Join me in mourning the passing of Jaime Escalante

Who was Jaime Escalante, and why should we mourn his passing? If you know who he was, then you know why we should be mourning. If you do not know, then it is time that you find out and demand that your elected representatives, children, grand children, teachers and school administrators also learn about this remarkable man.

Jaime Escalante was a math teacher in the failing high school, Garfield High, in East Los Angeles in 1981. The school was close to losing its accreditation, and many of the teachers blamed it on the economy and the economic status of the surrounding community. His response was the “Kids will rise to the level of expectation that you set for them.” He went back to his class, which was Math 1-A, and told them that he was going to teach them Algebra. He told them that all they needed was “Ganas” …. DESIRE!

He made them work hard and learn. He took a group of 18 students, made them attend summer school to learn Trigonometry and Math Analysis. Then, during their senior year, he taught them Calculus in preparation for taking the Advanced Placement Exam, which would have entitled the students to college credits. Eighteen took the test in 1982, and all 18 passed.

But wait … the testing organization that monitored the exam suspected that they had cheated, causing an uproar in the school and the community against Mr. Escalante. All of the students agreed to take the exam again, probably a harder version this time, under the supervision of the two investigators of the alleged cheating.

They all passed again. More students passed the AP Calculus Exam that year than any other high school in Southern California. By 1987, there were 87 students passing the AP Calculus Exam from Garfield High School.

This story is chronicled in the movie “Stand and Deliver” which was released in 1988. If you have never seen it, you can rent it on DVD. If you have seen it, then see it again. We as a society have forgotten what education is really about.

Everyone is complaining about a lack of money for education, which is a serious problem. The real problem is lack of discipline and desire to learn. Unfortunately, we do not make education mandatory in the United States, only attendance at classes. Students earn a failing grade, but are given enough to move on to the next level in order for teachers and administrator to look good, and to keep parents of failing students from complaining about how their innocent children are being treated.

Our education system needs to start demanding performance from students, parents, teachers and administrators. It amazes me how a freshman high school class starts with 600 students, but only 400 graduates. Somehow the drop-out rate is mathematically calculated to be “less than 10%.” Whoever establishes these make believe numbers either were in the mortgage banking business before, or were products of our school system. Pressure, and perhaps some penalties, should be assessed against parents who do not maintain proper control over their students.

Teachers must be given more ability to discipline students and administrators must make parents and students accountable for their own results. Furthermore, we should not be having “standardized tests” for students, or having teachers create the exams for the courses they are teaching. The schools system (state and federal) should decide what courses will be required, what books should be used, and the publisher or writer of the books should design the exams that test what was expected to be learned.

Finally, we must recognize that some children were meant to go on to higher education, and some are not. We must be providing some vocational training to those who are not, so that they actually have a reason to go to school and can be productive in their lives. If there is hope in the future, there is power in the present.

For many people, it takes only one or two positive role models to shape their lives in a positive direction. Fortunately, I had some when I was younger, and many of the students of Jaime Escalante were fortunate to have him. Education is the ticket to freedom. Our students can become the true Champions.