Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Monday, September 07, 2009

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Quincy Murdock, who works at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, has twice attended the week-long Freedom Writers Institute in Long Beach, Calif.

Quincy Murdock believes in his students, and he wants them to believe in themselves. So he tries to apply what he’s learned through the Freedom Writers Institute in his job as a social worker at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy.

“The whole theory is ‘engage, enlighten and empower,’” he said of the teaching approach. “The empowerment part actually shows them what they can do.”

The goal of the Freedom Writers Foundation is to strengthen passionate teachers like Murdock who are dedicated to transforming their students’ education experience and ultimately their quality of life. One emphasis is using innovative strategies, such as journaling, to get kids more involved in school.

At MLK Academy, Murdock spearheads “Write On,” a collection of students’ poetry and writings. He also guides students in filming conflict-resolution and non-violence public service announcements.

“We’ve tried to let the kids be creative and self-reflect about their own lives,” he said, noting that by giving them an outlet to talk about their problems, they start to see how they have more similarities than differences. “We try to build off that energy and turn it into something positive.”

Murdock is among more than 150 educators, teachers and principals from across the United States and Canada who share their stories in the new book “Teaching Hope.” The Freedom Writers Foundation – which fosters an educational philosophy that promotes diversity, tolerance and communication – assembled the collection of diary entries.

Some stories are about classroom events or things that happened to students outside of school; others focus on the teachers’ own lives.

“It truly is a diary of their ups and downs, triumphs, challenges, everything,” Murdock said.

One particularly powerful story is about a California teacher whose wife cannot conceive; he concludes his students are the children he is intended to love and nurture. In another entry, a worry-worn teacher realizes he draws support from his students, who help him forget about his financial problems.

“The entries are anonymous, as some of the topics are deep and personal. While some are hilarious, others will bring tears to your eyes. In all, every educator will be able to relate to at least one entry, I’m sure,” said Murdock, the lone contributor from Kentucky.

Murdock has twice attended the week-long Freedom Writers Institute in Long Beach, Calif. He first got involved with the foundation in 2007, when he met founder Erin Gruwell at a conference on at-risk students at Eastern Kentucky University.

“I have a passion about working with them as well. That’s how we connected,” he recalled.

Book signings:

Quincy Murdock will sign copies of “Teaching Hope” at two locations:

• 7 p.m. Sept. 10 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington Green
• 10 a.m. Oct. 10 at Barnes & Noble in Hamburg Pavilion

Proceeds from the book sales and other donations will go to the Freedom Writers Foundation for teacher training, scholarships and innovative activities for students.

Online:

Video: Erin Gruwell, founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation, talks about “Teaching Hope.”