Formal Paper Two

                                                                                                                                                                               

Aly Jensen

English 101

Sonia Begert

Formal Paper Two

Some of the few ways that Mr. Escalante and my former high school teacher Ms. Laughlin are different is they both taught in very different environments. Mr. Escalante taught in a very poor area with lots of theft and gangs, while Ms. Laughlin taught in a more redneck type area, with more dirt biking and four wheeling.  They also taught two very opposite subjects. Mr. Escalante taught math, while Ms. Laughlin taught English. Although they had their differences, they also had many aspects in common. The biggest role Mr. Escalante and Ms. Laughlin have played in their students’ lives is giving them inspiration and with that, self-confidence.  

            Both Mr. Escalante and Ms. Laughlin are very strict with their students, they expect respect and if the students don’t show them that respect, they treat that student the same way that student treats them. If the student is respectful to the teacher, then the teacher will give that student respect back. For example, one time during class one of Mr. Escalante’s students flipped him off. Instead of taking this as an insult, Mr. Escalante took it as a challenge, “oh so you’re the finger man, well I am that finger man too.” After this statement, Mr. Escalante then proceeded to show this student how to do multiplication on his fingers. When Ms. Laughlin is being disrespected, from a student who is talking back, she will use intelligent words that the student doesn’t understand to make sure they will not be disrespectful again. Even though the majority of the class doesn’t understand exactly what she is saying either, the other students in the class will laugh because that student is getting put in his place, so to speak, and is stumbling over his words, not sure how to reply.

            Another way I have seen both teachers gain respect is having a strict late policy. Ms. Laughlin enforces the rules like Mr. Escalante does. If a student is late to Ms. Laughlin’s class she will ask them to wait outside of the classroom until she has a chance to talk to them. One time when one of Mr. Escalante’s students, Angel, was late he asked him to leave his classroom. However, unlike Ms. Laughlin, Mr. Escalante didn’t want Angel to come back into his classroom at all that day. Mr. Escalante’s students wanted to be there. They truly felt satisfaction in learning and being in his classroom. By being strict with their students, they each gained respect and through respect, they were able to push their students to become successful.

            Escalante and Laughlin are similar because they both have high standards for their students. They know what they can become, and the great things they can accomplish with their life. This is why they will push their students, so they can reach their full potential. They also know what that potential is, for each individual that comes into their classroom. Ms. Laughlin proved this with a student in my English class, his name was Mark Davidson. This boy had long hair and the worst attitude towards school. I never knew a boy who could get away with merely doing nothing almost on an everyday basis. Most of the teachers at my high school gave up long ago, trying to convince him to do work. Laughlin on the other hand, accepted the challenge; I don’t know how she did it, or the exact day that it all changed. But I do know one thing, every day that Mark wouldn’t do his work, Laughlin would come over and sit with him and talk to him about why he wasn’t doing his work. Or I guess she would just talk to him, I really don’t know, but whatever she did, she was a miracle worker. One day I looked over at Mark and he was working and not just fake working either. He was sincerely engaged in his work, truly thinking and working on his class work. Laughlin knew his potential, because she believed in him, it pushed him too his full potential. This is proof of Mr. Escalante’s words where he stated, “Students will rise to the level of expectation, Senor Molina.” Mr. Escalante proved his words to be true many times. He took a classroom of students that seemed like they didn’t want to achieve anything in their life, to students that didn’t want anything more than knowledge in school. These students started to fight for their education. When the whole class was claimed to have cheated, the whole class started to get fired up about it. They all became very upset, and because they were upset, this only pushed them more. They continued to work, to study, and they all chose to take the AP test again, to prove that they did not cheat. They studied the whole night before the test and they all passed the test. Since Mr. Escalante and Laughlin both showed their students that they truly believed in them, this helped their students believe in themselves.

            Mr. Escalante and Ms. Laughlin truly want to teach their students. They care for them and they want them to be successful. Mr. Escalante was not supposed to teach math in the beginning; he actually came to teach a computer class, but because the school was so poor they couldn’t afford computers. This showed his dedication to the school even before he was dedicated to his students. Mr. Escalante showed his dedication to his students when he taught them in the summer, where he was only given an extremely humid classroom to teach in, without air conditioning. He taught them before school and after school as well. He took time away from his family just to teach his students. He spent his time asking his students about their lives, getting to know them on a personal level. He didn’t just look at them as another head in his classroom. This showed that he had a passion for his job and that he loved what he did, being a teacher.  

            Ms. Laughlin also shows similar dedication to her students, she will take the time out of her day to read extra papers, correcting them, and to proof reading for her students. She also will ask students about their home life. If one of her students came into her class distressed and in tears, she will make time to talk to them and to mentor them. If you come to Laughlin with any problem she will take it into her hands and handle it quickly and effectively. Of course this is if you have shown her respect in her classroom, but often times she will even show this kindness to students that haven’t always treated her the best.

            Since both of these teachers have shown their students so much love and respect by truly caring about them, this has greatly reflected who they have become as people. I can say first hand that I would not be the student that I am today if Ms. Laughlin didn’t tell me on a weekly basis that she knew that I could do it. Telling me that I am intelligent, that I can accomplish the tasks she has asked of me, to trust in myself. This is much like Stand and Deliver when Mr. Escalante helped his students gain a greater hope and appreciation for their lives. He set a fire within each of his students to work for the things they desired in their life. I think that is the greatest lesson a teacher can teach their students, to have self-confidence and to give inspiration to their students.