THESIS

Mr. Escalante was a potential-seeker becasue he used humor to motivate the students instead of anger, he pushed the students so they could reach their goals, and he also took time out of his personal life in order to make sure the students reach their full potential.

                Mr. Escalante was a great teacher for many reasons, but one of the reasons that stuck out to many people who watched it was that he took the time out of his day in order to make sure that the students reached their full potential. In one scene, in the classroom, Mr. Escalante made his students sign a contract saying that they have to come in for summer school 6 days a week as well as in the Fall they have tutoring right after school for two hours, plus Saturdays.  All the students looked at Mr. Escalante in disbelief, as they read it. They couldn’t believe he was putting them though this, and most said “It’s my senior year, we should be slacking.” He looked at them, and explained that if you want results you have to work and put in the time for them. The students had to sign it as well as have their parent’s sign it so they all acknowledge what kind of work the students will be in for that following year. Most had a extremely hard time having their parents sign it, because the parents weren’t exactly supportive to putting in all that time and effort, and to not get paid for it. Mr. Escalante knew that this would be a difficult task to get the contract signed; however he knew if he could do it then he could proceed closer to the Advanced Placement Test. This obviously takes a lot of time from his personal life. Because of his students, he was not as close as he could have been to his family, and he frequently got in a small qualm with his wife about this issue. Although he lost touch with his family for about a year, he regained in after the year was over and all the students passed.