Stand & Deliver

Stand and Deliver - Blog Post

The Film “Stand & Deliver” is a film that not only Mexican-Americans can relate to, but anyone who is in desire to accomplish a goal. This film is about Jaime Escalante, a math teacher who is in desire to make his students pass the "AP Calculus Exam" for them to earn college credits. Therefore, he suggests to teach Calculus in a high school where most of the students are below average in formal education. Escalante had a drastically plan, he would help his students be well prepared by teaching in the summer, six days a week, 1-hour extra everyday after school. Jaime Escalante knew how to engage his students into his personal way of teaching, and stands by the thought that by having “Ganas”, desire, they will accomplish the ultimate goal. After all the hard work and the well preparation of Escalante his students ended passing the "AP Calculus Exam". However, Officials from the "A.P Calculus Exam" assumed that the students cheated because they all had the same wrong answers. Jaime Escalante argues to the officials that they have this conspiracy based off their identity and ethnicity and not on their educational potential. All the students end up retaking the test, having only one day to study and while being inspected by the officials. All the students ended up re-passing the exam.

I personally believe that the main message of this movie is not to show the discrimination or racism against Chicanos, but to show everyone that by having the desire while being dedicated and committed you have a very large chance of accomplishing anything that you set yourself to do.