integrated knowledge
It’s lovely how one knowledge leads to another. Reading “The Freedom Writers Diary” not only enlightens the theories I’ve learned in the classes because she really does the effective teaching; but also leaded me to another intrigued concepts and facts. I read in the diary that Ms.G assigned them to read “12 angry men”. I didn’t know what it was about before, never even heard. But the young man who was one of ‘The Freedom Writers’ wrote that it was about how one juror could turn another 11 jurors to change their verdict and that saved the 18-year-old boy from an electric chair.
As I saw that there was the movie (thanks to Bras Basah Complex and the ‘nothing but Chinese CD’ shop there) with the same title played by Henry Fonda (I am not sure when it was made because all the DVD’s description is in Chinese letters), I was so curious and of course, I was so glad because the DVD was so cheap hehehe.. pfff…dasar pengangguran, yak!
Anyway, driven by curiosity about what Erin Gruwell taught her “at-risk” students, I watched the black – and – white – yet – Oscar – winner – for – I – don’t – know – what – category – and – what – year – because – it – was – in – Chinese movie. And it was a great movie. So many things can be discussed, much issues can be brought up, hmm… so illuminating.
Apart from its’ strong correlation with Ms.G students basis lives, this movie displayed how critical thinking was and should be applied. And it moved my emotion seeing some of those jurors didn’t put the case in priority since they thought he was only just a boy from the hood, you know what I’m saying? He’s just another nigga, you feel me, cuz?! (d’oh! Apa sih sok nge-afro banged!)
Anyway, it was interesting how their open minds are twisted and … yes, it takes open mind to accept truth. Well, I am not to talk so much about the movie here. What I eagerly want to share was actually about the connectedness of knowledge. And to learn the new one, we have to relate that to the possessed ones. Hihi, if you think I made up this postulate, it’s not true, I am not that smart, it was Cognitive Learning Theory, especially by Piaget. Quite classic, actually. John Coltrane stimulated me to learn what happened in Alabama around 40s and 50s, The Da Vinci Code invited me to come to Louvre (Well, in fact, do I need the movie to inspire me to Europe? Na’ah..). Haruki Murakami made me so curious about “The Archduke Trio” of Beethoven (and I still haven’t heard the music yet!). And now, The Freedom Writes Diary gave me more lists of books I’d like to read such as “The Zlata’s Diary”, movie I’d like to watch (Boyz n The Hood), and place that might be interesting to visit, “The Museum of Tolerance” in Newport beach. And of course, I browsed the Internet to feed my curiosity about “Rodney King Riot” and “Freedom Riders”. I believe that you experience the same, when you have conversation with someone, when you in relationship, when you listen, when you read, when you see, visit new place, … yet if and only if, provided that… you open your mind; you’ll see how precious those moments are, for they will enrich you with abundant knowledge for you to grasp. And through the door of mind that you open, you become the part of the learning society. Have a nice learning! =) Ps.This passage of ‘curhat’ is my dedication to the “one woman can” campaign for the cause: education for all, now!
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