Domestic violence and abusive relationships

I can relate the theme "domestic violence" to the diaries 63 and 64 of the book "The Freedom Writers Diary".



In the Diary 63 there is an abusive relationship between a latino girl and her boyfriend. The boyfriend hit the girl and called her names everyday. He locked her in the garage or the bathroom. He was always aggressive, like "a time bomb waiting to explode". Now the girl has marks on her body. She got sick because of her boyfriend. They stayed together because they needed each other. He needed to release his anger and she needed security.

Diary 64: this passage talks about an abusive relationship between the mother of the author and her husband. The stepdad of the author is alcoholic and beats his wife. When he's drunk, he tries to destroy everything. The girl (the author) tries to protect her mother and to keep her stepdad in control. Finally, the girl took her mother and her sister out of their house.



I can relate this subject to the movie "Mississippi Burning" we saw in class. There is an abusive relationship between a member of the Klu Klux Klan and his wife. In the movie, the husband is a policeman. He's suspected by two FBI agents, the heroes of the movie.

Questions about the Freedom Writers Diary

1. Why did Ms Gruwell had the Freedom Writers study the Holocaust and meet Holocaust survivors?

The Freedom Writers didn’t know about the Holocaust. Ms Gruwell taught them the story of the holocaust because their problems are similar. They kill people because they aren’t the same race. The students must know about the World War II. The Freedom Writers are impressed by the Holocaust survivors, they admire them.


2. How did the Freedom relate to Anne Frank? Give examples.

Anne Frank lived during the holocaust. She was a Jew. The Freedom Writers identify to Anne Frank. Their life looks like a war. In diary 37 the writer says: “I’m beginning to realize that Anne Frank, Zlata Filipovic, and I have a lot in common.” In diary 36, the writer says: “Just like her. I knew the feeling of discrimination and to be looked down upon based on the way you look.”

3. In what way Zlata Filipovic impacted the students’ lives? Give example from several writers.
What really surprised the Freedom writers?

Zlata writes about the war in Bosnia, Freedom Writers identify with her too. In diary 38, the writer says: “Zlata and I seem to have a lot in common because while Zlata was living a war in Sarajevo, I was living through a different kind of war. The Freedom writers are very surprised when Zlata Filipovic comes to meet them.”



4. In diary 47, the writer says: «Now if you ask me what race I am, like Zlata, I’ll simply say, “I’m a human being.””How could you explain that quote? Do you relate to it?

That quote shows that human beings are all the same. Races don’t make you different from each other. Race doesn't exist. Before meeting Zlata, The writers says that she was from one ethnicity and now she says " I'm a human being".

Freedom writers' diary

I would like to invite Nelson Mandela because he's a great activist for black civil rights and because he has a nice first name.
We would learn about the situation of black people in South Africa.

When you read a book you can learn a lot of things you can't learn in your background. You can see that different people have the same experiences as you. The freedom writers learned that they're not the only people who have a hard and dangerous life.

When there are stereotypes, people who don't agree with these stereotypes are excluded. Different people are juged based on stereotypes and not for what they really are.



Freedom writers are Black, Asian, Latino, Caucasian.
The hood is dangerous and poor. There are gang wars and there aren't any ways out.

As usual, the students' parents don't care about their children. Example: diary 22: "noone, including my dad, pays attention to me."

Diary 12: "Juvenile homes are scary. I cried the first night."

In diary 13, the writer says: "we began to understand the true meaning of not judging a book by its cover." I think this sentence can be applied to people. "Not judging somebody by his apparence." "L'habit ne fait pas le moine."

There are racial tensions, gang wars, school problemes and drug problems. People are poor.


In diary 6, the writer talks about his experience about death: "A couple of days ago, one of my friend was laid to rest." It's a strong passage, I didn't feel good when I read it, I was shocked. I learned that a lot of people are killed in the "hood" without reason.

I think Mrs Gruwell questions everything because there are answers. However, the students can't accept these answers

My Daily Life

In my neighborhood, there are a lot of concrete buildings. The buildings are rather big, they have usually more than 7 floors but they are grey and uncolored. They look like they are sad. There are som parks, but they are really dilapidated. There are a lot of alcoholics in these parks. It's too bad. When I was a child, I went everyday in these parks, they were great. But now, I stay away form the parks. There are also a lot of shops, where you can buy everything you want.

I live in a bulding, it has 7 floors. I live on the 6th floor. My building isn't jammed between other buildings. So there is a great view. My aooartment has 5 rooms; 3 bedrooms, a kitchen and a living-room. have my own beedroom and it's big. That's great! I'm really happy. In my bedroom, there is my bed, my new computer on my desk and 4 bookcases with my books and my CDs. I clean my bedroom every Sunday. There is a gret pizzeria next to my bulding, so I est pizza every week. In this pizzeria, pizzas are not expensive. I love pizza!



My daily life: I get up at 7:20 am, I take a shower. I put my clothes on and I take my breakfast. After that,, I brush my teeth and I go to school for 8:05 am. It takes me ten minutes to walk form my home to school. I walk rather fast. On Tuesday, I start school at 10:00 am so I can sleep more. For me, Tuesday is the best day of the week, because I can sleep. I think 8:05 am is too early to start school; I need to sleep in the morning, but not at night.

At school, classes last 45 minutes and we have two breaks of 5 minutes and on break of 20 minutes. Lunch break starts usually at 11:30 am. I go back home and I have lunch at 12:30 pm. My parents cook very well. I love everything they cook. I think they could be really great cooks. After lunch, I go to school for 13:25 . I go out of school at 17:00 . When I go back home, I take a little taste, I usually eat chocolate or hazek biscuits, and I drink ice tea. After that, I relax. I work on my computer and I go on the Internet, I check some websites that I visit everyday. After that, I work for school, I do all my homework and I revise for my tests. I have dinner at 20:30. After dinner, I watch TV. I like to watch AMerican series, like "Prison Break". After that, I go to sleep. On the weekend, I sleep late and I get up late, I take my breakfast at 12 and lunch at 16. I love weekends, but they are too shorts, just like vacations.

Mississippi Burning

In 1964, three civil rights activists disappeared. Two FBI agents, Rupert Anderson and Alan Ward, arrived in Mississippi to investigate. They discover black segregation. The Klu Klux Klan kills black people. Everybody is corrrupted in the town, so members of th Klan can't be arrested for their crimes. FBI agents fight against the Klu Klux Klan and finally they find the 3 activists'bodies. They even manage to arrest Klu Klux Klan members.



I found this movie very interesting. I knew about the situation in the south of the USA, but I didn't think it was so "strong". In the movie, the violence schocked because I know it was like that in real life. This movie is based on a true story and this element is really frightening. However, I think a strong message is given though the movie. It's a good way to inform people about the situation.

Some more things about my life

In my neighborhood, there are a lot of concrete buildings. They are grey and uncolored. There are some parks but there are a lot of alcoholics in these parks. It's too bad. There are also a lot of shops.
I live in a building, it has 7 floors. I live on the 6th floor. My apartment has 5 rooms; 3 bedrooms, a kitchen and a living-room. I have my own bedroom and it's big. That's great! I'm really happy. In my bedroom, there are my bed, my new computer on my desk and 4 bookcases with Books and CDs. I clean my bedroom every Sunday. There is a great pizzeria next to my building, so I eat pizza every week. I love pizza!
My daily life: I get up at 7:20 am, I take my breakfast and I go to school for 8:05 am. Lunch break starts usually at 11:30 am. I go back home, I have lunch and I go to school for 13:25. I go out school at 17:00. When I am at home, I work on my computer, I draw or I work for school. I have dinner at 20:30. After dinner, I watch TV and I go to sleep.

English letter

Dear Mrs. Pahud,

My name is Nelson. I'm sixteen. I come from Switzerland. I like designing on my PC (Mac's are too expensive for me).
I like to discuss on a graphic forum on the Internet. I like drawing.
I have a little sister and a little brother. They are nine and fourteen years old.
I live in Geneva, and I like this city. I go in France every summer holiday. I go to the Atlantic coast, on a paradise Island (Noirmoutier). Vacations are always too short.
I like chocolate, spaghettis with Bolognese sauce and spiced food. I love Coop's Ice tea.
I want to become a designer. In my dreams, I want to fly.
I go to school on foot. I like walking but I would like fly to school.
I love video games. I like English. Sometimes I have to write English posts on the Internet. It's very interesting !