothing, homegirl. 411 00:31:47,405 --> 00:31:49,873 No, I don't, Marcus! So why don't you explain it to me? 412 00:31:50,008 --> 00:31:51,976 I ain't explaining shit to you! 413 00:31:53,611 --> 00:31:55,636 Do you even know how we live? 414 00:31:57,715 --> 00:31:59,273 We was here first, man. 415 00:31:59,884 --> 00:32:01,511 Just shut that shit up, homeboy. 416 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:03,410 All right! All right! All right! 417 00:32:03,521 --> 00:32:05,819 So what you're saying is, if the Latinos weren't here, 418 00:32:05,924 --> 00:32:08,950 or the Cambodians or the blacks or the whites or whoever they are, 419 00:32:09,060 --> 00:32:11,688 if they weren't here, everything would be better for you, isn't that right? 420 00:32:11,796 --> 00:32:13,263 Of course it'd be better! 421 00:32:14,165 --> 00:32:16,292 Lt'd be better if you weren't here. 422 00:32:17,368 --> 00:32:19,029 Right. Right. 423 00:32:20,405 --> 00:32:22,805 It starts with a drawing like this, 424 00:32:23,441 --> 00:32:26,569 and then some kid dies in a drive-by, never even knowing what hit him. 425 00:32:26,678 --> 00:32:28,578 You don't know nothing! 426 00:32:30,248 --> 00:32:32,216 You don't know the pain we feel. 427 00:32:32,717 --> 00:32:34,412 You don't know what we got to do. 428 00:32:34,519 --> 00:32:36,646 You got no respect for how we living. 429 00:32:36,754 --> 00:32:39,279 You got us in here, teaching us this grammar shit, 430 00:32:39,390 --> 00:32:40,516 and then we got to go out there again. 431 00:32:40,625 --> 00:32:43,116 And what are you telling me about that, huh? 432 00:32:43,227 --> 00:32:46,924 What are you doing in here that makes a goddamn difference to my life? 433 00:32:47,031 --> 00:32:50,262 You don't feel respected. Is that what you're saying, Eva? 434 00:32:50,568 --> 00:32:54,004 Well, maybe you're not. But to get respect, you have to give it. 435 00:32:54,138 --> 00:32:55,696 That's bullshit. 436 00:32:56,874 --> 00:32:57,841 What? 437 00:32:57,942 --> 00:33:00,035 Why should I give my respect to you? 438 00:33:00,178 --> 00:33:01,770 'Cause you're a teacher? 439 00:33:01,879 --> 00:33:03,210 I don't know you. 440 00:33:03,247 --> 00:33:05,715 How do I know you're not a liar standing up there? 441 00:33:05,817 --> 00:33:08,911 How do I know you're not a bad person standing up there? 442 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:12,580 I'm not just gonna give you my respect because you're called a teacher. 443 00:33:12,690 --> 00:33:16,786 White people always wanting their respect like they deserve it for free. 444 00:33:17,829 --> 00:33:20,855 I'm a teacher. It doesn't matter what color I am. 445 00:33:20,965 --> 00:33:22,796 It's all about color. 446 00:33:23,601 --> 00:33:25,899 It's about people deciding what you deserve, 447 00:33:26,037 --> 00:33:28,301 about people wanting what they don't deserve, 448 00:33:28,406 --> 00:33:30,738 about whites thinking they run this world no matter what. 449 00:33:30,842 --> 00:33:32,742 You see, I hate white people. 450 00:33:34,379 --> 00:33:35,778 - You hate me? - Yeah. 451 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:38,974 - You don't know me. - I know what you can do. 452 00:33:39,083 --> 00:33:42,883 I saw white cops shoot my friend in the back for reaching into his pocket! 453 00:33:42,987 --> 00:33:44,215 His pocket. 454 00:33:44,722 --> 00:33:47,122 I saw white cops break into my house 455 00:33:47,225 --> 00:33:50,854 and take my father for no reason except because they feel like it! 456 00:33:50,962 --> 00:33:53,055 Except because they can. 457 00:33:54,565 --> 00:33:57,762 And they can because they're white. 458 00:33:59,303 --> 00:34:01,737 So I hate white people on sight! 459 00:34:06,377 --> 00:34:08,777 Ben, do you have anything to say? 460 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:10,643 Can I please get out of here? 461 00:34:10,748 --> 00:34:13,717 Lady, stop acting like you're trying to understand our situation 462 00:34:13,818 --> 00:34:15,251 and just do your little babysitting up there. 463 00:34:15,353 --> 00:34:17,651 - That's all you think this is? - It ain't nothing else. 464 00:34:17,755 --> 00:34:18,915 When I look out in the world, 465 00:34:19,023 --> 00:34:21,491 I don't see nobody that looks like me with their pockets full, 466 00:34:21,592 --> 00:34:24,083 unless they're rapping a lyric or dribbling a ball. 467 00:34:24,195 --> 00:34:25,526 So what else you got in here for me? 468 00:34:25,630 --> 00:34:28,064 And what if you can't rap a lyric or dribble a ball? 469 00:34:28,166 --> 00:34:31,761 - It ain't this. I know that much. - Damn right. 470 00:34:31,903 --> 00:34:34,997 And you all think you're gonna make it to graduation like this? 471 00:34:35,139 --> 00:34:36,902 I made it to high school. Ain't nobody stopped me. 472 00:34:37,008 --> 00:34:39,977 Lady, I'm lucky if I make it to 18. We in a war. 473 00:34:40,078 --> 00:34:41,705 We're graduating every day we live, 474 00:34:41,813 --> 00:34:44,111 because we ain't afraid to die protecting our own. 475 00:34:44,215 --> 00:34:48,549 At least when you die for your own, you die with respect, you die a warrior. 476 00:34:48,653 --> 00:34:49,677 That's right. 477 00:34:49,787 --> 00:34:52,483 So when you're dead, you'll get respect? Is that what you think? 478 00:34:52,590 --> 00:34:53,648 - That's right. - That's right. 479 00:34:53,758 --> 00:34:55,282 - Yeah. - Yeah. 480 00:34:57,962 --> 00:35:00,430 You know what's gonna happen when you die? 481 00:35:01,399 --> 00:35:03,560 You're gonna rot in the ground. 482 00:35:03,634 --> 00:35:08,003 And people are gonna go on living, and they're gonna forget all about you. 483 00:35:08,873 --> 00:35:11,341 And when you rot, 484 00:35:11,476 --> 00:35:16,436 do you think it's gonna matter whether you were an original gangster? 485 00:35:17,748 --> 00:35:19,181 You're dead. 486 00:35:20,585 --> 00:35:24,954 And nobody, nobody is gonna wanna remember you, 487 00:35:25,056 --> 00:35:29,186 because all you left behind in this world is this. 488 00:35:47,311 --> 00:35:49,006 You're raising your hand? 489 00:35:51,082 --> 00:35:54,483 That thing that you said before, the Holocause? 490 00:35:54,585 --> 00:35:57,145 - Holocaust, yes. - What is that? 491 00:36:01,459 --> 00:36:04,690 Raise your hand if you know what the Holocaust is. 492 00:36:17,408 --> 00:36:19,239 Raise your hand 493 00:36:19,911 --> 00:36:23,540 if anyone in this classroom has ever been shot at. 494 00:37:28,312 --> 00:37:31,110 What about this? We were discussing the Holocaust. 495 00:37:31,215 --> 00:37:32,682 No, they won't be able to read that. 496 00:37:33,818 --> 00:37:36,286 We can try. The books are just sitting here. 497 00:37:36,387 --> 00:37:38,116 Look at their reading scores. 498 00:37:38,222 --> 00:37:40,486 And if I give your kids these books, I'll never see them again. 499 00:37:40,591 --> 00:37:42,525 If I do, they'll be damaged. 500 00:37:42,893 --> 00:37:46,385 What about these? Romeo and Juliet. That's a great gang story. 501 00:37:46,497 --> 00:37:50,126 No, not the books. This is what we give them. 502 00:37:50,635 --> 00:37:52,865 It is Romeo and Juliet, but it's a condensed version. 503 00:37:53,004 --> 00:37:55,029 But even these, look how they treat them. 504 00:37:55,172 --> 00:37:58,232 See how torn up they are? They draw on them. 505 00:37:59,577 --> 00:38:01,306 Ms. Campbell? 506 00:38:01,479 --> 00:38:02,571 They know they get these 507 00:38:02,613 --> 00:38:04,376 because no one thinks they're smart enough for real books. 508 00:38:04,482 --> 00:38:06,450 Well, I don't have the budget to buy new books every semester 509 00:38:06,550 --> 00:38:07,744 when these kids don't return them. 510 00:38:07,852 --> 00:38:09,581 So, what do I do? Buy their books myself? 511 00:38:09,687 --> 00:38:12,815 Well, that's up to you, but you'd be wasting your money. 512 00:38:13,190 --> 00:38:16,057 Is there someone else I can speak to about this? 513 00:38:16,594 --> 00:38:19,154 - Excuse me? - I'm sorry, but 514 00:38:20,164 --> 00:38:21,222 I don't understand. 515 00:38:21,332 --> 00:38:23,129 Does the Long Beach Board of Ed agree 516 00:38:23,267 --> 00:38:25,827 that these books should just sit here and not be used at all? 517 00:38:25,970 --> 00:38:27,562 Let me explain. 518 00:38:28,639 --> 00:38:31,403 It's called site-based instruction. 519 00:38:31,509 --> 00:38:34,376 It means that I and the principal each have the authority 520 00:38:34,478 --> 00:38:37,345 to make these kinds of decisions without having to go to the Board, 521 00:38:37,448 --> 00:38:41,908 who have bigger problems to solve. Do you understand how it works now? 522 00:38:42,553 --> 00:38:45,021 I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overstep your authority. 523 00:38:45,122 --> 00:38:47,283 I would never do that. I just... 524 00:38:48,893 --> 00:38:51,521 I don't know how to make them interested in reading with these. 525 00:38:51,629 --> 00:38:55,190 You can't make someone want an education. 526 00:38:55,466 --> 00:38:59,527 The best you can do is try to get them to obey, to learn discipline. 527 00:38:59,670 --> 00:39:02,400 That would be a tremendous accomplishment for them. 528 00:39:06,277 --> 00:39:08,871 Since you know Margaret better than I do, 529 00:39:08,979 --> 00:39:11,539 if I could just get some backup from you. 530 00:39:11,649 --> 00:39:16,518 I really think that the stories like The Diary of Anne Frank and... 531 00:39:16,620 --> 00:39:18,349 That they'd be so great for them, 532 00:39:18,456 --> 00:39:21,914 and she doesn't seem to understand that they could relate to these stories 533 00:39:22,026 --> 00:39:23,653 considering all that they face. 534 00:39:23,761 --> 00:39:26,662 Oh, of course. It's a universal story. 535 00:39:26,764 --> 00:39:31,724 I mean, Anne Frank, Rodney King, they're almost interchangeable. 536 00:39:35,506 --> 00:39:37,565 - Are you making fun of me? - Yeah. 537 00:39:37,708 --> 00:39:39,869 God, listen to what you're saying. 538 00:39:39,977 --> 00:39:42,309 How dare you compare them to Anne Frank? 539 00:39:42,813 --> 00:39:43,939 They don't hide. 540 00:39:44,048 --> 00:39:46,539 They drive around in the open with automatic weapons. 541 00:39:46,650 --> 00:39:50,108 I'm the one living in fear. I can't walk out my door at night. 542 00:39:50,721 --> 00:39:52,621 And you blame these kids? 543 00:39:52,723 --> 00:39:55,817 This was an A-list school before they came here. 544 00:39:55,926 --> 00:39:57,826 And look what they turned it into. 545 00:39:58,763 --> 00:40:01,129 I mean, does it make sense 546 00:40:02,099 --> 00:40:04,192 that kids who want an education should suffer 547 00:40:04,268 --> 00:40:07,237 because their high school gets turned into a reform school? 