Stand and Deliver Notes In Class

 Mr. Escalante seen draped with a button up, cardigan and thick rimmed glasses commanding a VW bug with a surprised look as he coasts through the inner city. Watching poverty pan forward and back from his window like a carousel of the mocked American dream. He finally arrives at the school and notices a policeman instantly.  Noticed his job is irrelevant due to the lack of equipment. Classroom seems more like a bar hangout then a place for education. Startled and soft his voice began unable to control the students.  Half students can only speak Spanish. 

After a long day of rowdy kids he finds that the unruly behavior has seeped from within the walls of the school to the parking lot as he finds his car window broken.  Trying to gain attention with the students, he opens up with a real life example of fractions that seem to amuse the students.  Two students try to test the patience of his authority by threatening his new takeover of the class.

While surveying outside he notices a fight breaking out. He quickly steps in to deescalate the altercation. He finds the same students in the next class. He refuses to leave them out the learning experience despite their threatening demeanor. He brings them into the group by asking them to answer questions and getting them to participate.

At a teacher meeting the staff criticizes the lack of literacy among the students and it is impossible to give them an education. He states that the students will rise according to their expectations.  Even if the students try to gain the upper hand he sets the control of the classroom. Three students try to refuse one of his daily quizzes and they agree to punish her by making her sit on a child’s chair. Even with his strict guidelines  he’s able to turn a passionate hand when a gangster wants to learn but not the stigma that comes with it. The teacher decides to give him more textbooks so he won’t have to be seen learning.

It cuts to the daily lives of the students and the hardships they must endure. It shows one student with children and working class parents and how it’s hard to find time to study.  Some of the students’ parents don’t want their kids to excel.

He’s willing to sacrifice a lot to give his students exceptional education. He implemented rigorous courses for the students. He started math classes over the summer all to prepare his juniors the chance to take an AP class their senior year. He shows dedication by working almost every hour in the day to give education to whomever is willing to learn. Everything catches up where he exasperates his own body one night in an evening English class.

Proof of proving ground with the students after an absence of work he returns with cheers and happiness. A total opposite of his first day when he entered the room there wasn’t an ounce of respect within the classroom walls. The students put their trust in his methods and due to his expectations decided to grow into the tall order that was given.

I believe the way he inspired the students to set the bar higher despite their social expectations was the best value. While every educator was set on doing the bare minimal for the kids, he was set on proving that anybody can excel as long as they show up. He held them to a higher standard believing that instilling great expectations from them will make them grow more in academics. I also felt that he was too disciplined and almost wouldn't take in the students account. He had his blinders on for their success and he would of been damned if they curved from the path in anyway. Given the environment in which the classroom was set this might of been a necessary evil in order to take the initiative. All in all it worked and they succeeded beyond the normal measures and set a foundation for their predecessors.