MovieChat Forums > Stand and Deliver (1988) Discussion > Great movie, but what has changed?

Great movie, but what has changed?

posted 18 years ago by kari_marie
21 replies | jump to latest

As a high school teacher, to me this movie is one of the most depressing I can watch.

Why do I find this movie depressing when everyone else comments on how uplifiting it is? It's a true story about a high school teacher who managed to motivate a group of struggling students to attempt one of the greatest academic challenges a high school student can undertake. It's the true story of the underdogs sticking it to the system. It's the true story of a teacher fighting the system and winning...

Or did he? Despite the success portrayed in the movie, 1987 was the high water mark for the Garfield High School AP Calculus program. In 1987, the principal who had supported Escalante with his AP program went on sabbatical and was replaced by an administrator with a different academic focus. The teachers' union complained about Escalante's class sizes and teaching assignments, and petty rivalries and jealousies abounded, eventually forcing Escalante and his partner teacher out of the school. Unable to find support for his unorthodox methods, in 2001, Escalante moved back to his native Bolivia, where he teaches calculus at a local university.

As much as I love this movie, every time I watch it, I become depressed all over again. It's been over 25 years since Escalante began the AP Calculus program at Garfield High, and one would think that the educational system would learn from him--not only from his example as a teacher, but also the factors that forced him to leave the school, but ultimately the country.

It's not just Garfield High School, and it's not just advanced mathematics. I hear the same words that the naysayer teachers and administrators spoke in the movie spoken on a daily and weekly basis on the public high school campus where I teach. I see the same objections and doubts and obstacles thrown up by the administration and teachers' union in the movie thrown up by administrations and unions today. I work every day with the same underprivileged yet eager to be educated students as Escalante had, students who just need someone to challenge them and believe in them. And I see my students battle against the same low expectations and prejudices as the students in the movie faced.

Which leaves me with the question--what has really changed in 25 years? If this is such an outstanding, motivational movie, why has it not produced a systemic change? Why are underprivileged yet bright students routinely passed over and allowed to fail? Why are creative, energetic, passionate teachers forced out of their schools and even their professions by school systems unwilling to embrace unorthodox methods, even if those methods are proved to promote student success? Escalante poured everything he had into his job. Teaching was his life, his passion--not only a vocation, but an avocation. He was willing to sacrifice his personal relationships and his own health for the sake of the students in which he believed... For what? Nothing has changed. 25+ years later, nothing has changed.

Yes, he made a difference in the lives of those students, and of students for more years than just those portrayed in the movie, but once he left, the program essentially left with him. Despite all of his passion and sacrifice, he effected no systemic change.

And it's that knowledge that, to me, makes this such a depressing film.

[–] Mannequin 18 years ago

It's not just Garfield High School, and it's not just advanced mathematics. I hear the same words that the naysayer teachers and administrators spoke in the movie spoken on a daily and weekly basis on the public high school campus where I teach. I see the same objections and doubts and obstacles thrown up by the administration and teachers' union in the movie thrown up by administrations and unions today.

Yes, but those people are always going to exist. It's your job to convince them that they're wrong. Escalante would encourage you to do that.

[–] StreetDream11420 18 years ago

No one cares about math. That's why.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] reaverdrop 17 years ago

it sounded from your post that community college is bad.

[–] rtperrett 17 years ago

No, my community college was really good, at least they didn't let me get by in math whereas my High School did. Oh well it doesn't really matter, I am going to get my Bachelors anyway despite taking 7 years.

[–] hofo50 18 years ago

I see the movie as a testament to what is our potential as human beings.
You don't have to effect a recognizable change if you effect 1 person. That 1 person effects another & the result is growth. I don't own many mowies but this one I do have. Being a teacher for most of my life leads me to think that there is always hope for any situation.

[–] henry_4213 18 years ago

It's because people these days are stupid. I'm sorry...that's probably not very mature speaking to a teacher like you...but anyway...

First we have this great guy that comes and tries to make a difference in a horrible, rundown school. And when there is actually tremendous progress being made, the other teachers are jealous? Holy crap, they're not even doing an adequete job themselves and they get jealous over someone who is? And then when the new principle arrives, he stresses sports over academics. What an idiot. A school is a learning environment, not a stadium. People today are more concerned with covering up their weaknesses instead of trying to improve upon them.

Yeah, I feel sorry for Escalante. He tried to change the reputation of an awful school, but he got stopped dead in his tracks by those that are suppose to be his fellow collegues.