548 00:40:07,338 --> 00:40:09,829 Because kids who don't want to be here, and shouldn't be here, 549 00:40:09,974 --> 00:40:11,236 are forced to be here 550 00:40:11,342 --> 00:40:13,310 by the geniuses running the school district? 551 00:40:15,012 --> 00:40:16,775 Integration's a lie. 552 00:40:16,881 --> 00:40:20,578 Yeah, we teachers, we can't say that or we lose our jobs for being racist. 553 00:40:20,684 --> 00:40:23,778 So, please, stop your cheerleading, Erin. You're ridiculous. 554 00:40:23,888 --> 00:40:26,448 You don't know the first thing about these kids. 555 00:40:26,557 --> 00:40:28,582 And you're not qualified to make judgments about the teachers 556 00:40:28,692 --> 00:40:30,785 who have to survive this place. 557 00:41:11,001 --> 00:41:14,732 We're gonna play a game, all right? It's a lot of fun. I promise. 558 00:41:16,373 --> 00:41:18,807 Look, you can either sit in your seats reading those workbooks, 559 00:41:18,909 --> 00:41:19,898 or you can play a game. 560 00:41:20,044 --> 00:41:21,636 Either way, you're in here till the bell rings. 561 00:41:21,745 --> 00:41:25,647 Okay. This is called the Line Game. 562 00:41:25,749 --> 00:41:27,307 I'm gonna ask you a question. 563 00:41:27,418 --> 00:41:30,615 If that question applies to you, you step onto the line, 564 00:41:30,721 --> 00:41:33,349 and then step back away for the next question. 565 00:41:33,457 --> 00:41:35,152 - Easy, right? - Yeah, whatever. 566 00:41:35,593 --> 00:41:36,924 The first question, 567 00:41:37,161 --> 00:41:40,426 how many of you have the new Snoop Dogg album? 568 00:41:48,472 --> 00:41:49,564 Did you steal it? 569 00:41:50,374 --> 00:41:51,841 Okay, back away. 570 00:41:55,045 --> 00:41:56,137 Next question, 571 00:41:56,247 --> 00:41:59,739 how many of you have seen Boyz n the Hood? 572 00:42:08,425 --> 00:42:10,393 Okay. Next question. 573 00:42:10,494 --> 00:42:13,395 How many of you live in the projects? 574 00:42:18,202 --> 00:42:23,162 How many of you know someone, a friend or relative, 575 00:42:23,307 --> 00:42:26,276 who was or is in juvenile hall or jail? 576 00:42:30,214 --> 00:42:32,375 How many of you have been in juvenile hall 577 00:42:32,483 --> 00:42:34,747 or jail for any length of time? 578 00:42:35,185 --> 00:42:36,152 Detention don't count. 579 00:42:40,024 --> 00:42:41,719 Does a refugee camp count? 580 00:42:42,860 --> 00:42:44,225 You decide. 581 00:42:59,276 --> 00:43:02,006 How many of you know where to get drugs right now? 582 00:43:07,284 --> 00:43:10,151 How many of you know someone in a gang? 583 00:43:18,462 --> 00:43:21,158 How many of you are gang members? 584 00:43:22,366 --> 00:43:24,061 - Nice try. - Nice try. 585 00:43:25,436 --> 00:43:28,234 Okay, that was a stupid question, wasn't it? 586 00:43:28,339 --> 00:43:29,306 Yeah. 587 00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:31,408 You're not allowed gang affiliations in school. 588 00:43:31,508 --> 00:43:33,908 I apologize for asking. My badness. 589 00:43:38,682 --> 00:43:42,448 Okay, now I'm gonna ask you a more serious question. 590 00:43:43,354 --> 00:43:48,155 Stand on the line if you've lost a friend to gang violence. 591 00:44:13,684 --> 00:44:16,619 Stay on the line if you've lost more than one friend. 592 00:44:23,460 --> 00:44:24,654 Three. 593 00:44:38,475 --> 00:44:40,272 Four or more. 594 00:44:50,988 --> 00:44:53,115 Okay, I'd like us to pay respect to those people now. 595 00:44:53,223 --> 00:44:55,748 Wherever you are, just speak their name. 596 00:45:04,802 --> 00:45:05,769 James. 597 00:45:10,574 --> 00:45:11,541 Beatriz. 598 00:45:22,619 --> 00:45:24,416 Thank you all very much. 599 00:45:25,756 --> 00:45:28,384 Now, I have something for each of you. 600 00:45:31,195 --> 00:45:33,356 Everyone has their own story, 601 00:45:33,464 --> 00:45:37,992 and it's important for you to tell your own story, even to yourself. 602 00:45:38,135 --> 00:45:40,695 So, what we're going to do is 603 00:45:40,838 --> 00:45:43,807 we're gonna write every day in these journals. 604 00:45:44,141 --> 00:45:48,703 You can write about whatever you want, the past, the present, the future. 605 00:45:48,812 --> 00:45:52,714 You can write it like a diary, or you can write 606 00:45:52,816 --> 00:45:58,220 songs, poems, any good thing, bad thing, anything. 607 00:45:58,322 --> 00:46:01,018 But you have to write every day. 608 00:46:01,191 --> 00:46:04,683 Keep a pen nearby. Whenever you feel the inspiration. 609 00:46:04,728 --> 00:46:06,787 And they won't be graded. 610 00:46:06,897 --> 00:46:10,560 How can I give an A or a B for writing the truth, right? 611 00:46:10,667 --> 00:46:13,431 And I will not read them unless you give me permission. 612 00:46:13,570 --> 00:46:17,301 I will need to see that you've made an entry, but I'll just do this, 613 00:46:17,407 --> 00:46:18,931 skim to see that you wrote that day. 614 00:46:19,076 --> 00:46:24,343 Now, if you want me to read it, I have... Excuse me. A cabinet over here. 615 00:46:24,448 --> 00:46:28,111 It has a lock on it. I will keep it open during class, 616 00:46:28,218 --> 00:46:31,051 and you can leave your diary there if you want me to read it. 617 00:46:31,155 --> 00:46:34,784 I will lock this cabinet at the end of every class. 618 00:46:36,026 --> 00:46:37,118 Okay? 619 00:46:39,129 --> 00:46:44,999 So, you can each come up, one by one, and take your own journal. 620 00:46:52,442 --> 00:46:54,307 Whenever you're ready. 621 00:47:18,969 --> 00:47:21,437 Eva holds back, but I know she wants to be involved. 622 00:47:21,538 --> 00:47:23,005 She's so stubborn. 623 00:47:23,140 --> 00:47:25,472 Who really surprised me was Brandy, who never says a word, 624 00:47:25,576 --> 00:47:28,306 but she was the first to step up and take a journal. I... 625 00:47:28,412 --> 00:47:30,243 Honey, here. Here, sit down. 626 00:47:30,347 --> 00:47:31,871 - It's all right. No, it's all right. - I'll move this. 627 00:47:31,982 --> 00:47:34,212 I don't mind standing. Food goes straight down. 628 00:47:34,318 --> 00:47:37,253 - How much longer are you gonna be? - I don't know. 629 00:47:37,354 --> 00:47:39,822 - Want to help? - Not really, I'm a terrible drawer. 630 00:47:39,923 --> 00:47:43,791 - You're an architect. - All right, I just don't want to. 631 00:47:45,229 --> 00:47:46,753 What's the matter? Is something wrong? 632 00:47:46,864 --> 00:47:48,491 No, it's nothing. 633 00:47:49,566 --> 00:47:53,093 Well, it's just, you know, I want to hear all this, I do. 634 00:47:53,604 --> 00:47:54,662 It just... 635 00:47:54,805 --> 00:47:56,534 I feel like we haven't talked about anything, 636 00:47:56,640 --> 00:47:59,700 other than your job, in like forever. 637 00:47:59,843 --> 00:48:01,071 I'm sorry. 638 00:48:01,912 --> 00:48:03,607 - Well, what's going on at work? - Nothing. 639 00:48:03,647 --> 00:48:05,274 I don't want to talk about that, either. 640 00:48:05,382 --> 00:48:08,180 I just want to hang out. I want to be home. 641 00:48:10,621 --> 00:48:13,112 And I want to be with my schoolteacher. 642 00:48:19,730 --> 00:48:22,893 I've always had this fantasy about being kept late after school. 643 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:27,664 Well, I'm sorry I left my dirty erasers at work. 644 00:48:27,804 --> 00:48:30,170 Do all the other teachers put in this much extra effort? 645 00:48:30,274 --> 00:48:33,072 I don't know. I'm kind of making it up as I go along. 646 00:48:33,176 --> 00:48:35,838 And the other teachers don't really talk to me. I mean, Brian and Margaret... 647 00:48:35,946 --> 00:48:37,880 - Honey, I don't want to think. - I'm sorry. Okay, don't think. 648 00:48:37,981 --> 00:48:40,108 - I just wanna... - I'm almost done, okay? 649 00:48:42,085 --> 00:48:43,882 So, how much longer? 650 00:48:45,155 --> 00:48:47,453 Not long. Promise. 651 00:48:51,528 --> 00:48:54,656 Thank you so much for coming. Susan's a terrific student. Thank you. 652 00:48:54,765 --> 00:48:56,392 - Great to see you. - Good night. Take care. 653 00:48:56,500 --> 00:48:58,434 - Jim, thank you so much. - Thanks, Brian. 654 00:48:58,568 --> 00:49:00,661 I appreciate you guys coming to Parents' Night. 655 00:49:00,871 --> 00:49:02,236 Drive safe. 656 00:49:43,113 --> 00:49:45,604 In every war, there is an enemy. 657 00:49:52,756 --> 00:49:55,725 I watched my mother being half beaten to death 658 00:49:56,093 --> 00:49:59,290 and watched as blood and tears streamed down her face. 659 00:50:00,464 --> 00:50:02,299 I felt useless and scared and furious at the same time. 660 00:50:02,299 --> 00:50:04,267 I felt useless and scared and furious at the same time. 661 00:50:05,235 --> 00:50:06,964 Stay there, Brandy. Watch the kids! 662 00:50:07,104 --> 00:50:08,469 - Get my money! - Watch the kids! 663 00:50:09,940 --> 00:50:13,671 I can still feel the sting of the belt on my back and my legs. 664 00:50:14,277 --> 00:50:17,007 One time, he couldn't pay the rent. 665 00:50:17,114 --> 00:50:20,550 And that night he stopped us on the street and pointed to the concrete. 666 00:50:20,650 --> 00:50:22,777 He said, "Pick a spot." 667 00:50:34,564 --> 00:50:38,227 Clive was my boy. He had my back plenty of times. 668 00:50:38,368 --> 00:50:42,065 We was like one fist, me and him, one army. 669 00:50:42,873 --> 00:50:44,670 - That's heavy. - Yeah. 670 00:50:46,410 --> 00:50:50,369 That's the real shit right here. Nobody'll jump us now. 671 00:50:50,814 --> 00:50:53,544 But we got to practice 'cause this, this got power. 672 00:50:53,650 --> 00:50:55,379 You shoot it, it... 673 00:51:01,725 --> 00:51:04,091 I sat there till the police came. 674 00:51:05,262 --> 00:51:10,131 But when they come, all they see is a dead body, a gun and a nigga. 675 00:51:10,634 --> 00:51:14,570 They took me to juvenile hall. First night was the scariest. 676 00:51:17,274 --> 00:51:19,071 Inmates banging on the walls, 677 00:51:19,176 --> 00:51:23,306 throwing up their gang signs, yelling out who they were, where they're from. 678 00:51:23,713 --> 00:51:27,740 I cried my first night. Can't never let nobody know that. 679 00:51:28,652 --> 00:51:31,177 I spent the next few years in and out of cells. 680 00:51:31,288 --> 00:51:34,086 Every day I'd worry, "When will I be free?" 681 00:51:37,694 --> 00:51:40,561 My brother taught me what the life is for a young black man. 682 00:51:40,664 --> 00:51:44,100 Do what you have to, pimp, deal, whatever. 683 00:51:44,234 --> 00:51:46,634 Learn what colors to learn, gang boundaries. 684 00:51:46,736 --> 00:51:48,931 You can stay on one corner, you can't stay on another. 685 00:51:49,072 --> 00:51:51,768 Learn to be quiet. A wrong word can get you popped. 686 00:51:51,875 --> 00:51:54,969 If you look in my eyes, you'll see a loving girl. 687 00:51:55,078 --> 00:51:57,945 If you look at my smile, you'll see nothing wrong. 