Latino Facts: Around 79% of Latinos age 16 to 17 attend high school. The national average is around 92%.

As a former student of Mr. Escalante's I had the unique opportunity to learn from one of the most innovative, and well regarded teachers in all of attended James A. Garfield High School from 1983-1986, one year after the famous incident which was chronicled in the motion picture "Stand and Deliver."

Although the portrayal of Garfield High School as crime ridden and overrun with gangs was more melodrama than fact, the motion picture did capture some of the essence of Escalante's unique teaching style, especially his emphasis on "ganas" or the will to succeed.

Escalante always took a special interest in each students progress. His joking broke the ice with students and his real world examples changed math from an intimidating subject to an easily comprehensible one. Escalante would pick something unique about each student to encourage their initiative. In term you gonna cut your hair! It's keeping you from scoring better on the tests!"

While he was saying this he would be running his hand over my hair in a shaving motion. His teaching style was a welcome break from many mathematics instructors bland,formulaic approach.

One of the things that most people don't know about Garfield High is that there were many other excellent teachers who were also teaching advance placement courses well before Escalante. Students of History teacher Tom Woessner had already taken and passed the Advance Placement U.S. History exam years before Mr. Escalante even attempted the Calculus exam.

With the newly acquired recognition brought about by the success of the AP exams, new funds began to flow into Garfield High. The school administration under Principal Henry Gradillas expanded the AP programs to include subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, English, and European History.

However, many teachers felt that the funds were being unfairly distributed, with Escalante receiving the lions share. In the end this jealousy drove Escalante from Garfield High in 1991. He now works in Sacramento and continues to be an asset to the teaching community.