Freedom Writers: Journals

Freedom writers really showed me how journals can be used as a reflection to teaching and learning process in class. When I was in my secondary schooling experience, my teacher tried to implement this in class. However, she quitted after a while, considering that it is not worthwhile and she started to get short unreflecting responses from some of us. But the ideas of private and confidential and also view-able journals were there. I think that Miss G's effort is more accepted because she is handling a group of people who have lots of issues to rise but they do not have the medium to channel their thoughts. So, I think what my teacher should have done is to not to stop the activity because the first month would be very discouraging especially when the students felt that the teacher will not read their responses. Perhaps the teacher response to the entire journal entries by an article pasted on the class notice board. The response should be a reply to the whole class, so points should not be ignored; creating an appreciated feeling among themselves. So, there would be some suggestion made by the students, titles of books, comments; meaning improvements should be made. Students are clients, so some of their needs should be taken into account. Angry clients would decrease the profit (which means they will stop writing and worse, they will not believe you anymore). So, when you believe in something, do not stop believing and fight for it.