688 00:51:58,582 --> 00:52:01,813 If you pull up my shirt, you'll see the bruises. 689 00:52:01,985 --> 00:52:04,112 What did I do to make him so mad? 690 00:52:04,154 --> 00:52:08,056 At 16, I've seen more dead bodies than a mortician. 691 00:52:08,725 --> 00:52:12,422 Every time I step out my door, I'm faced with the risk of being shot. 692 00:52:13,096 --> 00:52:17,226 To the outside world, it's just another dead body on the street corner. 693 00:52:17,801 --> 00:52:19,769 They don't know that he was my friend. 694 00:52:19,870 --> 00:52:21,201 During the war in Cambodia, 695 00:52:21,304 --> 00:52:23,295 the camp stripped away my father's dignity. 696 00:52:23,440 --> 00:52:25,908 He sometimes tries to hurt my mom and me. 697 00:52:26,042 --> 00:52:28,203 I feel like I have to protect my family. 698 00:52:28,311 --> 00:52:33,305 I was having trouble deciding what candy I wanted, then I heard gunshots. 699 00:52:33,416 --> 00:52:35,247 I looked down to see that one of my friends 700 00:52:35,352 --> 00:52:38,378 had blood coming out of his back and his mouth. 701 00:52:39,122 --> 00:52:42,285 The next day, I pulled up my shirt and got strapped with a gun 702 00:52:42,392 --> 00:52:44,656 I found in an alley by my house. 703 00:52:44,761 --> 00:52:47,059 I don't even know how this war started. 704 00:52:47,164 --> 00:52:50,190 It's just two sides who tripped each other way back. 705 00:52:50,300 --> 00:52:52,791 Who cares about the history behind it? 706 00:52:53,603 --> 00:52:55,036 I am my father's daughter. 707 00:52:55,138 --> 00:52:59,507 And when they call me to testify, I will protect my own no matter what. 708 00:52:59,809 --> 00:53:03,370 Nobody cares what I do. Why should I bother coming to school? 709 00:53:03,847 --> 00:53:07,476 My friends are soldiers, not of war, but of the streets. 710 00:53:07,584 --> 00:53:09,415 They fight for their lives. 711 00:53:09,519 --> 00:53:11,953 I hate the cold feeling of a gun against my skin. 712 00:53:12,055 --> 00:53:13,352 It makes me shiver. 713 00:53:13,456 --> 00:53:17,187 It's a crazy-ass life. Once you're in, there's no getting out. 714 00:53:17,294 --> 00:53:18,886 Every time I jump somebody in 715 00:53:18,995 --> 00:53:22,192 and make someone a part of our gang, it's another baptism. 716 00:53:22,299 --> 00:53:24,733 They give us their life, we give them a new one. 717 00:53:24,868 --> 00:53:28,167 I've lost many friends who have died in an undeclared war. 718 00:53:29,439 --> 00:53:31,907 To the soldiers and me, it's all worth it. 719 00:53:32,442 --> 00:53:36,105 Risk your life dodging bullets, pulling triggers. 720 00:53:37,514 --> 00:53:39,141 It's all worth it. 721 00:53:56,466 --> 00:53:57,455 Rum and Coke. 722 00:53:57,567 --> 00:53:58,829 Oh, man. 723 00:54:00,103 --> 00:54:01,195 This is... 724 00:54:01,338 --> 00:54:04,705 Mr. Gruwell? Your table is ready. Follow me. 725 00:54:05,475 --> 00:54:07,033 - Dad, I got them. - Okay. 726 00:54:08,645 --> 00:54:11,079 Dad, I don't know what to do with this. 727 00:54:11,181 --> 00:54:13,615 I'm not a social worker. I'm barely a teacher. 728 00:54:13,717 --> 00:54:14,684 Thank you. 729 00:54:14,784 --> 00:54:17,981 These kids, they're 14, 15 years old, 730 00:54:18,088 --> 00:54:20,784 and if they make it through the day alive, that's good enough. 731 00:54:20,890 --> 00:54:22,858 And I'm supposed to teach them? 732 00:54:25,762 --> 00:54:27,252 Listen to me. 733 00:54:27,364 --> 00:54:31,357 You're not responsible for their lives outside that classroom. 734 00:54:32,636 --> 00:54:35,605 - Just do your job the best you can. - How? 735 00:54:35,705 --> 00:54:37,969 The administration doesn't give me any resources, 736 00:54:38,074 --> 00:54:39,905 no books, no support. 737 00:54:41,711 --> 00:54:43,338 So, what should I do? 738 00:54:46,683 --> 00:54:49,277 Fulfill your obligation till the end of the school year, 739 00:54:49,386 --> 00:54:51,752 but line up another position. 740 00:54:52,155 --> 00:54:55,556 Success follows experience. 741 00:54:55,659 --> 00:54:57,957 So, get some more experience. 742 00:54:59,796 --> 00:55:03,926 But no matter what, you gotta remember, it's just a job. 743 00:55:04,768 --> 00:55:08,704 If you're not right for this one, get another job. 744 00:55:11,007 --> 00:55:13,032 You're gonna sell bras at a department store? 745 00:55:13,176 --> 00:55:14,370 Just part-time. 746 00:55:14,477 --> 00:55:17,002 I'm having a little trouble getting books and things for the kids. 747 00:55:17,113 --> 00:55:19,240 So, a little extra money will give me a little more freedom 748 00:55:19,349 --> 00:55:20,577 to do what I want. 749 00:55:20,684 --> 00:55:23,084 And this way you can play tennis with Evan after work. 750 00:55:23,186 --> 00:55:25,211 Okay, let me get my head around this. 751 00:55:25,322 --> 00:55:28,553 You're going to get an extra job to pay for your job. 752 00:55:28,958 --> 00:55:31,392 It's just temporary. I promise. 753 00:55:31,494 --> 00:55:33,985 Once the kids' grades go up, I'll get a little more help from the school. 754 00:55:34,097 --> 00:55:37,294 And I get an employee's discount. Isn't that great? 755 00:55:37,434 --> 00:55:40,528 - Want a new TV? - Yeah. 756 00:55:54,484 --> 00:55:56,975 Excuse me, if I wanted to order any books in bulk, 757 00:55:57,087 --> 00:55:59,248 could I get some sort of a discount? 758 00:56:03,460 --> 00:56:05,485 - These books are brand new. - I know. 759 00:56:06,796 --> 00:56:09,560 Okay, guys, gals. Listen up. 760 00:56:09,966 --> 00:56:12,059 The only problem with this book is 761 00:56:12,202 --> 00:56:13,897 it's about a gang member and there's violence in it, 762 00:56:14,037 --> 00:56:16,198 so you may not be able to read it as part of the curriculum. 763 00:56:16,339 --> 00:56:20,139 So, I'm going to try my best to get permission, all right? 764 00:56:22,579 --> 00:56:24,740 It's been a little difficult getting their attention. 765 00:56:24,848 --> 00:56:28,579 Up until recently, the only thing they hated more than each other was me. 766 00:56:28,852 --> 00:56:32,117 Well, you united them and that's a step. 767 00:56:33,757 --> 00:56:35,315 What can I do for you? 768 00:56:36,025 --> 00:56:40,928 I want to do more with them, and I need the support of someone in power. 769 00:56:41,030 --> 00:56:43,863 You have to take this up with your department head and your principal. 770 00:56:44,000 --> 00:56:45,968 I can't get involved in inner school policy. 771 00:56:46,069 --> 00:56:48,264 My principal only listens to my department head, 772 00:56:48,405 --> 00:56:50,373 and she's not very supportive. 773 00:56:50,473 --> 00:56:52,202 You'll have to find a way to deal with it. 774 00:56:52,308 --> 00:56:55,106 No, I'd rather just deal directly with someone in power. 775 00:56:55,211 --> 00:56:57,338 Ms. Gruwell, there's a system in place 776 00:56:57,447 --> 00:57:00,280 based on years of running an educational facility. 777 00:57:00,450 --> 00:57:03,544 - You have to follow that system. - No. I won't. 778 00:57:04,587 --> 00:57:07,522 Look, I'm just trying to do my job here. 779 00:57:07,624 --> 00:57:10,525 What's the point of a voluntary integration program 780 00:57:10,627 --> 00:57:13,425 if the kids making it to high school have a 5th grade reading level? 781 00:57:13,530 --> 00:57:15,327 I enforced that program. 782 00:57:15,432 --> 00:57:16,524 With all due respect, 783 00:57:16,633 --> 00:57:18,999 all that program is doing is warehousing these kids 784 00:57:19,135 --> 00:57:20,534 until they're old enough to disappear. 785 00:57:20,637 --> 00:57:22,264 Look, I appreciate your intentions, 786 00:57:22,405 --> 00:57:24,965 but there's nothing I can do on a class-by-class basis. 787 00:57:25,108 --> 00:57:28,635 Dr. Cohn, why should they waste their time showing up 788 00:57:28,745 --> 00:57:31,441 when they know we're wasting our time teaching them? 789 00:57:31,548 --> 00:57:34,278 We tell them, "Go to school. Get an education." 790 00:57:34,384 --> 00:57:38,480 And then we say, "Well, they can't learn, so let's not waste resources." 791 00:57:38,855 --> 00:57:40,345 I'm thinking trips. 792 00:57:40,457 --> 00:57:43,324 Most of them have never been outside of Long Beach. 793 00:57:43,426 --> 00:57:45,894 They haven't been given the opportunity 794 00:57:46,029 --> 00:57:48,520 to expand their thinking about what's out there for them. 795 00:57:48,631 --> 00:57:50,030 And they're hungry for it. I know it. 796 00:57:50,133 --> 00:57:52,260 And it's purely a reward system. 797 00:57:52,435 --> 00:57:54,198 They won't get anything they haven't earned 798 00:57:54,337 --> 00:57:56,430 by doing their work and upping their grades. 799 00:57:56,573 --> 00:57:57,870 But if Ms. Campbell won't give you books 800 00:57:57,974 --> 00:57:59,032 because of budget restrictions, 801 00:57:59,175 --> 00:58:00,301 she's not gonna approve school trips. 802 00:58:00,477 --> 00:58:01,876 I'll raise the money. 803 00:58:01,978 --> 00:58:04,606 I just need to know I won't meet resistance. 804 00:58:05,014 --> 00:58:07,107 See, I can't promise them anything I can't deliver. 805 00:58:07,217 --> 00:58:09,651 It only proves what they already believe. 806 00:58:11,588 --> 00:58:15,422 All I'm saying is, Ms. Campbell doesn't need to be bothered. 807 00:58:18,928 --> 00:58:20,691 You're a concierge at the Marriott? 808 00:58:20,830 --> 00:58:21,956 It's just weekends. 809 00:58:22,065 --> 00:58:23,999 You play tennis with Evan on Saturdays. 810 00:58:24,133 --> 00:58:26,033 And you can play golf with my dad on Sundays. 811 00:58:26,135 --> 00:58:27,159 You want me to play golf? 812 00:58:27,303 --> 00:58:29,567 And the bonus is I get employee rates 813 00:58:29,672 --> 00:58:31,936 on Marriott hotel rooms all over the world. 814 00:58:32,041 --> 00:58:33,030 I've heard a lot of hyphenates, 815 00:58:33,176 --> 00:58:36,612 but a bra-selling-English-teacher- hotel-concierge has gotta be a new one. 816 00:58:36,746 --> 00:58:39,237 You told me your part-time job was temporary. 817 00:58:39,349 --> 00:58:41,715 It is. I just don't know for how long. 818 00:58:42,418 --> 00:58:44,352 - What if I said no? - No, what? 819 00:58:44,454 --> 00:58:46,888 No, I don't want you working three jobs. 820 00:58:46,990 --> 00:58:49,015 - But I can make it work, Scott. - No, that's not the point. 821 00:58:49,125 --> 00:58:51,525 You can do anything! We know that already. 822 00:58:51,628 --> 00:58:54,654 It's just that I... You... 823 00:58:55,331 --> 00:58:57,094 You didn't even ask me. 824 00:58:58,201 --> 00:59:01,602 - I'm just trying to do my job, Scott. - By getting two more jobs? 825 00:59:02,438 --> 00:59:04,099 I don't understand, Erin. 826 00:59:05,208 --> 00:59:07,768 Scott, this is our time to go after what we want, 827 00:59:07,877 --> 00:59:11,176 when we're young, before we have a family. 