May 1 - plane to San Juan pt 2

"Freedom Writers" is currently the movie of choice on my airplane (not MY choice). I'm not watching it, but occasionally I peek up to watch the stereotypes of an "earnest-young-teavher-stuck-with-the-bad-class" story line fall into place.

Things that must be included in every Coming Of Age teacher movie:

- frumpy and assumedly appropriate grown-up clothes later shift to hip, student approved threads
- stern sit down meeting with principal slash senior advisor to warn against improvisational teaching methods
- commotion caused in class by an unattractive doodle/characature or malevolent note directed at teacher, later causing an embarrassing look of shock when she demands to see said note
- inspiring field trip
- at least one student in the class gets shot, pregnant or otherwise seriously hurt
- uplifting scene with positive rap or R&B song