2/28 notes and class participation

Lewis Black argues very sarcastically that we are pretending to deal only for 1 week for education and 51 weeks of incarceration with the education problem. We waste our educational funds on half a billion dollar schools that really don’t have to be that way. That charter schools are a great idea, except that they only allow a very small number of students. Public schools don’t need random volunteers but fully educated teachers.

Really this all plays on my post from earlier today; public education is failing our students. When Lewis Black mentioned a half a billion dollar school in LA it brought my thoughts to my family in Klamath Falls, Oregon. For the past year I have been saving my school stamps, those little stamps you get on some boxed foods and canned goods, because my cousins school system is struggling financially. To think that just a state away students are learning in luxury while they struggle just to have up to date books and computers. Of course the distribution of wealth within the public education system is a major issue, if just a small portion of the LA schools money went to some of the less affluent parts of America it could really make a difference. Then there is the issue of charter schools, an awesome idea that looks great on paper, but lacks the backing and funding to educate the masses. The idea that we could cure our education problem with a superhero is preposterous; it will take an upheaval involving our entire society in order to successfully change our education. Not enough parents care enough to get arms deep in their children’s education, as my parents put it “school is supposed to teach you those things, morals, discipline, education” but in all truth it is a parent’s responsibility to teach morals and discipline. Teachers need to be more involved with their students, of course there are plenty of outstanding teachers out there but there are just as many who have either taught for way too long, or defaulted to teaching when they themselves did not achieve their original career choice.  The blame can’t be placed on a single group, but ultimately sits on the shoulders of many. No one that I know of is arguing that our education system is perfectly fine the way it is, but if we continue to set blame or responsibility on a single group how can we expect to reform? There is no simple answer to the problem, or quick fix. I am sure that there will always be holes in the system, and unfortunately when one single system is forced into finding that median in the individuals it is trying to educate it will fall short of expectations. The school system is set with the daunting task of finding that universal method or here goes my military jargon Standard Order of Operation that ensures a generalized success.   

My group mostly spoke about how the education system runs currently, and the way we ourselves experienced our own K-12 education. We talked about budget issues, the fact that some schools cannot afford books. How impersonal the teacher/student, teacher/parent relationship has become. The overwhelming class sizes, and we also discussed some of the alternative education systems i.e. the off campus program and homeschooling.

The Biggest Challenge Facing K-12 Students

The biggest challenge facing K-12 students seems to be trying to fit into an archaic educational system that has been tailored to educate the masses as oppose to catering to individual needs. Every year throughout the United States class sizes grow larger and larger. Each teacher is burdened with a heavier workload, and pressure to pass all of their students on to the next grade. Unfortunately this comes at the cost of the students, ones who excels are held back by low expectations, others fail to grasp the concept of their curriculum and due to an overloaded teacher neither receive the individual attention needed to succeed. The teacher is forced to find a middle ground to which all students have a better chance of succeeding, but as class sizes swell and test scores drop, expectations and standards fall as well. In the midst of this there are those students who academically should be exceeding, but as boredom creeps in the back door they become delinquent and lose sight of success. The public education system continues to become more and more impersonal, and is beginning to resemble an industrial warehouse for cookie cutter students. If a child does not fit the mold they are reprocessed for redistribution or if too marred the are tossed to the side, if the great tasting cookies cost too much to make, take the sugar out and add a cheaper sweetener it tastes similar. Keep lowering standards to increase distribution and profit. This system does not produce excellence but breeds mediocrity and lowered expectations. K-12 students already face the challenges of growing up, and coming into their individual self, an educational system that does not develop the individual is only limiting their potential.

Compare and Contrast Essay: What Role Does a Teacher Play?

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge,” said Albert Einstein. There is nothing more essential than acquiring knowledge, expanding ones understanding of the world we live in and the people who have shaped and continue to shape the world we live in. Education is fundamental to success and at the root of education is the teacher. Teachers develop minds, showing pupils the tools necessary to expand their minds and also how to implement those tools in their everyday lives and influence the world around them. No matter the curriculum a good teacher must gain his/her students respect, create a rewarding environment, genuinely care for the welfare of their pupils and possess a passion for knowledge and teaching. The role of the teacher is to “inspire to aspire,” Jaime Escalante and Jack MacFarland are excellent examples of inspirational teachers.

