My High School in the News
You may recall the popular movie Freedom Writers starring Hilary Swank. It was based on the book The Freedom Writers Diary, a compilation of writings by teacher Erin Gruwell's "at risk" students at a Long Beach, California High School. Students, teachers, and librarians in the state of Indiana nominated the book for the Eliot Rosewater Award.
Anyway, teacher Connie Heermann at my alma mater—Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis—decided to use The Freedom Writers Diary in her class of "at risk" students. She got permission slips from parents, but the school board never officially said "Yes, you may teach this book" or "No, you absolutely may not." They fired her. Well, they put her on 18-month unpaid leave, but you know.
The Man used to get me down when I went to PMHS—I used to write about it in the school paper, The Focus—but never did anything this ridiculous.
This all went down a few months ago, but this week it became the subject of Anna Quindlin's Newsweek column. Go Falcons!
In more positive PMHS news, Perry Meridian's favorite daughter Katie Douglas picked a good day to have one of her best games of the season. Douglas went for 20, 5, 4, and two steals as the Indiana Fever beat the New York Liberty in from of 19,000 at the WNBA's outdoor game.
Anyway, teacher Connie Heermann at my alma mater—Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis—decided to use The Freedom Writers Diary in her class of "at risk" students. She got permission slips from parents, but the school board never officially said "Yes, you may teach this book" or "No, you absolutely may not." They fired her. Well, they put her on 18-month unpaid leave, but you know.
The Man used to get me down when I went to PMHS—I used to write about it in the school paper, The Focus—but never did anything this ridiculous.
This all went down a few months ago, but this week it became the subject of Anna Quindlin's Newsweek column. Go Falcons!
In more positive PMHS news, Perry Meridian's favorite daughter Katie Douglas picked a good day to have one of her best games of the season. Douglas went for 20, 5, 4, and two steals as the Indiana Fever beat the New York Liberty in from of 19,000 at the WNBA's outdoor game.
posted by Tinley | 3:11 AM
1 Comments:
my high school once made it into the nytimes as one of the top 10 coke (as in cocaine) high schools in the nation. not bad for a little school in jersey.
Post a Comment
<< Home