828 00:59:11,414 --> 00:59:13,609 Maybe this is the perfect time for you to go back to school, 829 00:59:13,716 --> 00:59:15,843 get your architect's degree. 830 00:59:15,952 --> 00:59:17,852 Wouldn't that be great? 831 00:59:20,924 --> 00:59:22,391 What? 832 00:59:24,060 --> 00:59:25,357 Nothing. 833 00:59:32,135 --> 00:59:34,035 So, I'll call you with a list of venues. 834 00:59:34,137 --> 00:59:36,230 I've scheduled a PTA board meeting for next week. 835 00:59:36,372 --> 00:59:37,361 So, it should be no problem. 836 00:59:37,507 --> 00:59:38,599 - Thank you so much. - You're welcome. 837 00:59:38,741 --> 00:59:40,368 - Lovely to see you, Paula. - Good to see you, too. 838 00:59:40,476 --> 00:59:42,239 - Hi. - Hello. 839 00:59:42,645 --> 00:59:45,773 Principal Banning received a call from Dr. Cohn at the school board. 840 00:59:45,882 --> 00:59:48,112 Apparently you're taking your students on a trip? 841 00:59:48,217 --> 00:59:51,675 Yes, but it's over the weekend, so it won't affect any test schedules. 842 00:59:51,788 --> 00:59:53,483 I know how busy you are, 843 00:59:53,590 --> 00:59:57,026 and since I'm paying for it myself, I didn't want to bother you. 844 01:00:19,000 --> 01:00:20,125 I'll be right back. 845 01:00:20,235 --> 01:00:22,895 Oh, no. No, no, no. Erin? 846 01:00:23,403 --> 01:00:26,303 - Get back in the car. - Dad, he lives right here. 847 01:00:26,405 --> 01:00:29,430 I'll get him. Get back in the car and lock your door. 848 01:00:31,574 --> 01:00:34,064 - What's his name? - Andre Bryant. 849 01:00:34,176 --> 01:00:35,143 Andre. 850 01:00:39,079 --> 01:00:43,241 Since my pop split, my mom can't even look at me, 'cause I look like my dad. 851 01:00:43,748 --> 01:00:45,544 And with my brother in jail, 852 01:00:45,650 --> 01:00:48,617 she looks at me and thinks that's where I'm going, too. 853 01:00:48,951 --> 01:00:50,577 She doesn't see me. 854 01:00:51,186 --> 01:00:53,211 She doesn't see me at all. 855 01:00:57,823 --> 01:00:59,313 I'm going out. 856 01:01:04,761 --> 01:01:05,785 - What up? - Hey. 857 01:01:05,895 --> 01:01:07,795 Where you going? I need you. 858 01:01:08,264 --> 01:01:11,198 No, man, I can't now. I got something to do. 859 01:01:11,332 --> 01:01:12,923 Tonight. I'll do it tonight. 860 01:01:13,067 --> 01:01:16,160 I gotta go do something, and I can't carry that around with me. 861 01:01:16,568 --> 01:01:18,398 Forget it, man, I'll get somebody else. 862 01:01:18,503 --> 01:01:20,561 I can't be waiting all day on you. 863 01:01:21,204 --> 01:01:22,296 Hey. 864 01:01:23,772 --> 01:01:27,172 Sorry about your brother, man. I hear he going away for life. 865 01:01:27,475 --> 01:01:29,908 They won't get it. The guy he was with confessed. 866 01:01:30,010 --> 01:01:32,136 To who? Your brother? 867 01:01:32,845 --> 01:01:35,244 Hey. You Andre? 868 01:01:46,720 --> 01:01:48,187 - What up? - Hey. 869 01:01:54,058 --> 01:01:56,457 - What? - Put on your seat belt. 870 01:01:59,828 --> 01:02:01,625 You, too, young lady. 871 01:02:05,098 --> 01:02:07,657 You kids ever been to Newport Beach before? 872 01:02:07,866 --> 01:02:11,494 What? We went there last year on our way to Paris. 873 01:02:17,772 --> 01:02:19,239 Paris. 874 01:02:23,641 --> 01:02:24,608 It's good. 875 01:02:24,943 --> 01:02:26,604 I brought you something. 876 01:02:30,713 --> 01:02:33,340 It's a good book. I read it in school. 877 01:02:33,448 --> 01:02:37,247 It's about a gang kid, and I thought you might like to read it. 878 01:02:45,455 --> 01:02:48,287 He told me what I had to say when I'm on the stand. 879 01:03:44,091 --> 01:03:48,151 At the beginning of the tour, they give you a card with a child's picture on it. 880 01:03:48,326 --> 01:03:51,488 You could find out who they were and what camp they were sent to. 881 01:03:51,595 --> 01:03:55,393 And at the end of the tour, you could find out if they survived. 882 01:03:56,266 --> 01:03:58,528 I got a little girl from Italy. 883 01:04:12,842 --> 01:04:14,969 Tito, your hat. 884 01:04:44,929 --> 01:04:48,557 Kristallnacht, they called it. The Night of Broken Glass. 885 01:04:48,664 --> 01:04:50,995 Hundreds of synagogues looted and burned. 886 01:04:51,099 --> 01:04:53,861 More than 7,000 Jewish stores destroyed. 887 01:04:53,968 --> 01:04:56,060 Over 100 Jews killed. 888 01:05:08,844 --> 01:05:14,246 A small center for children in Isieux in the French province of Ain. 889 01:05:14,947 --> 01:05:17,848 Among the children deported that day to Birkenau 890 01:05:17,949 --> 01:05:21,315 was 11-year-old Liliane Berenstein, 891 01:05:21,417 --> 01:05:25,318 who, before leaving, left behind a letter to God. 892 01:05:31,157 --> 01:05:35,785 My little boy died. He got off the train and they killed him. 893 01:05:36,293 --> 01:05:38,453 I don't know why it bothered me so much. 894 01:05:38,595 --> 01:05:40,721 I've seen death all my life. 895 01:05:40,996 --> 01:05:45,659 But this little boy was only five. 896 01:06:06,545 --> 01:06:10,071 Ms. G had a beautiful dinner for us at the hotel where she works. 897 01:06:10,780 --> 01:06:14,737 She invited real Holocaust survivors from the museum to meet us. 898 01:06:15,917 --> 01:06:17,714 There was Elisabeth Mann. 899 01:06:17,818 --> 01:06:22,355 I had my parents, my sister, my two brothers. 900 01:06:22,655 --> 01:06:24,121 Gloria Ungar. 901 01:06:24,222 --> 01:06:26,815 If any of you have seen someone with a number on their arm, 902 01:06:26,924 --> 01:06:28,914 these were the lucky people. 903 01:06:29,025 --> 01:06:31,458 The people who, when we came to Auschwitz, 904 01:06:31,560 --> 01:06:35,359 when they tattooed the people they took us to do the slave work. 905 01:06:35,462 --> 01:06:39,090 Not the others, and that included many of my family. 906 01:06:39,198 --> 01:06:41,461 So, we ran away, some of the young kids. 907 01:06:41,566 --> 01:06:43,999 I was at that time 11-and-a-half years old. 908 01:06:44,101 --> 01:06:45,124 Eddie llam. 909 01:06:45,269 --> 01:06:47,235 And where to go, I didn't know, 910 01:06:47,336 --> 01:06:51,065 but I remember one place where I used to live. 911 01:06:51,172 --> 01:06:53,537 So when I ran there, there was not one Jew left. 912 01:06:53,640 --> 01:06:56,836 I was in the worst camp. I was in Auschwitz. 913 01:06:56,942 --> 01:06:58,408 And Renee Firestone. 914 01:06:58,510 --> 01:07:02,410 When I arrived, my parents were immediately taken away from me. 915 01:07:02,846 --> 01:07:06,143 My little sister, who was then 14 years old, 916 01:07:06,180 --> 01:07:08,909 stayed with me for a little while. 917 01:07:09,383 --> 01:07:12,579 And then later on, I was separated from her also. 918 01:07:12,684 --> 01:07:15,311 She lost her whole family at the camps. 919 01:07:16,154 --> 01:07:20,247 She came to this country with $4 in her pocket and a newborn baby. 920 01:07:21,324 --> 01:07:23,484 I'll never forget these people. 921 01:07:23,624 --> 01:07:26,421 And then she was killed because they didn't want... 922 01:07:26,527 --> 01:07:29,426 I can't believe Ms. G did all of this for us. 923 01:07:36,966 --> 01:07:38,558 Hi, honey, it's me. 924 01:07:38,667 --> 01:07:41,260 Look, we're still at the restaurant, if you wanted to drop by. 925 01:07:41,369 --> 01:07:42,995 We haven't even ordered dessert yet, 926 01:07:43,102 --> 01:07:45,467 and the kids are having such an incredible time. 927 01:07:45,572 --> 01:07:47,334 You have to see them. 928 01:07:47,439 --> 01:07:50,498 If you get in soon, come by. It's only 9:30 now. 929 01:07:51,908 --> 01:07:56,343 Okay, I'll see you later. Love you. Bye. 930 01:08:27,864 --> 01:08:29,796 How many times I gotta tell your ass again? 931 01:08:29,898 --> 01:08:32,025 Get your butt in here! 932 01:09:04,319 --> 01:09:06,786 So, you had all summer to read and consider this book. 933 01:09:10,923 --> 01:09:14,688 And you know, I thought it would be most valuable 934 01:09:15,392 --> 01:09:20,794 to begin with Victoria to give us the black perspective. 935 01:09:22,363 --> 01:09:23,660 Victoria? 936 01:09:24,465 --> 01:09:26,455 Do I have a stamp on my forehead that says, 937 01:09:26,566 --> 01:09:29,125 "The National Spokesperson for the Plight of Black People"? 938 01:09:29,368 --> 01:09:32,529 How the hell should I know the black perspective on The Color Purple? 939 01:09:32,670 --> 01:09:36,104 That's it, if I don't change classes, I'm gonna hurt this fool. 940 01:09:36,205 --> 01:09:38,263 Teachers treat me like I'm some kind of Rosetta stone 941 01:09:38,406 --> 01:09:39,838 for African-Americans. 942 01:09:39,941 --> 01:09:41,703 What? Black people learn how to read, 943 01:09:41,808 --> 01:09:44,503 and we all miraculously come to the same conclusion? 944 01:09:44,610 --> 01:09:48,204 At that point, I decided to check out my friend Brandy's English class. 945 01:09:48,312 --> 01:09:49,779 - Good to see you, man. - Hey, yeah. 946 01:09:49,880 --> 01:09:51,938 - How was your summer? - Great. 947 01:09:56,450 --> 01:09:58,418 You're still white, I see. 948 01:09:59,052 --> 01:10:00,917 Okay, everybody. Ready? 949 01:10:01,086 --> 01:10:02,212 - Hey, Ms. G. - Hi. 950 01:10:02,321 --> 01:10:03,651 - Hi, Ms. G. - Hi. 951 01:10:13,093 --> 01:10:16,584 Okay, guys, gals, listen up! This is what I want you to do. 952 01:10:16,829 --> 01:10:20,923 I want each of you to step forward and take one of these Borders bags, 953 01:10:21,033 --> 01:10:23,932 which contain the four books we're gonna read this semester. 954 01:10:24,034 --> 01:10:25,262 All right! 955 01:10:26,002 --> 01:10:28,299 They're very special books, 956 01:10:28,403 --> 01:10:32,861 and they each remind me, in some way, of each of you. 957 01:10:36,775 --> 01:10:40,039 But, before you take the books, 958 01:10:40,677 --> 01:10:44,476 I want you to take one of these glasses of sparkling cider, 959 01:10:44,579 --> 01:10:48,378 and I want each of you to make a toast. 960 01:10:49,683 --> 01:10:53,174 We're each gonna make a toast for change. 961 01:10:53,618 --> 01:10:58,179 And what that means is, from this moment on 962 01:10:58,755 --> 01:11:04,089 every voice that told you "You can't" is silenced. 963 01:11:05,225 --> 01:11:10,490 Every reason that tells you things will never change, disappears. 964 01:11:12,029 --> 01:11:15,165 And the person you were before this moment, 965 01:11:15,165 --> 01:11:18,964 that person's turn is over. Now it's your turn. 966 01:11:19,901 --> 01:11:21,197 Okay? 967 01:11:22,303 --> 01:11:26,260 Okay, you ready to get this party going on? 968 01:11:29,239 --> 01:11:30,866 - What? - Stop doing that, man. 969 01:11:30,974 --> 01:11:32,531 What's the dealio? 