Both teachers from the very start of class commanded respect from their classroom. Jaime Escalante began by setting some ground rules, stating that, “There will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of those two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do. *math* is the great equalizer… When you go for a job, the person giving you that job will not want to hear your problems; ergo, neither do I. You are going to work harder here than you’ve ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask of you is to have *ganas* *desire*” he continues, “If you don’t have the *ganas,* I will give it to you because I am an expert.” Simply pointing out the hard truth, and not accepting excuses for poor performance set standards for Escalante’s students instilled if not respect a sense of understanding. When challenged by their students both Escalante and MacFarland used similar tactics of control. Instead of disciplining their students for misbehavior they would challenge them mentally, make a point that would force the student to reconsider their current standing. MacFarland made references to literature, and role played his way into challenges with unruly teenagers. As his former student Mike Rose wrote, “Jack MacFarland, this tobacco-stained intellectual, brandished linguistic weapons of a kind I hadn’t encountered before… if nothing else, we recognized MacFarland’s considerable intelligence and respected the hours he put into his work.” By creating an environment of mutual respect the teachers set their students at a more mature level, opening them up to the idea that they could achieve academic success. Neither Mr. MacFarland nor Mr. Escalante set the bar low, both expected their students to achieve at a higher academic level.

Both Escalante and MacFarland held a rigorous class schedule, always quizzing, testing and asking questions. They never let their minds idle, always keeping them busy, working, learning, challenging, rethinking and creating a deeper understanding of the subject. As Escalante put it, “students will rise to the level of expectation.” They did not offer easy A’s, and this set the bar high for their students. Challenging their students to achieve more developed healthy habits and created a thirst for learning. As Rose said, “I loved getting good grades from MacFarland.” They created a desire in their students, a desire to achieve, and a fear of failure. People tend to only put forth as much effort as is necessary to receive their reward, if you set the bar high they will put forth the effort necessary to reach their goal. When you work really hard for something, it always tastes a little sweeter.

During his senior year Mike Rose was questioned by Mr. MacFarland as to whether he was going to go to college or not. Mike had never thought much of it, and gave an indecisive answer. Jack MacFarland would not accept that such a talented student would not go to college, and pushed Rose to apply for as many colleges as possible. When all the major universities denied Rose’s application, MacFarland did not waver. He went to Loyola, the institution he had graduated and pulled the strings necessary to see to it that Rose received higher education. Knowing that Rose could not afford college, Mr. MacFarland showed Mike Rose how to apply for financial aid. There is no denying that the man cared about his students, going above and beyond the call of duty. He showed more consideration, and put forth more effort than the average parent, personally ensuring the students with potential fulfilled that potential. Jaime Escalante was no less dedicated to the success of his students. As long as his students had the “ganas” he would ensure their success. When outside influences affected students attendance Jaime personally addressed the problem. In the movie Stand and Deliver one of his top students, Ana Delgado withdrew herself from class. Mr. Escalante went to dinner at the Delgado family restaurant to personally confront Ana’s parents about her future. He pressed that Ana was intelligent, and had great potential. Ana’s father believed Ana belonged in the restaurant with her family, not wasting her time getting an education she would not use. He would not waiver in his decision, and ultimately banned Escalante from eating at the Delgado family restaurant. Escalante was successful in sowing his seed, because Ana would later attend class, and ultimately successfully passed her calculus exam. Both teachers showed a desire to improve their student’s lives; they cared enough to help them through life’s challenges.

Both Jack MacFarland and Jaime Escalante were intensely passionate teachers. MacFarland was passionate about literature and Escalante about teaching. They were so passionate they were inspirational to others. Jack would bring a select group of students to his home, to further develop their passion for literature. His home was described as a “cramped cluttered space… books were all over: stacked, piled, tossed, and crated…well worn and new.” Expanding knowledge is what Jack MacFarland lived for.  MacFarland would ultimately seed Mike Rose’s passion for literature, taking him under his wing and introducing him to a myriad of literature. Rose described the literature as “hardly the stuff of deep understanding” but the sheer volume and variety of the digested material would ultimately expand Rose’s insight into the world. Rose looked to MacFarland for inspiration and insight. Jaime Escalante inspired others not with his intellectual passion, but for his tenacity and unwillingness to quit. His passion for teaching made the classroom the most important aspect of his life. Escalante was so stubborn that when school staff denied his request to make calculus a part of school curriculum, he added calculus as an extra school activity. His passion inspired his students to come into class an hour before the first bell, so that they learn calculus. He not only taught an early morning class, but also taught an adult class. He pushed himself so hard that he had a heart attack teaching his adult class. When told by the doctor that he would not be able to work, Escalante requested a new one. Against doctors orders he went back to teaching within two days of his heart attack, eager to get back to what he loved. Both teachers passion was not only inspirational to their students, but stand as an inspiration today.

