Teacher Suspended for Using Book

An Indiana high school teacher Connie Heerman was suspended for one and a half years after using a book called “The Freedom Writer’s Diary” in her English class. The book is a collection of journals by inner city teenagers in California put together by their English teacher Erin Gruwell; it was made into a motion picture last year staring Hillary Swank. Gruwell testified in front of the board that almost all the students featured in the book went from the ghetto to college.

The Perry Township School Board feels the language is inappropriate and will do more harm then good and that Heerman had already been told that the book was not approved. Heerman says she waited three months for a decision by the school on using the book and sent 150 permission slips home in the meantime. Students interviewed said they enjoyed her class and are upset to see her go.