TWYH pages 36-61

This section of reading mostly focuses around Erin taking her class of students to her neighborhood to see the movie Schindler's list. When her students enter her neighborhood they are met with blatant prejudices from the inhabitants of this community. The students take the small mindedness of these individuals in a stoic fashion claiming that they are used to it. The students watch the movie and are respectful while watching the movie and are also quite moved by its contents. This experience powder kegs when the students are interviewed for a newspaper and they report how unwelcome they felt in the presence of Erin's neighbors. Erin receives rude and even threatening responses from many of her neighbors. Positive experiences also came out of the events though as Erin is allowed to introduce her class to the author of Schindler's list and also by allowing her and introduction to Steven Spielberg

This portion of the reading was quite interesting for me. I've really only encountered racism in very few situations and i understand the sense of shock that Erin would feel by bringing her students to her neighborhood and watching as everyone gawked at these kids as though they were some abomination. But what might be more shocking is the steller performance by her students throughout the whole event. For these students, whom others consider to be inferior, to show a reaction that is offended but polite about it is truely something to note. Also, it was impressive to see how involved these students became with the rich experiences of a phenominal movie. One section that really spoke to the change that has been seen in her students was their meeting with Ron. When they understand the horrors that he saw and see that he is telling them that education and hard work is the way out of the ghetto, the students don't look at him like he is telling them lies but rather digest the knowledge that a wise and friendly man is relaying to them. It really shows that through the interaction with Erin these students have developed hope that they can be something more than the environment they live in