No matter the curriculum, a teacher’s goal should always remain the same, “inspire to aspire”. Inspire others to love learning and the acquisition of knowledge. Jaime Escalante opened his student’s eyes to their real potential. He would not allow preconceived notions about their heritage and culture to keep them from achieving more than they originally considered themselves capable of. Jack MacFarland came into the life of Mike Rose during a time he was most needed; he took him under his wing and provided Rose with the necessary tools to become an inspiration himself. Rose would go forth into the world, and redefine our views of remedial education, stating that the problem is not the student’s lack of intelligence but the environment in which they were taught. 

Rough Draft for paper #2

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge,” said Albert Einstein. There is nothing more essential than acquiring knowledge, expanding ones understanding of the world we live in and the people who have shaped and continue to shape the world we live in. Education is fundamental to success and at the root of education is the teacher. Teachers develop minds, showing pupils the tools necessary to expand their minds and also how to implement those tools in their everyday lives and influence the world around them. No matter the curriculum a good teacher must gain his/her students respect, create a rewarding environment, genuinely care for the welfare of their pupils and possess a passion for knowledge and teaching. The role of the teacher is to “inspire to aspire,” Jaime Escalante and Jack MacFarland are excellent examples of inspirational teachers.

Both teachers from the very start of class commanded respect from their classroom. Jaime Escalante began by setting some ground rules, stating that, “There will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of those two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do. *math* is the great equalizer… When you go for a job, the person giving you that job will not want to hear your problems; ergo, neither do I. You are going to work harder here than you’ve ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask of you is to have *ganas* *desire*” he continues, “If you done have the *ganas,* I will give it to you because I am an expert.” Simply pointing out the hard truth, and not accepting excuses for poor performance set standards for Escalante’s students instilled if not respect a sense of understanding. When challenged by their students both Escalante and MacFarland used similar tactics of control. Instead of disciplining their students for misbehavior they would challenge them mentally, make a point that would force the student to reconsider their current standing. MacFarland made references to literature, and role played his way into challenges with unruly teenagers. As his former student Mike Rose wrote, “Jack MacFarland, this tobacco-stained intellectual, brandished linguistic weapons of a kind I hadn’t encountered before… if nothing else, we recognized MacFarland’s considerable intelligence and respected the hours he put into his work.” By creating an environment of mutual respect the teachers set their students at a more mature level, opening them up to the idea that they could achieve academic success. Neither Mr. MacFarland nor Mr. Escalante set the bar low, both expected their students to achieve at a higher academic level.

Both Escalante and MacFarland held a rigorous class schedule, always quizzing, testing and asking questions. They never left their minds idle, always keeping them busy, working, learning, challenging, rethinking and creating a deeper understanding of the subject. As Escalante put it, “students will rise to the level of expectation.” They did not offer easy A’s, and this set the bar high for their students. Challenging their students to achieve more developed healthy habits and created a thirst for learning. As Rose said, “I loved getting good grades from MacFarland.” They created a desire in their students, a desire to achieve, and a fear of failure. People tend to only put forth as only much effort as is necessary to receive their reward, if you set the bar high they will put forth the effort necessary to reach their goal. When you work really hard for something, it always tastes a little sweeter.

