Communique items for Apr. 17

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Bond Brown Jr.
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MR. JAIME ESCALANTE TO SPEAK AT CINCO DE MAYO ANNUAL FESTIVITIES

"The day someone quits school he is condemning himself to a future of poverty"

Jaime Escalante, renowned educator, wrote "Determination + Discipline + Hard Work = Way to Success".  The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and El Cinco de Mayo Incorporated proudly present this year’s speaker, Mr. Jaime Escalante, in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.
Jaime Escalante was born in La Paz, Bolivia. While living in Bolivia he taught physics and mathematics for 10 years. In 1963 he decided to carry out his wife’s recommendation and move to the United States. Upon immigrating to California, Jaime could not speak English and his Bolivian teaching credentials were declared invalid.  After taking English courses and eventually obtaining his teaching credentials, in 1974, Mr. Escalante began teaching at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. 

The school administration opposed Escalante frequently during his first few years. He was even threatened with dismissal by an assistant principal because he was coming in too early, leaving too late, and failing to get administrative permission to raise funds to pay for his student’s Advanced Placement exams. This opposition changed with the arrival of a new principal, Henry Gradillas. Gradillas overhauled the academic curriculum at Garfield, reducing the number of basic math classes and requiring that those taking math had to concurrently take algebra. He denied extracurricular activities to students who failed to maintain a C average and to new students who failed basic skill tests

In 1982, he came into the national spotlight when all 18 of his students passed the Advanced Placement calculus exam. The Educational Testing Service found these scores to be suspect and gave 14 of the 18 students an option to retake the exam. It was not possible for two of them. However, the rest of the 12 students agreed to retake the exam and scored as well or better and had their original scores reinstated.

In 1983, the number of students enrolling and passing the A.P. calculus exam increased over 100 percent. That year, 33 students took the exam and 30 passed. That year Escalante also started teaching calculus at East Los Angeles College.

1988 saw the release of a book, Escalante: The Best Teacher in America, by Jay Mathews (ISBN 0805011951) and a movie, Stand and Deliver, which illustrates Escalante’s 1982 students’ success despite all of his forgoing struggles. During this time teachers and other interested observers asked to sit in on his classes. Jaime also received visits from political leaders and celebrities, including then President George Bush and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Escalante has described the film as 90% truth, 10% drama. A couple of points he says were left out of the film:

            ·  It took him several years to achieve the kind of success shown in the film.
·  In no case was a student who didn’t know multiplication tables or fractions
    taught calculus in a single year.

By 1990, Mr. Escalante’s math enrichment program had grown to 400+ students. Jaime’s class sizes had increased to over 50 students in some cases. This was far beyond the 35-student limit set by the teacher’s union and in turn increased criticism of Escalante’s work.

In 1991, the number of Garfield students taking Advanced Placement examinations in math and other subjects jumped to 570. That same year, citing faculty politics and petty jealousies Escalante left Garfield. Upon his departure, Escalante found immediate employment with the Sacramento City Unified School District.

After many years of preparing teenagers for the A.P. calculus exams, Escalante retired to his native Bolivia.  He is living in his wife’s hometown, and although retired from the public school system, Escalante teaches part-time at a local university.  He often returns to the United States, as he is also a consultant/speaker for various types of events and stays with his children and grandchildren while not on assignment.

Mr. Escalante will speak at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs on Thursday, May 4, 2006, at 6:00 pm in the University Center gymnasium.  There is no admission fee but you must pick up a ticket for admission to the event.  Pick up a ticket at the University Center Information Desk, located on the first floor of the University Center.  Limited Tickets.  Call 262-3450 for information.
Mr. Escalante will also be the keynote speaker at the 23rd annual El Cinco de Mayo Inc. Recognition Banquet which will be held at the Antlers Hilton on Friday, May 5, 2006.  For Sponsorship and/or ticket information please call Chris Martinez at 520-2416 or Carmen Abeyta at 262-3447.