NCEW | 2007: Young readers and writers - "Freedom Writers" essays, video, commentary

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2007: Young readers and writers - "Freedom Writers" essays, video, commentary

Linda Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

We did a project that has several moving parts. First, there was a video that went along with a column about a reading teacher at Dunbar Middle School who's implementing the innovative techniques of California teacher Erin Gruwell, who was the main character in the Hilary Swank movie "Freedom Writers."

Next, we solicited essays from high school students facing challenges like those of Erin Gruwell's students and kids at Dunbar, a predominantly black school in a lower income neighborhood. We printed a selection of the essays we received in our Sunday section and ran the rest of them online only (along with the printed essays).

Third, we collaborated with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. The chamber had paid to send all Dunbar's students to see "Freedom Writers," then held a writing contest from which four winners were selected. We posted the chamber's winners online with our package.

Our online folks gave it nice display. You can see the entire package at http://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/index.html.