During his senior year Mike Rose was questioned by Mr. MacFarland as to whether he was going to go to college or not. Mike had never thought much of it, and gave an indecisive answer. Jack MacFarland would not accept that such a talented student would not go to college, and pushed Rose to apply for as many colleges as possible. When all the major universities denied Rose’s application, MacFarland did not waver. He went to Loyola, the institution he had graduated and pulled the strings necessary to see to it that Rose received higher education. Knowing that Rose could not afford college, Mr. MacFarland showed Mike Rose how to apply for financial aid. There is no denying that the man cared about his students, going above and beyond the call of duty. He showed more consideration, and put forth more effort than the average parent, personally ensuring the students with potential fulfilled that potential. Jaime Escalante was no less dedicated to the success of his students. As long as his students had the “Ganas” he would ensure their success. When outside influences affected students attendance Jaime personally addressed the problem. In the movie Stand and Deliver one of his top students, Ana Delgado withdrew herself from class. Mr. Escalante went to dinner at the Delgado family restaurant to personally confront Ana’s parents about her future. He pressed that Ana was intelligent, and had great potential. Ana’s father believed Ana belonged in the restaurant with her family, not wasting her time getting an education she would not use. He would not waiver in his decision, and ultimately banned Escalante from eating at the Delgado family restaurant. Escalante was successful in sowing his seed, because Ana would later attend class, and ultimately successfully passed her calculus exam. Both teachers showed a desire to improve their student’s lives; they cared enough to help them through life’s challenges.

Both Jack MacFarland and Jaime Escalante were intensely passionate teachers. MacFarland was passionate about literature and Escalante about teaching. They were so passionate they were inspirational to others. Jack would bring a select group of students to his home, to further develop their passion for literature. His home was described as a “cramped cluttered space… books were all over: stacked, piled, tossed, and crated…well worn and new.” Expanding knowledge is what Jack MacFarland lived for.  MacFarland would ultimately seed Mike Rose’s passion for literature, taking him under his wing and introducing him to a myriad of literature. Rose described the literature as “hardly the stuff of deep understanding” but the sheer volume and variety of the digested material would ultimately expand Rose’s insight into the world. Rose looked to MacFarland for inspiration and insight. Jaime Escalante inspired others not with his intellectual passion, but for his tenacity and unwillingness to quit. His passion for teaching made the classroom the most important aspect of his life. Escalante was so stubborn that when school staff denied his request to make calculus a part of school curriculum, he added calculus as an extra school activity. His passion inspired his students to come into class an hour before the first bell, so that they learn calculus. He not only taught an early morning class, but also taught an adult class. He pushed himself so hard that he had a heart attack teaching his adult class. When told by the doctor that he would not be able to work, Escalante requested a new one. Against doctors orders he went back to teaching within two days of his heart attack, eager to get back to what he loved. Both teachers passion was not only inspirational to their students, but stand as an inspiration today.

No matter the curriculum, a teacher’s goal should always remain the same, “inspire to aspire”. Inspire others to love learning and the acquisition of knowledge. Jaime Escalante opened his student’s eyes to their real potential. He would not allow preconceived notions about their heritage and culture to keep them from achieving more than they originally considered themselves capable of. Jack MacFarland came into the life of Mike Rose during a time he was most needed; he took him under his wing and provided Rose with the necessary tools to become and inspiration himself. Rose would go forth into the world, and redefine our views of remedial education, stating that the problem is not the student’s lack of intelligence but the environment in which they were taught. 

drafting exercise: block format

Role: inspire to aspire

positive

Name of Teacher #1: Mr. MacFarland

Commanded respect: As oppose to disciplining his students, when a student acted out Jack Macfarland would challenge his students. Not a physical challenge, but a linguistic challenge that would push his unruly students to participate more effectively within the classroom. As Rose put it “Jack Macfarland, this tobacco-stained intellectual, brandished linguistic weapons of a kind I hadn’t encountered before… If nothing else, we all recognized Macfarland’s considerable intelligence and respected the hours he put into his work.”

Made good grades more rewarding: Mr. MacFarland offered a rewarding curriculum keeping his students on their toes by frequently asking questions and providing his students with busy work: multiple essays per month, and quizzes on alternate days.  As Rose says “I loved getting good grades from MacFarland.”

Showed that he cared about each student individually: During Mike Rose’s senior year Mr. MacFarland questioned him on whether he was going to college or not. When Mike was indecisive he pressured him to apply for colleges. When he was denied enrollment in major universities Mr. Macfarland pulled strings at Loyola and Rose was accepted as a probationary student.