970 01:11:40,780 --> 01:11:43,805 Man, I've had boyfriends since I was, like, 11, you know. 971 01:11:44,516 --> 01:11:47,279 - I believe you. - Shut up. 972 01:11:47,684 --> 01:11:50,811 Okay, well, I was always the person 973 01:11:50,953 --> 01:11:54,388 that was gonna get pregnant before I turned 16 and drop out. 974 01:11:55,290 --> 01:11:56,654 Like my mom. 975 01:12:00,625 --> 01:12:02,058 Ain't gonna happen. 976 01:12:02,293 --> 01:12:04,489 Nobody ever listens to a teenager. 977 01:12:05,230 --> 01:12:08,857 Everybody thinks you should be happy just because you're young. 978 01:12:08,965 --> 01:12:11,990 They don't see the wars that we fight every single day. 979 01:12:12,768 --> 01:12:14,598 And one day, my war will end. 980 01:12:15,069 --> 01:12:16,830 And I will not die. 981 01:12:18,304 --> 01:12:21,739 And I will not tolerate abuse from anyone. 982 01:12:25,275 --> 01:12:26,605 I am strong. 983 01:12:26,709 --> 01:12:29,939 My moms kicked me out when I got jumped into the gang life. 984 01:12:31,112 --> 01:12:33,409 But I'd like her to see me graduate. 985 01:12:35,013 --> 01:12:36,810 I'd like to be 18. 986 01:12:41,118 --> 01:12:44,644 Ms. G? Can I read something from my diary? 987 01:12:44,754 --> 01:12:46,220 That'd be great. 988 01:12:50,190 --> 01:12:51,850 Who is he? 989 01:12:51,991 --> 01:12:54,083 Man, he's been with us from freshman year, fool. 990 01:12:54,226 --> 01:12:57,126 - What's his name? - I don't know. 991 01:12:58,695 --> 01:13:03,154 "This summer was the worst summer in my short 14 years of life. 992 01:13:03,865 --> 01:13:06,060 "It all started with a phone call. 993 01:13:06,500 --> 01:13:08,934 "My mother was crying and begging, 994 01:13:09,034 --> 01:13:13,992 "asking for more time as if she were gasping for her last breath of air. 995 01:13:15,005 --> 01:13:18,064 "She held me as tight as she could and cried. 996 01:13:18,173 --> 01:13:23,609 "Her tears hit my shirt like bullets and told me we were being evicted. 997 01:13:24,011 --> 01:13:27,968 "She kept apologizing to me. I thought, 'I have no home. 998 01:13:28,079 --> 01:13:31,878 "'I should have asked for something less expensive at Christmas.' 999 01:13:31,982 --> 01:13:35,848 "On the morning of the eviction, a hard knock on the door woke me up. 1000 01:13:35,951 --> 01:13:38,578 "The sheriff was there to do his job. 1001 01:13:39,486 --> 01:13:43,012 "I looked up at the sky, waiting for something to happen. 1002 01:13:44,856 --> 01:13:48,416 "My mother has no family to lean on, no money coming in. 1003 01:13:48,993 --> 01:13:52,654 "Why bother coming to school or getting good grades if I'm homeless? 1004 01:13:53,294 --> 01:13:57,161 "The bus stops in front of the school. I feel like throwing up. 1005 01:13:57,265 --> 01:14:02,029 "I'm wearing clothes from last year, some old shoes and no new haircut. 1006 01:14:02,767 --> 01:14:05,098 "I kept thinking I'd get laughed at. 1007 01:14:05,135 --> 01:14:07,602 "Instead, I'm greeted by a couple of friends 1008 01:14:07,703 --> 01:14:10,034 "who were in my English class last year. 1009 01:14:10,138 --> 01:14:13,038 "And it hits me, Mrs. Gruwell, 1010 01:14:13,140 --> 01:14:15,403 "my crazy English teacher from last year, 1011 01:14:15,508 --> 01:14:18,169 "is the only person that made me think of hope. 1012 01:14:19,243 --> 01:14:22,701 "Talking with friends about last year's English and our trips, 1013 01:14:22,813 --> 01:14:24,838 "I began to feel better. 1014 01:14:25,447 --> 01:14:30,405 "I receive my schedule and the first teacher is Mrs. Gruwell in Room 203. 1015 01:14:30,751 --> 01:14:33,886 "I walk into the room and feel as though 1016 01:14:33,886 --> 01:14:37,514 "all the problems in life are not so important anymore. 1017 01:14:38,155 --> 01:14:39,622 "I am home." 1018 01:14:41,623 --> 01:14:43,090 Yes, you are. 1019 01:15:03,704 --> 01:15:05,534 But you're an honors student. 1020 01:15:05,606 --> 01:15:07,197 If you transfer to Ms. Gruwell's class, 1021 01:15:07,339 --> 01:15:09,364 think how that will reflect on your records. 1022 01:15:09,508 --> 01:15:12,704 It doesn't matter to me. My grades will still be the same. 1023 01:15:13,009 --> 01:15:14,873 Look, Ms. Campbell. 1024 01:15:14,978 --> 01:15:18,571 When I first transferred to the school, I had a 4.0 average. 1025 01:15:18,913 --> 01:15:22,370 But when I applied for advanced placement at English and Math, 1026 01:15:22,482 --> 01:15:25,416 I was told it would be better for me to be in a class with my own kind. 1027 01:15:25,517 --> 01:15:28,451 Now, when I did get in, my teacher said, 1028 01:15:28,552 --> 01:15:32,180 "Victoria, it's not every day one finds an African-American student 1029 01:15:32,288 --> 01:15:36,154 "in A.P. And honors courses." As if I didn't notice. 1030 01:15:36,258 --> 01:15:38,656 And when I asked another honors teacher 1031 01:15:38,792 --> 01:15:41,419 why we don't read more black literature, she said, 1032 01:15:41,694 --> 01:15:43,661 "We don't read black literature because of all the sex, 1033 01:15:43,796 --> 01:15:45,956 "drugs, cussing and fornication!" 1034 01:15:48,097 --> 01:15:52,726 I thought a simple "It's inappropriate" would have sufficed. 1035 01:15:56,936 --> 01:15:58,870 Erin can't do that! 1036 01:15:59,138 --> 01:16:01,536 Distinguished Honor Students are mine. 1037 01:16:02,139 --> 01:16:04,629 She's not allowed to teach them. She's only been here a year. 1038 01:16:04,674 --> 01:16:06,265 The student requested it. 1039 01:16:06,375 --> 01:16:08,968 And Gruwell has got Cohn in her back pocket. 1040 01:16:10,245 --> 01:16:15,180 What gets me is they're violent, they break laws, they destroy school property 1041 01:16:15,414 --> 01:16:20,451 and in the end we make them special. We reward them like... 1042 01:16:20,451 --> 01:16:22,816 I just don't see what that teaches them. 1043 01:16:23,552 --> 01:16:25,952 Hi! Sorry I'm late. 1044 01:16:26,320 --> 01:16:28,412 Did you eat? I'm ordering in. Are you hungry? 1045 01:16:28,522 --> 01:16:30,386 What question do you want me to answer first? 1046 01:16:30,490 --> 01:16:33,389 Did I eat or am I hungry? I ate. I'm not hungry. 1047 01:16:33,492 --> 01:16:36,755 Something really cool happened today. I got an honors student. 1048 01:16:36,861 --> 01:16:38,760 - Congratulations. - Isn't that great? 1049 01:16:38,861 --> 01:16:40,795 She actually requested my class. 1050 01:16:40,897 --> 01:16:42,864 Can you teach an honors student? 1051 01:16:43,231 --> 01:16:44,254 What do you mean? 1052 01:16:44,366 --> 01:16:47,162 Well, I mean, you're used to teaching your kind of kids. 1053 01:16:47,300 --> 01:16:49,767 Can you teach somebody who's smart? 1054 01:16:50,402 --> 01:16:51,561 Of course I can. 1055 01:16:51,703 --> 01:16:53,567 Yeah, but it's not like you have, right? 1056 01:16:53,670 --> 01:16:56,901 I mean, you don't really teach what everybody else teaches. 1057 01:16:58,474 --> 01:17:00,168 My kids' grades are up to B's. 1058 01:17:00,341 --> 01:17:02,774 Yeah, but the point is, that's according to you. 1059 01:17:02,876 --> 01:17:05,672 It's not like they're really learning what normal kids have to learn. 1060 01:17:05,711 --> 01:17:07,575 Normal kids? Yes, they are. 1061 01:17:07,679 --> 01:17:09,169 They're reading The Diary of Anne Frank. 1062 01:17:09,280 --> 01:17:11,645 They're learning vocabulary, grammar, writing, poetry. 1063 01:17:11,749 --> 01:17:14,046 All right. Okay, I apologize. Sorry. 1064 01:17:14,983 --> 01:17:16,540 Congratulations. 1065 01:17:24,622 --> 01:17:25,680 What is wrong with you? 1066 01:17:25,823 --> 01:17:27,814 You know, at Deb's party, I heard you telling people 1067 01:17:27,958 --> 01:17:30,323 that I was an architect and that my job was temporary. 1068 01:17:30,426 --> 01:17:33,451 I want you to stop that, all right? I like my job. 1069 01:17:33,561 --> 01:17:34,653 Fine. 1070 01:17:35,629 --> 01:17:37,722 You're the one who said you were gonna be an architect. 1071 01:17:37,830 --> 01:17:39,854 Yeah, four years ago, before we got married. 1072 01:17:39,965 --> 01:17:41,557 What, I'm gonna go back to school now 1073 01:17:41,667 --> 01:17:43,566 for two years and intern for three? 1074 01:17:43,668 --> 01:17:45,157 I'll be over 40. 1075 01:17:45,268 --> 01:17:47,293 All right. I thought you still wanted it. 1076 01:17:47,403 --> 01:17:51,429 It doesn't matter if I want it, Erin. It doesn't mean it's going to happen. 1077 01:17:53,607 --> 01:17:54,869 Why not? 1078 01:18:04,080 --> 01:18:08,072 "Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. 1079 01:18:08,215 --> 01:18:10,945 "I mean, not only because I've never written anything before, 1080 01:18:11,084 --> 01:18:13,381 "but also because it seems to me that later on, 1081 01:18:13,485 --> 01:18:16,282 "neither I nor anyone else will be interested 1082 01:18:16,388 --> 01:18:18,218 "in the musings of a 13-year-old schoolgirl." 1083 01:18:18,322 --> 01:18:20,255 "Terrible things are happening outside. 1084 01:18:20,357 --> 01:18:21,755 "At any time of day, 1085 01:18:21,857 --> 01:18:24,324 "poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. 1086 01:18:24,425 --> 01:18:25,449 "Families are torn apart." 1087 01:18:25,560 --> 01:18:28,322 "If only I can be myself, I'll be satisfied. 1088 01:18:28,428 --> 01:18:30,156 "I know that I'm a woman with inner strength 1089 01:18:30,263 --> 01:18:32,025 "and a great deal of courage. 1090 01:18:32,130 --> 01:18:35,757 "If God lets me live, I'll achieve more than Mother ever did." 1091 01:18:35,865 --> 01:18:38,924 "Anti-Jewish decrees followed in quick succession. 1092 01:18:39,435 --> 01:18:43,734 "Jews must wear a yellow star. Jews must hand in bicycles. 1093 01:18:44,304 --> 01:18:46,965 "Jews are banned from trams and forbidden to drive." 1094 01:18:47,106 --> 01:18:49,005 "Jews are forbidden to visit theaters, 1095 01:18:49,107 --> 01:18:51,131 "cinemas and other places of entertainment." 1096 01:18:51,242 --> 01:18:53,334 "Jews may not take part in public sports. 1097 01:18:53,443 --> 01:18:56,173 "Swimming baths, tennis courts, hockey fields 1098 01:18:56,278 --> 01:18:58,871 "and other sports grounds are all prohibited." 1099 01:18:59,914 --> 01:19:04,247 "I can't tell you how oppressive it is never to be able to go outdoors. 1100 01:19:05,050 --> 01:19:09,747 "Also, I'm very afraid that we will be discovered and be shot." 1101 01:19:11,187 --> 01:19:15,486 "No one can keep out of the conflict. The entire world is at war. 1102 01:19:15,690 --> 01:19:17,850 "And even though the Allies are doing better, 1103 01:19:17,991 --> 01:19:19,618 "the end is nowhere in sight." 1104 01:19:21,827 --> 01:19:22,794 Hi. 1105 01:19:23,961 --> 01:19:26,224 When is Anne gonna smoke Hitler? 1106 01:19:26,830 --> 01:19:29,889 - What? - You know. Take him out? 1107 01:19:29,999 --> 01:19:34,593 Eva, this is The Diary of Anne Frank, not Die Hard. 1108 01:19:35,469 --> 01:19:36,935 Keep reading. 1109 01:19:39,471 --> 01:19:41,666 "We talked about the most private things, 1110 01:19:41,772 --> 01:19:45,172 "but we haven't yet touched upon the things closest to my heart. 