Stand and Deliver

 

         

Stand and Deliver Notes
 

Based on a true story 1982

A new teacher arrives at an inner city school prepared to teach Computer Science classes but learns that the school doesn’t have computers. So Jaime Escalante, (Edward James Olmos) is asked to teach Math 1A. At first his class is very disruptive. The radio in his car is even stolen on the first day. The second day to catch the class’s attention, he shows up in a fry cooks uniform then divides an apple into quarters and asks the class what % of the apple they have. He is bullied by a group of Hispanics in class, one in particular is Finger Man, and he quickly puts him in place.

He decides that basic Math is just too easy for these students so he wants to teach them algebra.  “A negative times a negative equals a positive.” He feels that “The students will rise to the level of expectations given them.”
One student, (Lou Diamond Phillips) who started out being a disruption in class soon asks for 2 books so that his “homies” won’t see him carrying them to and from school Jaime gives him three.
The class is given 10 min quizzes and one student decides not to take them, she is made an example of the class and soon changes her mind.
Then Jaime’s class wants to know how math problems can relate to the real world so he takes them to an office where they are using calculus, he then decide he wants to teach his students calculus, he feels that with some summer school his students can do it. He has to persuade the school to allow him because some of the faculty isn’t convinced his class is capable of learning calculus. They feel that he is setting their students up for failure, but he has more faith in the students than that.
He has each student’s parents sign a contract for the schedule so that he can begin teaching his class from 8-5 and on Saturdays. He wants to prepare them for the Advance Placement exams.
Jaime is working 60 hours for week at the school and volunteers teaching adults at night. During one night class he bends over in pain falling face down on the stairs. He suffered a mild heart attack and his class is given a substitute teacher. This happens 2 weeks before the AP (Advance Placement) calculus exam; their sub is actually a music teacher.
Jaime walks into the classroom and is ready to teach after being out for only 2 days.
It is time for the exam.
Less than 2% of high school students even attempt the test. 18 took the test and 18 passed!
The board soon decides that the class must have cheated because the same questions were answered incorrectly. The class is being investigated.
After all of this Jaime’s car is stolen so he walks home.
A newer car is brought to his home by his students, a Volkswagen bug.
Jaime then goes to the board and asks to see the tests; he finds that his students finished the test in less time and with fewer than 4 questions wrong and that they were basically all the same wrong answers. He believes that this is because they all had the same teacher and that they are being questioned because it is an inner city school and that this is discrimination. 
The students decide to retake the exam but are given only one day to study. Jaime studies with them day and night.
It is time to retake the exam.
The board believes there may have been a misunderstanding when grading the tests, because all students passed the exam and Jaime requested that all original scores be reinstated.

I feel that Jaime was a great teacher in that he never gave up on his students; in fact he pushed them beyond what was comfortable for them and more towards what they were capable of. In some instances he pushed them a little too far, but not any further than he pushed himself. This caused conflicts with families and outside activities it even caused health issues. But he gave these students a chance that they may have not had otherwise. I believe it n takes one person to truly believe in you.