Was passionate about his curriculum and teaching: He brought Rose and a select other students to his home. From Rose’s description, “a cramped cluttered space…books were allover: stacked, piled, tossed, and crated… well-worn and new.” Mr. Macfarland clearly had an obsession with literature, such passion could easily be inspirational.

Inspired his students to love learning: Rose was inspired to love knowledge, and acquiring new knowledge. MacFarland’s introduced his students to some literature which Rose describes as, “hardly the stuff of deep understanding.”  The literature started a fire inside Rose, and later would prove to expand Rose’s insight into the world, but more importantly he could “talk that talk” with Jack MacFarland, his greatest and most beloved mentor.

positive

Name of Teacher #2: Mr. Escalante

Commanded Respect: From the very beginning of class Jaime Escalante commanded respect from his students.“there will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of those two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do. *math* is the great equalizer… When you go for a job, the person giving you that job will not want to hear your problems; ergo, neither do I. You are going to work harder her than you’ve ever worked anywhere else.  And the only thing I ask of you is to have *ganas* *desire*” “If you don’t have the *ganas,* I will give it to you because I am an expert.”

Made good grades more rewarding: Mr. Escalante required students to take a timed quiz every single day at the beginning of the class. While talking to a colleague he stated that “students will rise to the level of expectation.”

Showed that he cared about his students individually: When Ana Delgado withdrew herself from Escalante’s math class, Jaime went to the Delgado’s family restaurant to personally confront Ana’s family. If the student had the desire to learn Mr. Escalante would do anything to ensure that student succeeded.

Was passionate about teaching: Mr. Escalante was so passionate about teaching that when the school staff denied his request to teach calculus as a class, Escalante added calculus as a before school activity and his students attended! He worked so hard he had a heart attack while teaching an adult education class, and to top it off he went back to work against doctors’ orders. No one could stop Jaime Escalante from doing what he was passionate for, teaching.

my teachers of choice

Mrs. Gabrio was a delicately framed woman, long wavy blonde hair wildly flowing behind her; barely reaching five feet, her physical features were hardly an example of grandeur. Yet she always held a presence that made her seem a little taller, of course that could have simply been due to her being at least a head taller than all her student. We were in fifth grade, and nearing a critical turning point in our lives.  Mrs. Gabrio would be our teacher for the next two years, and had the challenge of preparing us for the next stage in our lives, Junior High School. It was no longer just about drawing pictures, learning numbers and letters, but about understanding personal responsibility and preparing for new educational process.  

Junior High came as a classic lost in the sauce scenario, no longer were we walked in straight lines as a classroom unit, gone were the days of same teacher all year, two years in a row. Now we were responsible for finding our way to our multiple scheduled classes, with a new and different teacher in each classroom, with their own personal style of teaching, and their own idea of a well-organized classroom, at first the self-responsibility of it all was personally crippling. When sixth period came my saving grace would come in the form of a balding grey-haired middle aged man with a little extra baggage in the stomach.  Mr. Thompson was former navy, and his no nonsense well organized style of teaching would prove more valuable than the actual subject he taught. From the very get go he set the standards and expectations for his class and all of came to a single conclusion: in order to pass this class you must remain well organized. He set standards,  raised standards, and then turned around and expected us to exceed those standards.

I am concerned about using this format in my paper, it seems too narrative... while our paper itself seems to require a strict essay format... PLEASE give me input!

Garfield High vs. Wellsley, Mr. Escalante vs. Ms. Watson

The students at first seem very different; one class seems ignorant and unwilling to learn, while the other class is eager to learn. Neither student body seemed to desire to further their education; both Escalante and Watson sought to motivate students into achieving their potential. Both student bodies needed to have their minds opened and each teacher used alternative methods to reach those minds. The teachers face a similar problem, a student body with an attitude problem and fellow staff members that do not respect or understand their curriculum. Through all the opposition their teaching styles did not waiver just because someone did not agree with their methods.  Both teachers eventually in their own ways give in under the pressure, one with a heart attack, the other with an emotional breakdown.