1111 01:19:45,274 --> 01:19:47,798 "I still can't make heads or tails of Peter. 1112 01:19:47,909 --> 01:19:49,671 "Is he superficial? 1113 01:19:49,810 --> 01:19:53,210 "Or is it shyness that holds him back, even with me?" 1114 01:19:58,851 --> 01:20:02,444 - Are Anne and Peter gonna hook up? - I'm not telling you. 1115 01:20:03,820 --> 01:20:06,879 "It's utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation 1116 01:20:06,922 --> 01:20:09,788 "of chaos, suffering and death. 1117 01:20:10,591 --> 01:20:14,219 "I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness. 1118 01:20:14,326 --> 01:20:18,125 "I feel the suffering of millions, and yet when I look up at the sky 1119 01:20:18,496 --> 01:20:22,226 "I somehow feel that everything will change for the better." 1120 01:20:27,100 --> 01:20:30,466 - Eva, what's wrong? - Why didn't you tell me she dies? 1121 01:20:30,736 --> 01:20:32,999 Why you didn't tell me she gets caught in the end? 1122 01:20:33,405 --> 01:20:35,531 I hate you and I hate this book. 1123 01:20:35,639 --> 01:20:36,606 Eva. 1124 01:20:36,706 --> 01:20:40,937 If she dies, then what about me? What are you saying about that? 1125 01:20:42,143 --> 01:20:44,770 - Anne Frank died, but she... - I can't believe they got her! 1126 01:20:44,879 --> 01:20:47,506 That ain't supposed to happen in the story! That ain't right! 1127 01:20:47,613 --> 01:20:49,342 - 'Cause it's true? - I ain't talking to you! 1128 01:20:49,447 --> 01:20:52,143 You're talking around me. That's the same thing. 1129 01:20:52,249 --> 01:20:54,080 See, to me, she ain't dead at all. 1130 01:20:54,184 --> 01:20:56,879 How many friends did you know that are dead now that got killed? 1131 01:20:57,018 --> 01:20:58,350 Too many to count. 1132 01:20:58,453 --> 01:21:00,886 How many have you read a book about? 1133 01:21:01,155 --> 01:21:04,123 Have you seen them on TV or even in the newspaper? 1134 01:21:04,190 --> 01:21:05,816 That's why this story's dope. 1135 01:21:05,924 --> 01:21:07,686 She was our age, man. 1136 01:21:07,825 --> 01:21:11,316 Anne Frank understands our situation, my situation. 1137 01:21:11,428 --> 01:21:14,362 And that Miep Gies lady, the one that helped hide them? 1138 01:21:14,463 --> 01:21:15,690 I like her. 1139 01:21:15,798 --> 01:21:18,230 I got all these other books about her from the library. 1140 01:21:18,331 --> 01:21:21,197 Wow. You used your library card? 1141 01:21:23,134 --> 01:21:24,192 No. 1142 01:21:26,470 --> 01:21:31,235 Okay, listen up. Marcus has given me an idea. 1143 01:21:31,740 --> 01:21:35,230 Instead of doing a book report on The Diary of Anne Frank, 1144 01:21:35,376 --> 01:21:39,310 for our assignment I want you to write a letter to Miep Gies, 1145 01:21:39,411 --> 01:21:41,674 the woman who helped shelter the Franks. 1146 01:21:41,779 --> 01:21:45,236 She's still alive and she lives in Europe. 1147 01:21:45,347 --> 01:21:48,111 In the letter, I want you to tell her how you feel about the book. 1148 01:21:48,216 --> 01:21:50,707 Tell her about your own experiences. Tell her anything you like. 1149 01:21:50,818 --> 01:21:52,979 But I want the letters to be perfect, 1150 01:21:53,086 --> 01:21:55,519 so be prepared to do more than one draft, okay? 1151 01:21:55,621 --> 01:21:57,087 Is she gonna read the letters? 1152 01:21:57,189 --> 01:21:59,588 Well, right now it's a writing assignment. I'll read them. 1153 01:21:59,757 --> 01:22:01,315 We should get her to read them. 1154 01:22:01,458 --> 01:22:04,517 - Yeah, you can do that, right, Ms. G? - Well, I don't know. 1155 01:22:04,593 --> 01:22:05,958 Maybe we should get her to come and speak. 1156 01:22:06,060 --> 01:22:07,891 Yeah, and have a big dinner again. 1157 01:22:09,663 --> 01:22:11,493 Wait. Guys. 1158 01:22:14,699 --> 01:22:18,293 Guys! Everyone! Listen! She's elderly! 1159 01:22:18,402 --> 01:22:20,869 I don't know how to contact her. I don't even know if she travels. 1160 01:22:20,969 --> 01:22:22,596 And it would be really expensive. 1161 01:22:22,704 --> 01:22:24,399 We could raise the money. 1162 01:22:25,339 --> 01:22:26,396 Ms. G? 1163 01:22:26,507 --> 01:22:30,464 When Miep Gies come, can I, like, be the one to escort her in? 1164 01:22:50,321 --> 01:22:51,617 Five. 1165 01:23:05,029 --> 01:23:06,427 Hi, I'm trying to get the number 1166 01:23:06,531 --> 01:23:09,020 for the Anne Frank Foundation in Basel, Switzerland. 1167 01:24:23,777 --> 01:24:25,335 Come in, Margaret. 1168 01:25:11,940 --> 01:25:14,737 Ms. G sent our letters all the way to Amsterdam 1169 01:25:14,841 --> 01:25:16,637 to Miep Gies, herself. 1170 01:25:16,842 --> 01:25:19,036 When Ms. G made up her mind about something, 1171 01:25:19,144 --> 01:25:21,634 there was no stopping her, man, for real. 1172 01:25:28,951 --> 01:25:33,078 And after we raised the money to bring her to Long Beach, there she was. 1173 01:25:35,487 --> 01:25:39,285 But, damn, I didn't expect her to be so small. 1174 01:25:57,934 --> 01:26:01,460 The bounty on a Jew was about $2. 1175 01:26:02,337 --> 01:26:05,600 Someone desperate for money told the Gestapo. 1176 01:26:05,639 --> 01:26:09,506 On August 4th, they stormed into my office, 1177 01:26:10,208 --> 01:26:16,577 and a man pointed a gun at me and said, "Not a sound. 1178 01:26:17,080 --> 01:26:18,706 "Not one word." 1179 01:26:19,847 --> 01:26:22,474 And then they went straight upstairs to the attic. 1180 01:26:23,016 --> 01:26:25,449 I felt so helpless. 1181 01:26:25,551 --> 01:26:28,110 I could hear Anne screaming, objects being thrown around. 1182 01:26:28,253 --> 01:26:30,982 So, I ran back to my house. 1183 01:26:31,121 --> 01:26:33,850 I looked for an earring or knick-knacks, you know, 1184 01:26:33,956 --> 01:26:36,718 anything I could take back with me to bribe them. 1185 01:26:36,858 --> 01:26:40,155 So I took this back with me, all these things, 1186 01:26:40,260 --> 01:26:44,558 and the soldier there took out his gun 1187 01:26:45,197 --> 01:26:47,390 and put it against my head. 1188 01:26:51,967 --> 01:26:56,561 You could be shot for hiding a Jew or go to a camp. 1189 01:26:57,270 --> 01:27:01,228 So, another soldier recognized my accent. 1190 01:27:01,439 --> 01:27:05,135 He was Austrian, and so was I, 1191 01:27:05,575 --> 01:27:08,338 but I had been adopted by a Dutch family. 1192 01:27:08,443 --> 01:27:12,242 So, he told the soldier with the gun to let me go. 1193 01:27:14,147 --> 01:27:18,674 There isn't a day that I don't remember August 4th 1194 01:27:19,984 --> 01:27:23,816 and I think about Anne Frank. 1195 01:27:26,388 --> 01:27:27,479 Yes? 1196 01:27:35,360 --> 01:27:37,452 I've never had a hero before. 1197 01:27:38,361 --> 01:27:39,828 But you are my hero. 1198 01:27:40,297 --> 01:27:43,992 Oh, no. No, no, young man, no. 1199 01:27:44,099 --> 01:27:46,794 I am not a hero. No. 1200 01:27:46,901 --> 01:27:53,428 I did what I had to do, because it was the right thing to do. 1201 01:27:53,838 --> 01:27:55,236 That is all. 1202 01:27:57,274 --> 01:28:00,106 You know, we are all ordinary people. 1203 01:28:00,810 --> 01:28:07,645 But even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager 1204 01:28:09,048 --> 01:28:14,951 can, within their own small ways, turn on a small light 1205 01:28:17,453 --> 01:28:19,250 in a dark room. 1206 01:28:19,821 --> 01:28:20,980 Ja? 1207 01:28:25,190 --> 01:28:28,750 I have read your letters, 1208 01:28:28,860 --> 01:28:33,625 and your teacher has been telling me many things about your experiences. 1209 01:28:35,764 --> 01:28:38,561 You are the heroes. 1210 01:28:39,866 --> 01:28:43,494 You are heroes every day. 1211 01:28:50,373 --> 01:28:53,808 Your faces are engraved in my heart. 1212 01:29:13,487 --> 01:29:14,852 You hungry? 1213 01:29:19,291 --> 01:29:22,053 You know what you're gonna say in that courtroom? 1214 01:29:22,693 --> 01:29:24,659 I know what I have to say. 1215 01:29:26,362 --> 01:29:27,453 Yeah. 1216 01:29:28,129 --> 01:29:30,392 - You know how that is. - I know. 1217 01:29:31,765 --> 01:29:34,392 And that man that put your father in prison, 1218 01:29:34,499 --> 01:29:37,160 he knew he was sending an innocent man. 1219 01:29:37,535 --> 01:29:38,831 But, you know, 1220 01:29:40,770 --> 01:29:42,361 he was just 1221 01:29:44,438 --> 01:29:46,167 protecting his own. 1222 01:29:52,378 --> 01:29:55,072 What the hell does everybody want from me? 1223 01:30:21,862 --> 01:30:23,829 Hey, Mama. Mama. 1224 01:30:29,432 --> 01:30:31,832 What the hell are you doing here? 1225 01:30:38,139 --> 01:30:42,073 I want to come home. I don't want to be in the streets no more. 1226 01:30:42,173 --> 01:30:43,470 I'm sorry. 1227 01:30:45,976 --> 01:30:49,103 I want to change. I can't do it alone. 1228 01:30:51,012 --> 01:30:52,639 I need you, Mama. 1229 01:30:54,448 --> 01:30:55,914 I need you. 1230 01:31:33,571 --> 01:31:35,334 And what time was that? 1231 01:31:36,206 --> 01:31:38,504 I told you, 9:00, 9:30. 1232 01:31:39,176 --> 01:31:40,641 And you had a clear view of the defendant, 1233 01:31:40,743 --> 01:31:42,607 Grant Rice, in the store? 1234 01:31:43,812 --> 01:31:46,177 I told you he was playing the video game. 1235 01:31:46,779 --> 01:31:49,246 Then what happened? What did you see? 1236 01:31:49,681 --> 01:31:51,773 Well, he got all whacked because he lost the game, 1237 01:31:51,917 --> 01:31:55,510 and then he started shouting and all, threatening everybody. 1238 01:31:55,618 --> 01:31:58,813 He threatened everyone? He threatened you? 1239 01:31:59,922 --> 01:32:02,354 No. The guy who ran the store. 1240 01:32:02,489 --> 01:32:04,513 He wanted his money back for the game. 1241 01:32:04,557 --> 01:32:06,581 And what did the store owner do? 1242 01:32:07,425 --> 01:32:10,723 He shouted back. And they were fighting. 1243 01:32:10,994 --> 01:32:15,259 Then he, the defendant, knocked something over and left the store. 1244 01:32:15,831 --> 01:32:18,321 And then what happened? What did you see? 1245 01:32:22,501 --> 01:32:24,128 I saw... 1246 01:32:36,309 --> 01:32:37,776 I saw... 1247 01:32:53,053 --> 01:32:54,520 Paco did it. 1248 01:32:58,690 --> 01:33:00,418 Paco killed the guy. 1249 01:34:26,009 --> 01:34:28,500 My father won't talk to me anymore. 1250 01:34:30,878 --> 01:34:36,247 And I have to lay low for a little while because there's word out to jump me. 1251 01:34:37,650 --> 01:34:39,947 So I'm gonna be living with my aunt. 1252 01:34:41,419 --> 01:34:46,377 See, my aunt lives even further away, 1253 01:34:48,456 --> 01:34:52,754 so I was just wondering if I could, like, 1254 01:34:55,893 --> 01:34:57,562 stay here late with you 1255 01:34:57,562 --> 01:34:59,461 stay here late with you 1256 01:35:01,330 --> 01:35:05,823 so I can get my homework done, 'cause it's late by the time I get home. 1257 01:35:08,302 --> 01:35:11,270 You can stay as late as you want. 1258 01:35:12,637 --> 01:35:16,595 And I can even drive you to your aunt's, if it gets too late. 1259 01:35:19,842 --> 01:35:21,672 Ms. G, let's not get nuts. 1260 01:35:57,432 --> 01:35:59,366 I think I got your color. 