Jaime Escalante facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jaime Escalante
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Jaime Escalante
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| Born | December 31, 1930 |
| Died | March 30, 2010 (aged 79) Roseville, California, U.S.
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| Spouse(s) | Fabiola Tapia |
| Children | 2 |
Jaime Alfonso Escalante Gutiérrez (December 31, 1930 – March 30, 2010) was a teacher from Bolivia who became famous in the United States. He taught calculus to students at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles from 1974 to 1991.
Escalante's amazing story was made into a movie in 1988 called Stand and Deliver. In the film, actor Edward James Olmos played Jaime Escalante.
In 1993, an asteroid was even named after him: 5095 Escalante.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Jaime Escalante was born in 1930 in La Paz, Bolivia. Both of his parents were teachers, and he was proud of his Aymara background.
Before moving to the United States, Escalante taught math and physics for 12 years in Bolivia. When he came to the U.S., he worked different jobs to support himself. He also taught himself English and earned another college degree so he could return to teaching.
In 1974, he started teaching at Garfield High School. The school was facing challenges, and some students were not doing well. Escalante believed that all students could learn, no matter their background. He wanted to teach advanced math, like algebra and AP Calculus, even though many thought the students weren't ready.
Teaching with Passion
Escalante often faced challenges from the school administration in his early years. He worked very long hours and even raised money himself to pay for his students' Advanced Placement tests. He believed that if students learned math, they could get good jobs in engineering or computers. He told them, "I'll teach you math and that's your language. With that, you're going to make it."
Things changed when a new principal, Henry Gradillas, arrived. He supported Escalante and helped improve the school's math program. Gradillas made sure students took more challenging math classes. He also encouraged students to do well by linking good grades to school activities.
Escalante taught his first calculus class in 1978. Only five students took the class, and two of them passed the AP calculus test. The next year, more students joined, and seven out of nine passed. By 1981, 14 out of 15 students passed the test! Escalante pushed his students to work hard and believe in themselves.
National Recognition
In 1982, Jaime Escalante and his students gained national attention. Eighteen of his students passed the Advanced Placement Calculus exam. However, the testing service found it unusual because many students made the same mistake. They asked 14 students to retake the test. Twelve students agreed, and they all passed again! This showed that they truly understood the material.
The number of students taking and passing the calculus test kept growing. By 1987, 83 students passed one version of the exam, and 12 passed another. This was the peak for the calculus program at Garfield.
In 1988, a book and the movie Stand and Deliver were released, telling the story of Escalante's success. Teachers and leaders from all over the country came to see his classes. Escalante shared his secret: "hard work for teacher and student alike." He even met President Ronald Reagan and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Escalante said the movie was "90% truth, 10% drama." He pointed out a few things the movie changed:
- It took him several years to achieve the success shown in the film, not just one year.
- Students who struggled with basic math did not learn calculus in a single year.
- He had a gallbladder problem, not a heart attack.
Leaving Garfield High
In his last years at Garfield, Escalante faced some challenges. His math program had grown very large, with over 400 students. Some classes had more than 50 students, which was more than the teachers' union allowed.
In 1991, Escalante and another teacher, Ben Jiménez, left Garfield High School. Escalante then taught at Hiram W. Johnson High School in Sacramento, California. After he left, the number of students passing AP calculus at Garfield dropped significantly.
Later Life and Legacy
In the mid-1990s, Escalante supported efforts for English-only education in California schools. In 2001, after many years of teaching, he returned to his home country of Bolivia. He taught at a university there and often visited his children in the U.S.
In early 2010, Escalante faced financial difficulties due to cancer treatment. People involved with the movie Stand and Deliver, including Edward James Olmos, and some of his former students, helped raise money for his medical bills.
Jaime Escalante died on March 30, 2010, at the age of 79, from bladder cancer.
A memorial service was held at Garfield High School to honor him. Students observed a moment of silence. Escalante is buried in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. In 2016, the United States Postal Service even issued a special stamp with his picture to celebrate his work.
Awards and Honors
Jaime Escalante received many awards for his dedication to education:
- 1988 – Presidential Medal for Excellence in Education, from President Ronald Reagan
- 1988 – Hispanic Heritage Award
- 1990 – Won a Peabody Award for his video series Futures
- 1999 – Inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame
- 2016 – The United States Postal Service issued a stamp in his honor.
See also
In Spanish: Jaime Escalante para niños
- John Saxon (educator) - another teacher known for helping students learn math.
- List of teachers portrayed in films