Garfield High and Wellesley are worlds apart: Garfield is informal, while Wellesley is very formal. One is a school for what is considered the lower ring of society, while the other is for high society. Garfield sat in the middle of the slums of a big city, filled with students from mixed backgrounds and poor educations. Wellesley is beautiful brick school, walls lined with mahogany wainscoting, an all-girls school with high society girls with poor attitudes, high expectations, and an inflated sense of self. Wellesley is very traditional, and much alike to Garfield High the students are being forced to fill a specific role in life. In outward appearance it would seem that the Wellesley girls desired to learn as much as possible, but ultimately their goals were to marry the best man possible and become housewives of the rich. So in all actuality they are quite similar to the Garfield High students, tradition was holding both student bodies back from truly achieving their fullest potential.

Macfarland Vs. Escalante

Both of these teachers parallel each other in many ways. Neither graduated from an accredited college, yet both had an educational background that could have offered a more financially rewarding career. Instead they chose to educate youth and found reward in helping others learn to succeed. discipline, study, and respect take center stage in both curriculum. Rose stated,  "Tomfoolery, not to mention assault, had no place in the world he was trying to create for us, and instinctively everyone knew that. If nothing else, we all recognized Macfarland's considerable intelligence and respected the hours he put into his work." In the movie Stand and Deliver you can watch an similar evolution in the student body, a group of unruly students transform into an ideal classroom environment. Escalante's self discipline and presence effects his students so profoundly that their thug like attitudes are left behind once they entered the classroom. Another quote by Rose seems to hit it on the nose, "he provided a role model that wasn't shaped on physical prowess alone, and something inside me that I wasn't quite aware of responded to that." Is that all that the Garfield High students needed, a worth role model? Someone who actually cared enough to push them to become more than what society was trying to mold them into?

example of a good/bad teacher

1. Mr. Escalante, as depicted in the film Stand and Deliver embodies quite a few characteristics of what my ideal High School teacher would be. He is dedicated, relates and communicates to his students, and is willing to improve his craft. Mr. Escalante shows dedication in the scene where he sneaks out of the hospital in order to help and support his students before there AP Testing. He relates to his students by introducing real life situations into his curriculum,  and pushes his students to achieve above and beyond their own expectations.
2.Mr. Escalante proves to be a horrible example for Dan Brown's paper What Makes a Great Teacher? He did not have time to "learn the ropes", in fact he jumped straight from being a computer science teacher to a math teacher. During the scenes involving the staff meetings it is pretty clear Mr. Escalante had no "collaboration among the colleagues" In fact they refused to allow calculus in the curriculum and Mr. Escalante was forced teach Calculus as extra curriculum. Mr. Brown stresses teacher/parent relationships and in Stand and Deliver Mr. Escalante receives a lot of opposition from parents who did not have faith in their children. The only aspect of Dan's idea of a good teacher that Mr. Escalante embodies is dedication. Mr. Escalante went out of his way to ensure the students that had the "ganas" the drive to achieve succeeded.
3.Sir Ken Robinson does not directly state a criteria for good teaching, but I believe Robinson would idealize an individual who fosters a childs inner capabilities, and pursues their curiosities as oppose to caging it with rigid study.
4.I am not one to put words in other peoples mouths, especially not to attempt to perceive how someone else would/should feel about another person. But for the sake of this exercise I am sure Sir Ken Robinson would have a mixed review of Jaime Escalante. Mr. Escalante is a fairly rigid teacher, whose take no crap or get out attitude does not foster curiousity or imagination. On the other hand Mr. Escalante reaches out to students in a deep way, he finds strong relations between his math problems and his students every day lives.

The Real Jaime Escalante

According to Washington Post, Dec. 12, 1982, Jaime Escalante was teaching math at Garfield High School since 1974, a full 5 years before the 1979 class that would catch the attention of the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, NJ.

"Escalante was born to two teachers on December 31, 1930 in Oruro, Bolivia. He taught mathematics and physics for 12 years in his mother country before emigrating to the USA." Wikipedia.com

Writing details in similar style

Now you don't grow up fat, black, nearly blind, and ambidextrous in a West Indian household, particularly my parents' household, and survive without being or becoming fairly rigid fairly fast. And having been roundly spanked on several occasions for having made that mistake at home, I knew quite well that crayons were not what you wrote with, and music books were definitely not what you wrote in.~Audre Lorde

Now you cannot keep the house looking organized, pristine, and polished in a childrens home, particularly a home with a one year old tornado toddler, and survive without always being on your toes at all times. And having my home destroyed in multiple toddler tornadoes outburst for not keeping on top of it, I knew my daughter would soon destroy my home again.

