FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1999
Jaime Escalante, the teacher on whom the film "Stand and Deliver" was based, will be speaking to about 150 high school students at James Madison Memorial High School on Friday, October 22, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the school's LMC.
Escalante will be speaking to the students about the importance of education. Escalante is often quoted saying "The day someone quits school he is condemning himself to a future of poverty."
Escalante started to gain fame while teaching math in East Los Angeles in the 70's. The Advanced Placement Calculus course he taught steadily increased the size of the school's calculus program. In the early 80's, a testing service suggested that some of Escalante's students had copied their answers, so the service made the students retake the test. All passed with even higher scores, giving the program an emotional and political boost and led to a succession of community awards for Escalante.
Escalante's achievements with minority youth was the basis for the Warner Bros. Film "Stand and Deliver" starring Edward James Olmos and Lou Diamond Phillips. The film won widespread critical acclaim, and sparked interest in Escalante's methods by presenting a teacher in the role of hero.
Escalante's talk before the Memorial students is one of many appearances scheduled for his brief time in Madison.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Rosemary Barrientos at Memorial High School, 829-4032.
Public Information Office
545 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-6270
email: newsrelease@madison.k12.wi.us
Last Modified: 1999-10-21
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