The case of an Indiana teacher who got in trouble for assigning Freedom Writers Diary to her class is getting renewed attention these days. Connie Heermann of Perry Meridian High School bucked the wishes of the school board, which objected to the book's strong language, and was suspended earlier this year. Even though she had overwhelming support from parents of her students, and the book was available in the school library.

Now, thanks to a CNN report and a spirited defense by screemwriter and director Richard LaGravenese, who made the movie adaptation starring Hillary Swank, people are learning about the bureaucratic injustice and the clumsy classroom ban. Seems like school boards always step in it when they confront a controversial book, don't they? 

Freedom Writers photo from Paramount