Stand and Deliver; Part I

Stand and Deliver tells the story of a number of students coming from stereotypical Hispanic homes into a failing high school, when suddenly a wild card is thrown into the equation; Mr. Escalante. He walks into a classroom teeming with out of control students; and upon a quick first glance, it is blatantly apparent that they are either poor, illiterate, disrespectful, seemingly unwilling to learn or a combination of the four. His first day could be described as a disaster; however in truth it was a quiet success, for it gave him a heads up as to what he was up against. On the second day, he strolls into class donning a butchers apron and hat, wielding a cleaver and a thick German accent. Condescending whispers ring throughout the room as Escalante silently raises his cleaver. Suddenly, BAM! The chatter stops, and all attention is given to the apple which has just been divided by Escalante's weapon. He begins to ask the students how much of an apple they have left. Finally, a girl in the back from whispers "25 percent less." A smile creeps across Escalante's face. This was the beginning of a two year process that would change not only the student's lives, but his own.

Escalante’s humor was infectious; it lightened the mood and acted as an avenue for him to relate with the students. His passion for teaching and the interest he showed to each and every student – whether they appreciated it or not – eventually earned him their respect.

The school seemed doomed; teachers began to quit in fear of being dragged down along with the failing school. Yet Escalante retained hope and zeal, and so did his students. In just two short years, Escalante managed to turn a classroom filled with illiterate, slacking students into a group of young scholars. What will happen next…?