1261 01:36:46,028 --> 01:36:48,019 Just come by the concierge on your way out, 1262 01:36:48,129 --> 01:36:50,893 I'll have the directions for you. Yep, that's fine. 1263 01:36:57,936 --> 01:37:01,735 Stop! That's it! Now, now! Hey! 1264 01:37:03,472 --> 01:37:05,940 You get an extra three seconds. Go! 1265 01:37:12,111 --> 01:37:14,374 ...enraged them and provoked them into acts of violence. 1266 01:37:14,480 --> 01:37:18,743 In 1961, an interracial civil rights group traveled by bus through the South 1267 01:37:18,848 --> 01:37:20,577 to challenge segregation. 1268 01:37:20,682 --> 01:37:23,548 Blacks sat in the front, whites in the back. 1269 01:37:24,018 --> 01:37:27,544 They were attacked, firebombed, but they kept going. 1270 01:37:28,154 --> 01:37:32,316 In Montgomery, Alabama, Jim Zwerg offered to be the first off the bus, 1271 01:37:32,423 --> 01:37:34,788 knowing there was a mob waiting for them. 1272 01:37:34,924 --> 01:37:37,892 He was almost beaten to death so the others could get away. 1273 01:37:37,993 --> 01:37:41,483 That kind of courage is unbelievable to me. 1274 01:37:41,628 --> 01:37:44,994 I was afraid of just being in this class, and I was ashamed 1275 01:37:45,097 --> 01:37:48,862 because I've always been the dumb kid in school, even with my friends. 1276 01:37:49,033 --> 01:37:50,398 But not anymore. 1277 01:37:50,567 --> 01:37:52,090 And I must have some kind of courage, 1278 01:37:52,202 --> 01:37:55,931 because I could have lied to get out of here, but I stayed. 1279 01:37:57,004 --> 01:37:58,301 I stayed. 1280 01:37:58,739 --> 01:38:00,035 Hi, I'm home! 1281 01:38:00,640 --> 01:38:05,575 Sorry, it got late. I drove the kids home. I didn't want them taking buses. 1282 01:38:06,110 --> 01:38:08,475 You're never gonna believe what happened. 1283 01:38:09,846 --> 01:38:11,506 I'm so tired. 1284 01:38:12,014 --> 01:38:14,879 It's so cute, though. They never want to go home. 1285 01:38:15,549 --> 01:38:18,779 We have such a good time together. I'm gonna take a shower. 1286 01:38:38,396 --> 01:38:41,489 If you have another glass, you're gonna have a headache. 1287 01:38:42,265 --> 01:38:46,667 Your bags are packed and you think the wine's gonna give me a headache? 1288 01:38:48,669 --> 01:38:50,432 Why are you doing this? 1289 01:38:50,537 --> 01:38:53,801 Because I don't pay enough attention to you? 1290 01:38:53,906 --> 01:38:55,874 No. That's not it. 1291 01:38:58,241 --> 01:39:02,300 I just... I feel like I'm living a life I just did not agree to. 1292 01:39:04,645 --> 01:39:06,272 Erin, it's just... 1293 01:39:07,513 --> 01:39:09,003 It's too hard. 1294 01:39:09,614 --> 01:39:11,775 Your life is too hard? 1295 01:39:12,284 --> 01:39:14,807 I think what you're doing is noble. 1296 01:39:15,419 --> 01:39:18,978 And it's good. And I'm proud of you. 1297 01:39:19,588 --> 01:39:20,884 I am. 1298 01:39:23,224 --> 01:39:26,521 I just want to live my life and not feel bad about it. 1299 01:39:26,625 --> 01:39:29,787 - I'm not trying to make you feel bad. - You don't have to try. 1300 01:39:29,893 --> 01:39:32,690 I didn't plan on becoming responsible for these kids. 1301 01:39:32,796 --> 01:39:34,819 - Well, who asked you to? - No one asked me to! 1302 01:39:34,931 --> 01:39:35,920 They're not even your kids! 1303 01:39:36,031 --> 01:39:39,830 Why do I have to be asked? Scott... 1304 01:39:43,970 --> 01:39:48,870 I finally realized what I'm supposed to be doing and I love it. 1305 01:39:49,005 --> 01:39:53,667 When I'm helping these kids make sense of their lives, 1306 01:39:54,309 --> 01:39:57,141 everything about my life makes sense to me. 1307 01:40:00,680 --> 01:40:03,045 How often does a person get that? 1308 01:40:06,350 --> 01:40:10,443 - Then what do you need me for? - You're my husband. 1309 01:40:10,552 --> 01:40:15,453 Why can't you stand by me and be part of it, the way wives support husbands? 1310 01:40:15,555 --> 01:40:17,419 Because I can't be your wife. 1311 01:40:24,727 --> 01:40:27,024 I wish I could make that sound less awful. 1312 01:40:29,197 --> 01:40:30,356 Erin? 1313 01:40:31,965 --> 01:40:34,524 You know, if you had to choose between us 1314 01:40:36,034 --> 01:40:37,660 and the class, 1315 01:40:39,469 --> 01:40:40,902 who would you pick? 1316 01:40:42,937 --> 01:40:46,395 If you love me, how could you ever ask me that? 1317 01:40:47,375 --> 01:40:49,001 Erin, look at me. 1318 01:40:52,511 --> 01:40:54,672 This is all there's ever been to me. 1319 01:40:55,045 --> 01:40:59,413 This is it. I'm not one of those kids. I don't have any more potential. 1320 01:41:01,250 --> 01:41:02,773 See? You don't want to be here either, 1321 01:41:02,917 --> 01:41:06,249 'cause if you did, would you be in the classroom every night? 1322 01:41:07,586 --> 01:41:12,214 That's not true. I want to be here. I love you. 1323 01:41:13,390 --> 01:41:15,357 You love the idea of me. 1324 01:41:20,894 --> 01:41:23,192 But it's such a great idea. 1325 01:41:26,864 --> 01:41:28,161 I know. 1326 01:41:56,216 --> 01:41:58,012 Dad? Hi. 1327 01:42:00,618 --> 01:42:03,814 You know, I was actually trying to call someone else, 1328 01:42:03,954 --> 01:42:05,921 and I automatically dialed you. I'm sorry. 1329 01:42:05,955 --> 01:42:08,514 Look, I'm gonna call you tomorrow, okay? 1330 01:42:08,657 --> 01:42:11,955 I need to make this call. I love you. 1331 01:42:25,000 --> 01:42:27,490 Ms. G made us read Twelve Angry Men. 1332 01:42:27,602 --> 01:42:31,237 It's all about how this one juror helped to turn the hearts of 11 jurors. 1333 01:42:31,237 --> 01:42:33,101 It made me feel hopeful. 1334 01:42:33,638 --> 01:42:36,902 At 2:00 today, my brother was given a verdict on his own trial. 1335 01:42:37,040 --> 01:42:39,667 No O.J. Dream Team, just a court-appointed attorney 1336 01:42:39,809 --> 01:42:41,776 who probably thought his ass was guilty. 1337 01:42:41,910 --> 01:42:45,537 And I realized Twelve Angry Men was just a book and nothing more. 1338 01:42:45,879 --> 01:42:48,608 My brother got 15 years to life. 1339 01:42:48,714 --> 01:42:51,443 Justice don't mean the bad guy goes to jail. 1340 01:42:51,549 --> 01:42:53,744 It just means somebody pays for the crime. 1341 01:42:59,588 --> 01:43:01,111 So, you got time now? 1342 01:43:07,992 --> 01:43:09,584 Anyone know where Andre's been? 1343 01:43:09,727 --> 01:43:10,989 I haven't seen him on the bus. 1344 01:43:11,128 --> 01:43:12,594 Yeah, I haven't talked to him either. 1345 01:43:21,500 --> 01:43:23,023 Ms. G? 1346 01:43:23,402 --> 01:43:25,734 Are we gonna have this same room next year, again? 1347 01:43:25,838 --> 01:43:28,964 I don't know. You're gonna be juniors next year. 1348 01:43:30,507 --> 01:43:32,030 What do you mean? 1349 01:43:32,141 --> 01:43:34,836 Well, I teach freshman and sophomore years. 1350 01:43:34,943 --> 01:43:38,070 You mean, we're not gonna be with you next year? 1351 01:43:40,780 --> 01:43:42,144 Well, I... 1352 01:43:44,015 --> 01:43:47,745 I don't teach juniors. I thought you guys understood that. 1353 01:43:48,251 --> 01:43:49,378 What? What are you talking about? 1354 01:43:51,586 --> 01:43:53,212 You don't wanna be our teacher next year? 1355 01:43:53,321 --> 01:43:55,845 Of course I do. I can't. 1356 01:43:55,956 --> 01:43:58,446 - Why not? - It's the Board of Ed. 1357 01:43:58,558 --> 01:44:00,491 It's regulations. 1358 01:44:03,227 --> 01:44:06,024 Ms. G hasn't been here long enough to have seniority. 1359 01:44:06,062 --> 01:44:07,392 Who cares about seniority? 1360 01:44:07,529 --> 01:44:10,088 Shit! They can't do that! They don't have the right! 1361 01:44:12,199 --> 01:44:14,996 - Ms. G, this is our kick-it spot. - Yeah. 1362 01:44:15,134 --> 01:44:18,569 Everybody's cool with everybody. Everybody knows everybody. 1363 01:44:18,702 --> 01:44:22,138 This is the only place where we really get to be ourselves. 1364 01:44:22,272 --> 01:44:24,297 There's no place like this out there for us. 1365 01:44:24,573 --> 01:44:25,971 That's true. 1366 01:44:26,474 --> 01:44:29,034 I'm not allowed to teach junior and seniors. 1367 01:44:29,176 --> 01:44:30,142 You're not allowed? 1368 01:44:32,177 --> 01:44:35,805 Ms. G, we can fight this, you know, like the Freedom Riders. 1369 01:44:35,914 --> 01:44:37,676 Yeah, yeah, we'll all drive around on a bus. 1370 01:44:37,781 --> 01:44:39,772 Only this time, they try and bust us up, 1371 01:44:39,882 --> 01:44:41,679 we bust a few of them board members' heads. 1372 01:44:42,317 --> 01:44:43,306 Marcus. 1373 01:44:43,418 --> 01:44:47,045 Or we can go to the newspapers, media. That'll get their attention. 1374 01:44:47,287 --> 01:44:48,754 Or we can paint the administration building 1375 01:44:48,888 --> 01:44:51,355 with the word "assholes" in various colors. 1376 01:44:53,090 --> 01:44:54,784 Hey, it's something. We can do this. 1377 01:45:00,228 --> 01:45:01,195 What? 1378 01:45:01,296 --> 01:45:04,856 These are my books, not Scott's. I'm packing the wrong books. 1379 01:45:04,964 --> 01:45:06,659 Honey, take a break. 1380 01:45:10,601 --> 01:45:12,068 Sit down. 1381 01:45:15,238 --> 01:45:17,831 I can't believe I'm getting divorced. 1382 01:45:19,307 --> 01:45:21,740 I never thought this would happen. 1383 01:45:25,710 --> 01:45:27,802 What do I do now? 1384 01:45:28,779 --> 01:45:31,247 Next year, I won't even have my kids. 1385 01:45:31,647 --> 01:45:33,944 You think you should stay with them? 1386 01:45:34,816 --> 01:45:37,113 Or is it better they move on? 1387 01:45:37,450 --> 01:45:38,917 I don't know. 1388 01:45:42,721 --> 01:45:45,188 It's just a job, like you said. 1389 01:45:45,289 --> 01:45:46,915 Yeah, it is. 1390 01:45:47,856 --> 01:45:49,824 But is the job finished? 1391 01:45:52,160 --> 01:45:53,751 Listen to me now. 1392 01:45:54,027 --> 01:45:56,551 What you've done with those kids... 1393 01:45:58,964 --> 01:46:01,261 I don't even have words for it. 1394 01:46:03,000 --> 01:46:07,958 But one thing's for sure, you are an amazing teacher. 1395 01:46:09,837 --> 01:46:11,201 Special. 1396 01:46:11,972 --> 01:46:16,373 You have been blessed with a burden, my daughter. 1397 01:46:18,343 --> 01:46:20,310 And I envy you that. 1398 01:46:23,012 --> 01:46:24,638 And I admire you. 1399 01:46:27,148 --> 01:46:31,139 And how many fathers ever get to say that to their daughters 1400 01:46:31,283 --> 01:46:33,251 and really mean it? 1401 01:46:37,120 --> 01:46:40,213 What she is suggesting is in violation of our union charter. 