It has ever since been a pleasure to me to see good workmen handle their tools; and it has been useful to me, having learnt so much by it as to be able to do little jobs myself in my house when a workman could not readily be got, and to construct little machines for my experiments, while the intention of making the experiment was fresh and warm in my mind. ~Benjamin Franklin

I have always received pleasure watching the birds building their nests in the spring; and it has taught me, so much so I am able to weave when straw is readily available, and can weave baskets for berry picking, while the vision of the nests are clear in my mind.

Examples and Descriptions

Examples and descriptions will be very important parts of my essay. I already know that my paper will contain two big examples, the teachers. The teachers are going to be examples of Elementary and High School Teachers, and the evolution of their roles in a student’s life. The fact that the teachers represent a conceptual idea of what a teacher should be but not a specific individual will make descriptive details a little bit of a challenge. My descriptions will unfortunately lack physical descriptions, and I will be forced to focus more on the descriptions of a specific personality and teaching style. On the other hand, I could focus on creating a specific classroom environment. If I could describe the atmosphere of each teacher’s classroom environment, it will make up for the great descriptive details of the teachers themselves. When reading the requirements to this assignment I could not focus on a specific role for a good teacher, I kept dwelling on two roles. After some thought into the subject I realized this was due to the fact that children and youth require two very different teaching styles. Focusing on both Elementary and High School age children will create a chronological order to my paper, and in turn make a great transitioning point to compare and contrast the two teaching styles. This also helps me to create a good thesis, because although I have thought about my thesis the bulk of my focus has been on the teachers themselves. 

Stand and Deliver notes

Garfield High School is in the middle of the hispanic neighborhood ghetto.

Escalante arrives to teach computer class, there are no computers. Disrespectful students with no discipline or order.  Some students don’t speak English, only Spanish.

Escalante goes to car to find radio stolen. He lives in a nice neighborhood. Neighbor comments about Escalante being laid off, escalante comments that he chose to teach high school.

Student walks in while they are discussing math percentages. He walks in like he has a chip on his shoulder and supplies a note. Student is disrespectful and flips teacher off.  Has student remain after class, some boys in glasses looking tough walk in and pat teacher in face.

Mr. Escalante is walking with friend. Fight on other side of the fence, it is the student who flipped him off earlier.

Student walks in to Mr. Escalantes room, with his tough friends. Teacher mentions multiplication, and that students who add and subtract equal gas pumpers. Student “finger man” says it is better to steal from a gas station.  Teachers offers an algebra  equation, “finger man” struggles to answer.  Negative times neg equals positive.

Staff meeting, debating resources and the school being on probation.  Students will rise the level of expectations.

Mr escalante declares daily quiz, and that real life will be hard on them so will he. One of the “tough” students walk away. New student arrives to fill his seat.  Student who walked out approached escalante in hall for help with his education.  3 books, 1 for class, 1 for home, 1 for locker so no one else thinks he is pursueing his education.

Students are sitting for lunch, discussing Escalantes hard class and the schools failure. Students plan to fail test. 

Day of test, 10 min to take test.  Female student refuses to take test. Every one calls to give her the chair.  She is sat directly in front of class while everyone continues testing.

The student who decided to get his education undercover is at home studying. Walks away to hang out with his gang.  Girl who refused test is at home putting away dinner and babysitting children. Her mother arrives home from working all day and goes straight to the couch, girl is studying when mother tells her to turn off the light.

Wants an education gangster was busy all weekend and tired. He arrives to class late, and is refused class. Kid gives a speech  ultimately is allowed to remain in class. More bad news he forgot his pencil. Quiet girl offers her pencil saying today was her last day.

Mr. Escalante goes to restaurant and calls out the waitress’s inability to add. Anna is needed at the family restaurant, and father is refusing to allow her education.

Class is clapping a tune. Mr. Escalante produces a math problem relating to students lifestyle.  No one has the answer until Anna returned to class and gave correct answer.

Teacher asks principal if he could teach calculus, principal laughs. Other teachers debate it as ridiculous, that the students could not handle it. She debates with Mr Escalante saying it would shatter the childrens self confidence.

