MacFarland vs. Escalante

I read through Mike Rose's story, part 2 and found some similarities between him, and Mr Escalante for Stand and Deliver. When Rose felt like he was struggling to the point of giving in to frustration, it reminded me of the students that Escalante came to teach. They had struggled with lack of proper instruction, lack of self worth and lack of basic skills. So much so that by the time Mr Escalante came, they had little to no value of Math. Rose then says "Jack MacFarland couldn't have came into my life at a better time". And I feel this is true for the students in Mr Escalantes class as well. Both teachers entered a disruptive classroom of students in the last part of their high school years.The time when the students would make or break their future.

Both sets of students had outside influences holding them back like family health, sports expectations, and the need for income and leaving school to work.

  He says that MacFarland came their to "teach his heart out". I think the same applies to Escalante who could have left the school when he had the chance. Instead he chose to remain at the school and teach for the students who clearly needed it. Both teachers "brought a prep school curriculum" to the new schools they taught at. Mr Escalante came in and successfully taught his students Calculus, a class recognized by the Advanced Placement program, and rewarded with college credits. MacFarland brought in texts to study and recite with his class that they had not been exposed to, or even able to access before.

 They seem to have a similarity as well where in class they paced the room. They both made harder materials more understood by using their own words to explain them to the students. Both teachers showed a way of controlling the students in the class and still upholding encouragement and respect, as well as discipline. Escalate often told one rebellious student to leave instead of allowing him to interrupt the others, while MacFarland "made the troublemaker look foolish, rather than daring".

 MacFarland encouraged specifically Rose to work harder, as did Escalante with many of his students. In the end, you see a bond between student and teacher, just like in the movie Stand and Deliver. Both teachers drove the children to challenge themselves and explore possible ideas for their futures. As well as encourage them to try harder, and be capable of tasks they never thought they could before.