But back to your question: What has changed? You're right, nothing has. And things probably won't change today, tomorrow, or even years from now. But it's movies like this that give us hope that something will change. We saw how these kids overcame obstacles when all odds were against them. That's what makes this movie (and many other movies) so good and enjoyable. It gives us a sense of hope that anything can arise from even the deepest abyss.

[–] cribera-1 18 years ago

I'm from Bolivia myself, and Escalante lives my city right now, he's the consultant of a new high school, where it seems their 'unorthodox methods' are being implemented...

But what surprise my, that, in a country like US, with so many economical resources, Escalante was cheered, and perhaps given some recognition, but his methods were plainly ignored...Even Arnold announced him as an educational advisor during his campaign, but now he's in Bolivia instead of being in California, implenenting such reaforms promised...did I miss something? Did Arnold forgot abotu Escalante?

I also got surprised that he was a very humble individual, and doesn't seem to have great personal wealth...it seems education doesn't pay that much, even in the US, ¿is that true?

Other thing that amaze me....why most of the teachers were against him? why it be so bad to use his methods for them? I'm not a teacher, that's why I don't understand why such methods are percevied as a threat, or was it quite more difficult to teach that way? perhaps it's too expensive? too time-consuming? I really don't get it clear.

If it's too time consuming, wouldn't it be more ROI if they invest paying the teacher's extra hours?

FWIW, my country also seems to ignore him, local politicians always promise a breaktrough in education, but with such brilliant and dedicated educator at hand, he has been ignored here too! amazing, isn't it?

[–] toulous_lautrec 18 years ago

***But what surprise my, that, in a country like US, with so many economical resources, Escalante was cheered, and perhaps given some recognition, but his methods were plainly ignored...Even Arnold announced him as an educational advisor during his campaign, but now he's in Bolivia instead of being in California, implenenting such reaforms promised...did I miss something? Did Arnold forgot abotu Escalante?***

Good question...I believe the US should be diverting economic resources into getting excellent teachers into places where they are needed.

I do also believe in the importance of team work. I think it's sad that the administrators, and the community/politics does not put in heartfelt support. I think, tragically, there are many administrators/school officials who put their own agenda ahead of the school. Not a good example to students, in the US or in Bolivia. :(. People need to put their minds, and hearts, in sync. Teachers are always working off the clock, by the way. It's generally salaried work, and a lot of teachers do put in extra time to help their students.

On another note, about a lifetime ago, my first report ever, was a report of Bolivia. I was in first grade, and wondered why my country (everyone reported on American countries as it was around the time of the Pan-American games, in Indianapolis) had two capitol cities :). I made a little topographic model of the Andes, out of playdough. I think this was about the time the movie was made.

... Puh-tu-wheet? ~ Slaughterhouse 5 ...

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] OneBadGuy 17 years ago

I don't know if you've read this before, but I found this really good article about Escalante's program and it's eventual decline as well as the reasons for that decline, one of which may be the film itself. In case you didn't know, Escalante's victory wasn't the magical, one year success as portrayed in the film, something I never bought even as a kid. Either way, here it is. Enjoy.

http://www.reason.com/news/show/28479.html

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] shhaggy 15 years ago

If your objective as a teacher is to change 'the system', you've picked the wrong career choice. Your objective as a teacher has to always be about one thing and one thing only, the students you teach. The system is not your client, the system is your obstacle. The students are your clients, and when you navigate the obstacles to help your students succeed, of course it's an unlifting story. You can't worry about all of the students in all of the schools. You have to worry about your own students and how you can best teach them.

[–] Startanew 15 years ago

That doesn't mean it's not a good thing he did, even if it only lasted a few years. Would it have been better for him not to try?

http://notnegativenews.com
For Those Who Hate The Negative Media.

[–] happy_apostate 15 years ago

The real problem is compulsory education. It forces the dead weight in with those few who do want to succeed and teachers have to divert their attention away from teaching to simple behavior control. Escalante had to teach over Christmas Break and the summer just to make these kids "normal" as compared to a white high school.

The other problem is the fantasy that teachers in those situations can truly make a difference. Its the inferior culture that dominates these communities that make it impossible for a knight in shining armor. Further, this movie inculcates the idea that its up to the school to provide a knight in shining armor for their loser children.

Some people are just born to dig ditches. Who are we to deny these low people their destiny just because we have a fantasy about their potential?

---
A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence. - David Hume

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] nutsberryfarm 14 years ago

some days are better than others. you gotta take the grapes with the wine.

I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Milkdoesabodygood 9 years ago

Union thugs and govt slugs need to go!

Spoiler alert for them spoil sports out there! Y'all like spoiled milk, stop crying over it!