What makes a person successful? There are numerous factors that leads to succession, including formal education. Teachers play a very big role in students' lives. Depending on their relationship in the classroom, it could positively or negatively impact the students' path to succession.There are a number roles that a teacher can be, however the role of a mentor is the most important. Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson were great examples of teachers that played this crucial role in their student's lives.
II. Body
Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson both shared the determination needed to become good examples of mentors. Mr. Escalante was a good example for a mentor because of his determination. In the movie, Stand and Deliver, he showed his determination on many occasions. The faculty and parent's expectations of Mr. Escalante's students were low. They assumed that they knew the limitations. Mr. Escalante believed in his students and, for this reason, he was determined to prove to everyone that his students are capable of achieving success. To help prepare his students for the calculus exam, Mr. Escalante held late and early classes, as well as summer classes. The faculty was against the summer program because most of the classrooms are occupied by remedial classes. During the summer, Mr. Escalante held his summer classes in a room similar to a locker room. There was no air-conditioning and space was limited. He even held classes during breaks. To show the degree of his determination, during the movie, his determination lead him to negatively impact his health and family. His wife claimed that he was not home enough to teach his own son math. Combining the late night classes he taught for free for the community and lessons at school in the morning resulted in a heart attack.
Ms. Watson's determination was also made her a positive example as a mentor. During her first day of class, she was completely shut down by her students. Ms. Watson's formal education was looked down upon because she previously went to a state university. Her students memorized the syllabus and quoted the textbook word-for-word, when Ms. Watson attempted to explain the different slides. However, she did not let this phase her. Instead, she became determined to gain control back in her classroom and teach art history. The next day, she created a whole new syllabus and stunned her entire class. During this process, she gained authority back in her classroom and showed that wealth, social rank and marriage obligations had no positive effects on their grades and received no special treatment.
Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watsonn shared a second characteristic that made them both positive examples for fulfilling the role of mentor. This shared characteristic is their ability to teach beyond a classroom setting and into real-life situations. Mr. Escalante not only taught calculus, but he taught real-life lessons as well. In the beginning of Stand and Deliver, the faculty and parents did not have high expectations from the students. Mr. Escalante belived in his students and pushed them beyond anyone's expected limitations. The real life lesson he taught was determination. He taught his students to believe in themselves and strive for success, despite what anyone else thinks. Not only did he teach his students to strive for success, but he also taught them how to push themselves beyond their own limitations. One has to push one's self to better themselves. Lastly, he taught his students to be independent. There was one scene one of the girls were asking their mother to sign the permission form for the calculus class. The mother quoted, "Men don't like women who are smart." And the daughter replies, "I don't want to depend on a man for the rest of my life."
Ms. Watson was an independent woman who wanted to make a difference. She wanted to show her students that there is more to life than marriage, kids and a family. Wellesley was supposed to prepare the women to become housewives o accommodate their husband and future children. She advises Joan to go to Yale while having a family and husband. Wellesley is a very pretigious school surrounded by traditions and strict rules. In the college and community, there is a right way to do everything. A right way to teach, a right way to think, a right way of art, etc. Ms. Watson taught the women to think for themselves, beyond the strict rules and traditions. Towards the end, Ms. Watson was invited to teach another year at Wellesley under strict conditions. However, she declined the offer and decided to go elsewhere. With this action, she showed her students that she was an independent woman who refused to conform to Wellesley's rules.
III. Conclusion
Teachers play a very crucial role in their students' lives. They assist in playing the important part of guiding their students to success. There are a number of roles available for teachers to choose, however mentor is the most important role. Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson are great examples of teachers that played this important role. Both teachers were placed in very difficult positions with opposite environments. Although they were in different environments and surroundings, both teachers had the characteristics of a mentor that won the respect of their students. Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson both possessed the determination to make a difference in their students' lives. In addition to teaching the subject they were assigned to teach, they taught more than that. They taught their students important real-life lessons such as being independent and self-confident. In the beginning, both teachers were shut down by their students however, as mentors, they successfully fulfilled their role and made a positive impact on their students' lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment