American Graduate: Freedom Writers at Commerce High
In 1994, Erin Gruwell began teaching at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. Like many first year teachers, Erin was assigned the unmotivated, unnoticed, and “unteachable” students. Erin strongly believed that education could overcome even the worst kinds of adversity and was determined that her 150 “at-risk” students should receive the same opportunities as everyone else. In Springfield, this model, dubbed The Freedom Writers, is being used at Commerce High School and Connecting Point Contributor Carolee McGrath visited the School to talk with teachers, students and administrators about the program that teaches every student through challenging, relevant, and project-driven activities.
Freedom Writers Foundation
WGBY’s American Graduate
Around the Horn: Baseball History in the Region: Mike Trombley
Mike Trombley, a Wilbraham native and former Major League Baseball player with the Twins, Orioles and Dodgers, discusses his experiences as big league baseball player. Is it tougher for athletes from the cooler-climate Northeast to make it in pro baseball going up against players from the south who have so many more warm playing days to practice and prepare?
Downtown Springfield’s “No Space Left Behind Tour”
University of Massachusetts Prof. Frank Sleegers and students from the UMass Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning Department discuss “No Space Left Behind” and the tour of downtown Springfield scheduled for April 24 to see the “installations” created by the students in empty, under-utilized spaces in the center of Springfield.