1402 01:46:40,322 --> 01:46:43,483 She may not move on with her students to teach them junior year. 1403 01:46:43,591 --> 01:46:45,580 She's only been here two years. 1404 01:46:45,692 --> 01:46:47,784 There are teachers here who have tenure, 1405 01:46:47,893 --> 01:46:50,156 who have worked and committed themselves for far longer 1406 01:46:50,261 --> 01:46:52,160 to attain a position of seniority. 1407 01:46:52,262 --> 01:46:56,219 Not to mention their experience in teaching students of a higher caliber. 1408 01:46:56,332 --> 01:46:59,129 The Distinguished Scholars Program is under our jurisdiction. 1409 01:46:59,300 --> 01:47:02,063 I don't want to replace the Distinguished Scholars Program. 1410 01:47:02,202 --> 01:47:04,102 I just want to stay with my kids next year. 1411 01:47:04,203 --> 01:47:06,398 She can't. I have the juniors. 1412 01:47:06,472 --> 01:47:08,496 The Board of Education will not allow this. 1413 01:47:08,639 --> 01:47:10,572 Teaching rotations will be disrupted, 1414 01:47:10,674 --> 01:47:12,971 retirement schedules will be reevaluated, 1415 01:47:13,075 --> 01:47:16,509 disrespecting teachers who have earned their way far longer 1416 01:47:16,611 --> 01:47:18,771 and who focus on the classroom, 1417 01:47:18,879 --> 01:47:21,710 not on public relations and newspaper articles. 1418 01:47:21,814 --> 01:47:23,804 I didn't ask for those articles to be written. 1419 01:47:23,915 --> 01:47:25,404 She's in the middle of a divorce. 1420 01:47:25,516 --> 01:47:28,006 Note, they stay late in her class, they're eating, they're playing games! 1421 01:47:28,118 --> 01:47:31,211 All right, let's all just take a breath here. All right? 1422 01:47:32,654 --> 01:47:34,746 Now I had hoped that we could talk this out, 1423 01:47:34,888 --> 01:47:36,583 maybe come to some kind of arrangement. 1424 01:47:36,722 --> 01:47:39,190 - There is no arrangement... - Margaret. 1425 01:47:40,058 --> 01:47:41,525 Carl, look. 1426 01:47:42,127 --> 01:47:45,186 Putting aside all obvious resentments for the moment, 1427 01:47:45,294 --> 01:47:46,693 even if an arrangement were made 1428 01:47:46,796 --> 01:47:50,924 and she could teach them as juniors, there isn't an accredited course 1429 01:47:51,032 --> 01:47:53,397 in the curriculum for her to teach. 1430 01:47:54,034 --> 01:47:57,696 Unless Brian trades one of his junior classes for a sophomore. 1431 01:47:57,802 --> 01:47:58,860 No. 1432 01:48:00,637 --> 01:48:02,867 Then there's nothing I can do. 1433 01:48:06,408 --> 01:48:07,704 So that's it? 1434 01:48:08,842 --> 01:48:10,308 Believe it or not, Ms. Gruwell, 1435 01:48:10,411 --> 01:48:13,139 there are other capable teachers in this school. 1436 01:48:13,278 --> 01:48:15,268 If you've made the progress you say you have, 1437 01:48:15,413 --> 01:48:17,073 your students should be ready to move on. 1438 01:48:17,181 --> 01:48:19,842 They might even gain something from more experienced teachers. 1439 01:48:19,948 --> 01:48:23,212 You can't teach them. You don't even like them. 1440 01:48:23,317 --> 01:48:25,147 What does that have to do with teaching? 1441 01:48:25,253 --> 01:48:27,846 I've been an educator for over 30 years. 1442 01:48:28,254 --> 01:48:29,949 I have students that still remain in touch with me. 1443 01:48:30,055 --> 01:48:32,489 I know what it is to be loved by a classroom! 1444 01:48:32,590 --> 01:48:35,558 You have no idea how many battles I've had 1445 01:48:35,659 --> 01:48:37,318 fighting to be a better teacher, 1446 01:48:37,427 --> 01:48:40,793 and now, what, suddenly I'm incapable of educating your students? 1447 01:48:40,895 --> 01:48:43,556 You know, if they move on to our classes and they fail, 1448 01:48:43,696 --> 01:48:45,755 it'll be because they weren't prepared! 1449 01:48:45,898 --> 01:48:48,594 Lt'll be because you failed, not them! 1450 01:49:07,178 --> 01:49:09,839 Andre? Wait a minute before you go in. 1451 01:49:23,087 --> 01:49:25,555 I heard about your brother's conviction. I'm sorry. 1452 01:49:25,688 --> 01:49:27,883 Is that why you've missed class so much? 1453 01:49:27,990 --> 01:49:29,786 I had things to do. 1454 01:49:33,060 --> 01:49:34,856 About this. 1455 01:49:35,327 --> 01:49:36,488 The evaluation assignment 1456 01:49:36,595 --> 01:49:38,062 was to grade yourself on the work you're doing. 1457 01:49:38,162 --> 01:49:40,596 You gave yourself an F. What's that about? 1458 01:49:40,997 --> 01:49:44,194 - It's what I feel I deserve. That's all. - Oh, really? 1459 01:49:45,768 --> 01:49:47,462 You know what this is? 1460 01:49:47,769 --> 01:49:51,761 This is a "Fuck you" to me, and everyone in this class! 1461 01:49:51,904 --> 01:49:55,168 I don't want excuses. I know what you're up against. 1462 01:49:55,507 --> 01:49:57,736 We're all of us up against something. 1463 01:49:58,708 --> 01:50:02,074 So you better make up your mind, because until you have the balls 1464 01:50:02,178 --> 01:50:04,975 to look me straight in the eye and tell me this is all you deserve, 1465 01:50:05,079 --> 01:50:06,637 I am not letting you fail, 1466 01:50:06,680 --> 01:50:08,739 even if that means coming to your house every night 1467 01:50:08,848 --> 01:50:10,543 until you finish the work. 1468 01:50:10,649 --> 01:50:12,445 I see who you are. 1469 01:50:12,984 --> 01:50:15,110 Do you understand me? 1470 01:50:16,119 --> 01:50:18,087 I can see you. 1471 01:50:19,955 --> 01:50:21,889 And you are not failing. 1472 01:50:25,325 --> 01:50:30,260 So, take a minute. Pull yourself together and come inside. 1473 01:50:30,795 --> 01:50:32,820 I want a new evaluation. 1474 01:50:38,032 --> 01:50:40,829 An F. What, are you tripping? 1475 01:50:46,505 --> 01:50:49,962 I want you all to know that Dr. Cohn and I tried very hard. 1476 01:50:52,741 --> 01:50:55,607 But it's been decided we can't continue with each other junior year. 1477 01:50:55,743 --> 01:50:56,835 - What? - What? 1478 01:50:58,478 --> 01:51:00,378 You... Wait. 1479 01:51:01,113 --> 01:51:03,080 Wait. Guys. Everyone. 1480 01:51:04,481 --> 01:51:06,949 No! That don't fly, Ma! 1481 01:51:08,518 --> 01:51:12,180 Look, first of all, I'm not anyone's mother in here, okay? 1482 01:51:12,286 --> 01:51:14,482 No, it doesn't mean mother. 1483 01:51:15,190 --> 01:51:17,521 It's a sign of respect for you. 1484 01:51:31,733 --> 01:51:33,132 Listen to me. 1485 01:51:33,368 --> 01:51:34,664 All of you. 1486 01:51:35,434 --> 01:51:40,062 Don't use me as another excuse for why you can't make it. 1487 01:51:41,972 --> 01:51:45,269 You made it to your junior year. 1488 01:51:46,074 --> 01:51:48,871 Think about how you did that. 1489 01:51:50,243 --> 01:51:53,906 Everyone in this room has a chance to graduate. 1490 01:51:54,947 --> 01:51:57,505 For some, you'll be the first in your family. 1491 01:51:57,615 --> 01:52:00,377 The first with a choice to go to college. 1492 01:52:01,384 --> 01:52:04,181 Some may move faster than others. 1493 01:52:05,786 --> 01:52:08,084 But you'll each have the chance. 1494 01:52:09,155 --> 01:52:12,123 And you did that. Not me. 1495 01:52:19,195 --> 01:52:22,857 Now, I have one 1496 01:52:24,898 --> 01:52:26,489 final project in mind. 1497 01:52:26,599 --> 01:52:28,794 - Ms. G. - Yeah? 1498 01:52:30,635 --> 01:52:35,593 Ms. G wanted us to put our diaries together in a book, just like Anne Frank. 1499 01:52:36,339 --> 01:52:38,363 She got this businessman, John Tu, 1500 01:52:38,507 --> 01:52:41,339 to donate 35 computers so we could work. 1501 01:52:46,412 --> 01:52:49,812 She told us we have something to say to people. 1502 01:52:49,980 --> 01:52:50,080 We weren't just kids in a class anymore. 1503 01:52:50,080 --> 01:52:52,377 We weren't just kids in a class anymore. 1504 01:52:52,481 --> 01:52:56,177 We were writers with our own voices, our own stories. 1505 01:52:56,284 --> 01:52:58,341 And even if nobody else read it, 1506 01:52:58,452 --> 01:53:02,046 the book would be something to leave behind that said we were here, 1507 01:53:02,654 --> 01:53:05,747 this is what happened, we mattered. 1508 01:53:06,224 --> 01:53:10,488 Even if it was just to each other. And we won't forget. 1509 01:53:12,194 --> 01:53:14,559 Ms. G didn't promise it would get published or anything, 1510 01:53:14,661 --> 01:53:17,527 but we could get it out there ourselves. 1511 01:53:18,264 --> 01:53:20,493 She asked us to come up with a title, 1512 01:53:21,032 --> 01:53:22,999 something to call ourselves. 1513 01:53:40,777 --> 01:53:42,642 I just received a call from Karin Polacheck 1514 01:53:42,778 --> 01:53:43,870 at the Board of Education. 1515 01:53:44,013 --> 01:53:46,003 There's to be a meeting with Dr. Cohn about your classes. 1516 01:53:46,147 --> 01:53:49,582 - Do you know anything about this? - No. 1517 01:53:57,388 --> 01:54:02,847 These students, this class, they've become a family. 1518 01:54:03,758 --> 01:54:05,349 To who? To you? 1519 01:54:06,026 --> 01:54:07,652 To each other. 1520 01:54:08,461 --> 01:54:11,793 Room 203 is a kind of a home for them. 1521 01:54:12,330 --> 01:54:15,661 Their trust is all wrapped up in us being together as a group. 1522 01:54:16,100 --> 01:54:17,225 Once they're out of her class, 1523 01:54:17,366 --> 01:54:19,800 believe me they'll slip back into their old habits. 1524 01:54:19,900 --> 01:54:23,858 Their reading scores, their writing has markedly improved, Ms. Campbell. 1525 01:54:24,004 --> 01:54:27,494 On paper. But what has she accomplished in reality? 1526 01:54:27,606 --> 01:54:29,232 What about new students that come in next year? 1527 01:54:29,339 --> 01:54:31,330 Can she repeat this process every year? 1528 01:54:31,442 --> 01:54:32,840 Her methods are impractical, 1529 01:54:32,942 --> 01:54:35,569 impossible to implement with regularity. 1530 01:54:35,678 --> 01:54:38,167 What if every teacher performed in this way? 1531 01:54:38,779 --> 01:54:40,007 We have millions of children 1532 01:54:40,114 --> 01:54:41,842 to get through the education system in this country, 1533 01:54:41,948 --> 01:54:43,778 and we need a means of accomplishing that 1534 01:54:43,882 --> 01:54:46,782 which allows as many students to benefit as possible, 1535 01:54:46,884 --> 01:54:48,817 not just special cases. 1536 01:54:50,319 --> 01:54:53,776 And you honestly think you can create this family in every classroom, 1537 01:54:53,921 --> 01:54:56,889 for every grade, for every student you teach? 1538 01:55:01,459 --> 01:55:02,926 I don't know. 1539 01:55:09,132 --> 01:55:10,462 Thank you. 1540 01:55:30,844 --> 01:55:33,743 Hey, there go Ms. G. Hey, there go Ms. G! 1541 01:55:42,651 --> 01:55:44,050 What happened? 1542 01:55:44,852 --> 01:55:48,651 So? Are we gonna be together for junior year? 1543 01:55:54,491 --> 01:55:55,788 No. 1544 01:55:56,727 --> 01:55:58,591 - What? - What? 1545 01:56:03,197 --> 01:56:06,562 We're gonna be together junior and senior year. 1546 01:56:08,000 --> 01:56:09,058 Yes!