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A.   Fast Food and Apples- One of the first ways that Escalante gets his students’ attention is to put on a fast food worker’s hat and distribute portions of apples around the room.  This strategy colorfully demonstrates the concept of fractions, but consider also the following: what statement does Escalante’s costume make about being an educator? 2) if an apple is symbolic of teaching, what new idea about teaching is Escalante putting forth?

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A.   A common complaint one hears from high school math students is, “Why do we have to learn this? We’re not going to use it in the real world!” In the classroom and elsewhere, how does Escalante fight against this complaint? Why would someone like Escalante want to leave the “real world” to teach high school students?

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C.   - During the investigation of the Garfield AP students, Escalante accuses the ETS psychometrists of racial bias.  He argues that if this incident had occurred at Beverly Hills high school, no one would be suspicious. Is the math teacher being insightful here or paranoid? What evidence does the film provide that Chicano students are disadvantaged because of their ethnicity, and NOT because of their economic situation?

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- At one point, Escalante is told that he likes to scare his students into learning.  Is this observation valid? How effective are teaching strategies such as The Chair and The Line? Occasionally, Escalante will insult or badger his students: if such an approach gets results, shouldn’t Escalante still be called a good teacher? Explain.

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The film shows us both Escalante’s classroom and his home.  As we see him conversing with his wife and eating dinner with his children, does Escalante’s struggles at Garfield High School seem more respectable, or would you say that his flaws are becoming more exposed? Defend your choice.

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Latino culture is full of Christian imagery; this film about a Latino math teacher seems aware of that fact. Some students’ clothing and accessories make Christian references.  At one point, Lou Diamond Phillips’ character, whose name is Angel, mockingly slams himself against a chalkboard as if he is being crucified.  Chiding his students’ lack of progress, Escalante looks up and begs, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do”—a reference to Jesus forgiving those who had crucified him.  Why such obvious religious references here?

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- In real life, Escalante suffered from an inflamed bladder, and bladder cancer would eventually kill him.  However, the film turns these medical conditions into a mild myocardial infarction.  If one were to theorize that the heart attack is brought on by a problem in Escalante’s life, what would that problem be: his home life, his students not progressing at the pace that he expects, the short-sighted administrators at Garfield…or something else?

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What does the film say about one of the following topics: commitment; racism; education; family responsibility…something else (?)

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You will begin class by discussing your prompt and notes from the film.

Designate someone to record the groups' responses to the film on the Padlet (under your section).

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Your group will share your thoughts and then open up for additional discussion from the class.

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Mr. Escalante is so passionate about what's going on at school that it is starting to effect his home life as his own son is starting to fall back in his math class. Another one of his flaws could include how he punishes his students. Some people could look at it as too harsh despite the lives his students live at home.

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Escalante uses fear and insulting to motivate his students.

He tries to prevent Latino gang violence/fighting.

He creates "The Chair" and "The Line" to punish his students.

When students got an answer wrong he would say that they would end up being nothing, even going as far to say that one would end up pregnant, bare foot, and working in a kitchen.

He says that if the students don't apply themselves, they will stay in the cycle of poverty.

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He felt like they struggled with their education with the Chicano students and wanted to step aside from real world to help them with college. Mr. Escalante wanted to grow the school and make better surroundings around it with helping out the Latin culture with their education and doing AP Calculus.

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Family responsibilities

high schooler taking care of her siblings and making lunch for her parents

Ana had to be in the family business and had to quit school

Racism

Test officials believe they cheated because of their Hispanic last names

Didn't believe they passed the AP test

Education

messy school system

he taught them from the beginning and even taught them AP calculus

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Christianity is a common religion among the Latino community. Maybe the obvious religious reference was to signify the lack of interest and the students potential. Like they have been labeled so they can't reach their full potential, the system is failing them when they get accused of cheating on the AP exam.

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Escelante is being insightful, He knows about the racial bias and he knows his students education is overlooked because of their race.

They were refusing to show Escelante the tests,they were also refusing to try to help or explain to Escelante why they couldn't show him.

The Men also weren't giving many reasons why the students were being accused of cheating, the only thing they were saying was all of the students got all of the same answers wrong and some even had time to spare after they finished the test.

Jay, Keris, Korbin, Kyndall

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Elsa, Tonya, Josephine, Saniya