Stand and Deliver: Escalante's Teaching Methods Analyzed

Overview of Stand and Deliver

Ramon Menendez's 1988 film Stand and Deliver portrays one teacher's impact on a class of underachieving high school students. Jaime A. Escalante quits a lucrative job in the tech sector to become an underpaid, underappreciated high school teacher in East Los Angeles. Although he was slated to teach computers to underprivileged students, Escalante is forced to teach general math because the district has not provided the school with any computers. Initially resistant to their new teacher, the students at Garfield High warm up to him and gradually begin to admire and respect him as a role model. Even the most rebellious students in the class respond to Escalante's unorthodox yet effective teaching methods.

Inspired by the results, Escalante decides to offer advanced placement (AP) calculus to the Garfield students on weekends and throughout the summer. Their hard work pays off, and the entire class of eighteen students passes the AP test and receives college credits. However, the results are so unusual — especially given the demographic of the school — that district officials accuse the class of organized cheating. Angry but undaunted, Escalante urges his students to retake the test to prove their merit. Again, all eighteen students pass the AP exam. Their success is repeated in successive school years due mainly to Escalante's unwavering efforts. Based on a true story, Stand and Deliver concludes with figures from 1982, the year in which the film is set, through 1987: 18 students passed in 1982; 31 in 1983; 63 in 1984; 77 in 1985; 78 in 1986; and 87 in 1987.

Jaime Escalante, the film's protagonist, exhibits an extraordinary amount of patience, wisdom, and humor in his approach to an unruly classroom. Because he can relate to his students linguistically and culturally, Escalante is especially able to affect their self-perception and their views on education. Central figures in the film also include students such as Angel, Pancho, Sophia, Claudia, and Ana. Some students, like Angel, feel torn between the allure of gang life and the promise of a better future through academic achievement. Others, like Ana and Pancho, are pressured not by their peers but by their families to drop out of school early so they can work. The students' parents therefore considerably shape the plot and outcome of the film.

Additionally, representatives from the Educational Testing Service and members of Garfield's administrative staff display their biases and prejudices toward the students, further affecting the course of the story. Set in East Los Angeles, the film specifically addresses the ethnic and class conflicts that plague many American urban neighborhoods and prevent minority students from reaching their highest academic potential. Stand and Deliver motivates all educators and aspiring educators to approach their work with greater awareness, effort, compassion, and respect for diversity.

Cultural Awareness and Linguistic Respect

One of the early scenes of the film demonstrates a key reason for Escalante's success. When he first walks into the chaotic classroom, Escalante addresses the class in both English and Spanish, asking all Spanish-speaking students to come to the front of the room. His respect for non-English-speaking students is echoed in later scenes as well; this theme runs throughout Stand and Deliver as one of the most effective means by which Escalante reaches his Hispanic students.

About twenty minutes into the film, Escalante explains that the mathematical concept of zero was invented by the Mayans, adding with emphasis: "Your ancestors." This statement engenders ethnic pride, which is sorely lacking in many American public schools. The word ganas — repeated throughout the film and related to its title — carries even greater impact on the students because it is a Spanish word. As a teacher, Escalante demonstrates a remarkable level of cultural awareness and sensitivity; as a Hispanic male, he becomes an ideal role model for his students.

Humor, Nicknames, and Building Rapport

Beyond encouraging pride in the students' backgrounds through language and cultural references, Escalante treats each student with individual respect and is able to relate to their adolescent attitudes and expressions. One of the ways he does this is through the humorous nicknames he assigns, such as "Finger Man" for the student who gave him the middle finger, and "Net Head" for Angel, who wears a hair net. Turning the students' rebelliousness into respect through playful teasing is Escalante's unique gift and one of the main reasons he succeeds in what could otherwise be a hostile environment.

Escalante remains unintimidated by the bullies early in the story and later accepts Angel's offer of "protection" in exchange for extra schoolbooks. He thereby demonstrates a unique ability to overcome generational differences by meeting students on their own level, in their own language. His unorthodox sense of humor also appeals to the students — humor is so often absent from the classroom, yet it can be a powerful tool for learning. Escalante uses verbal and dramatic humor directly to teach math; for instance, he chops apples with a giant cleaver so the class can learn fractions. While such a prop would not be permissible in most classrooms today, this kind of demonstrative, interactive, and entertaining teaching style draws unmotivated students in and sustains their interest in learning.

Conclusion: Lessons for Aspiring Educators

Stand and Deliver is an inspiring film for all aspiring educators. The story illustrates the shortcomings of the American public school system and points out its numerous failures to provide low-income neighborhoods with qualified teachers and quality resources. The film demonstrates that it takes exceptional individuals like Jaime Escalante to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people — and challenges all educators to bring that same level of dedication, cultural sensitivity, and personal commitment to their own classrooms.