Blistering heat in hallway, everyone is passing around oranges. 

Mr Escalante is walking with a fellow teacher. When trash cans and seats are tossed from above. Gangsters running around with chains.  Mr escalante chases them until they hop a fence.

Kids are given a contract in order to test for calculus. Students are offered calculus an hour before class, and students will receive college credit for passing.

Girl student asks mom to sign, she says boys don’t like it if girls are too smart, and signs it. One student does not get his paper signed, he is offered a good job instead.  

Day of calculus most students come.

Class is running late, girl leaves. Teacher follows her out, she is crying because her family and relationships are being affected by class.

Wants an education kid is at hospital with his grandma, asks nurse to be prioritized. He is blown off.

A student has a fit because he cannot finish a calculus problem on board.  Student  whose grandma was sick arrives late. When told to leave he tosses a chair and leaves.

Mr. Escalante is talking on phone while is family is waiting to eat.  When he sits his wife is discontent with his priorities. The student with a sick grandma arrives with his grandma and invites himself in.

Mr. escalante is speaking basic sentences with adults in a class of adults. He walks out looking pained, and has a heart attack on the stairs.

Calculus students sit in class discussing Mr. Escalante’s burn out. When two begin to fight the principal comes in to inform them that he would be ok.  A substitute arrives to teach students, but has never taught calculus.

Mr Escalante is in the hospital and is informed he should not stress or work at all for a month. He requests a new doctor.

Mr Escalante sneaks into class, and continues his class.

Calculus final, students are busy working.

Garfield has the highest number of passing calculus students in all of SoCal. The entire class passed.

The test is kicked back, and the board claims that everyone copied from each other.

Board is questioning the children as to whether they cheated or not.

Mr. Escalantes car is missing from the school parking lot.

Mr Escalante approaches board member investigators. Questioning why the students were being accused of cheating.  The students had answered too quickly and not enough average incorrect. He argues that it is based on racism.

Students decide to retake test. Students arrive to retake test.

There is a misunderstanding with the second test.  All 18 students passed, again.

Mr. Escalante was a successful teacher because he always raised the bar for the students,  he refused to accept that they could not be educated. He used real life situations in his curriculum. He was passionate about his work, and refused to be told what the kids could and could not acheive.

What Makes a Good Teacher

The article I read was “What Makes a Great Teacher” by Dan Brown.  I have to agree with Dan Brown that new teachers need to be transitioned into a full time class, coworkers and leadership should be supportive, and a great teacher has to be dedicated and willing to continuously improve their craft. I think teachers should also possess great communication skills, if you cannot reach your students and relate at their level than how can you expect to impart anything on to them. A teenager does not want to be told what to do, or how to do things, especially by an adult. If you want to teach a teenager, you have to relate to them and give them the tools necessary to educate them, while in contrast teaching a elementary age student requires patience and an understanding of where they are, and what they know. Of course college is basically an whole new animal, it is the students responsibility to educate themselves with the tools they have learned from K-12. College students are already adults (mostly) and should already possess the skills required to manage their own education, the teacher becomes more of an influence than an instructor. By influence I mean that they give you the required material, maybe impart you with something to think about, than allow you produce your  own work within the perimeters of their expectations. 

Audre Lorde's essay

Audre Lorde illustrates what the teachers she encountered were like with great detail. She does not use visual details as much as personality details. She gave her teachers names like miss teacher, or sister MPH thus making them anonymous.   It is pretty clear that the era Audre went to school did not foster any form of creativity or alternative learning, which crippled Audre’s education. I find it sad that a librarian succeeded in teaching Audre more efficiently than any of the teachers she described. I can really relate to this story, because I was ahead of class in one area and behind in another throughout a good portion of Elementary school. Not understanding one subject in your education can cripple another i.e. counting and reading, and it takes a observant caring teacher to catch it and address the problem at hand. It is amazing how far education has come since Audre’s days, but I can also see how far we still have to go.  This story reminds me of a documentary of education reform called “Waiting for Superman” by Davis Guggenheim. It addresses several deficiencies with public education, primarily pointing its finger at the teachers union.  Why should teachers care how well they teach if their job is guaranteed regardless of their aptitude.