The question if geniuses are born or made is a long standing argument between two sides but it is no question that one must acquire sufficient expertise in an achievement to be considered a genius, and to do that, they must have the opportunity to do so. Thus, Intelligence depends on environmental factors as perfectly depicted in the movie, “Stand and Deliver”.
Stand and Deliver features Jaime Escalante, who chooses to leave his high-paying job to take a teaching position at a high school where he agrees to teach basic mathematics. His students are all Hispanic, and he soon learns that the school is poor and receives none of the benefits or funding of richer private schools. This contributes to just generally bad teachers that don't
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It's important to note that these students have low academic skills not because of genetics, but because of their upbringings and social expectations due to their race and economic status. Escalante realizes the toxic environment and starts setting forth a better example for students to follow, an example that wasn't present in their surroundings before. By setting a better learning situation, he is able to not only teach them basic math, but pushes them to learn more advanced mathematics and even inspire the most troublesome of students. Escalante eventually gets the bright idea to prepare the kids for the national Advance Placement Calculus test, one of the most challenging of all preparatory test that can earn early college credits. He is met with backlash from the teachers who say, "You can't teach logarithms to illiterates." Jaime believes otherwise, and the students proceed to prove them wrong by finding the courage to separate themselves from societies expectations for failure and to rise above through hard work and dedication. Their rigorous study sessions and desire to learn pay off by receiving astounding scores on the AP test and reaching their goals. However, their toxic environment bites them again when the
In chapter 19 the author mentions Anne Fox Elementary School, a school in Chicago that goes from having a very poor academic performance in the entire school district of 21 other schools to becoming the second highest academically performing school in just a matter of few years. Anne Fox Elementary School is a great example of the magic that can take place when adults really see the full potential in children and take responsibility in making sure that the children's needs are met in terms of academics. Anne Fox Elementary School shows what can really take place when adults truly believe the idea that every child can succeed. By looking at where they were going wrong and targeting those problem areas Anne Fox Elementary School, created a timely, and organized way to make sure the meet their goals. From changing the false belief of I can’t to I can the elementary school really turned
Based on the low test scores principal Clark embarks on a motivational campaign for the students, as he tries to not only motivate the students to learn, but essentially becomes a father figure to many of the students and a great example of behavioral conduct. Tensions in the school still rose as one of the expelled students, came into the school and caused a fight with the students. Enraged, Clark threw him out and barred the doors with chains to keep the
Society’s view on intelligence is becoming watered down from the truth. In Rose’s article, “Blue Collar Brilliance” Rose discusses societies outlook on intelligence. Rose explains how society thinks blue collared jobs don’t involve any intelligence, and anyone can do a blue collared job. He explains how society thinks that since you don’t have to have a high education to perform well in blue collared jobs, it takes little to no intelligence. Rose says, “We reinforce this notion by defining intelligence solely on grades in school and numbers on IQ test” (Rose 279). Rose explains that even though most blue collared jobs don’t require a college degree, they still demand many forms of intelligence. Rose also explains how his brother dropped out of school in the ninth grade but eventually became a successful employee of the company General Motors. In Graff’s article, “Hidden Intellectualism” he explains how there are many students in today’s world who have an outstanding amount of “street smarts” but are failing school. He explains
Additionally, Albert Einstein once said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” There are different forms of intelligence that go beyond what our school system measures. Students are not a unit to be measured, and students cannot be assigned a numerical value to identify their intelligence. Students are diverse—they learn at different speeds, and they learn in different ways. Focusing solely on test scores is hurting our students and deviating away from building our society on success and excellence. Critics are slowly realizing the problems associated with standardized tests—they create anxiety, they are extremely biased, and they do not measure the ability to think deeply.
Rose first explains how the educational system classifies a child’s class. He then proceeds to elaborate on how the vocational class works for those who do not do as well in school. He uses pathos so the reader feels emotional for the less fortunate student in the vocational class. Rose conveys his beliefs by using personal examples. He learns true qualities of people and shares the stories of Dave Snyder, Ted Richard, and Ken Harvey. Sharing the personal indications of what puts the students in the vocational class, gives the reader the notion that they have strengths that do not apply doing well in school. Rose ties the examples together in the end to confirm his opinion that one should never settle being defined as average.
In the article, the author highlights differing views on the nature of intelligence. He states that in Asian cultures intelligence is something that they must acquire or work to achieve; whereas, western cultures view it as something one is born with. Neither of these views is necessarily incorrect however, I believe the best outlook lies somewhere in between. People are born with natural gifts and skills. Therefore, certain subjects come very easily to them. Nevertheless, it is possible for one to increase his skill by applying himself.
Rodriguez does not discuss how his obsession with education influenced him internally. There is no further explanation of the emotions of a scholarship student. Rodriguez is successful in uncovering the mind of an overachieving student. However, many overachieving students encounter an overwhelming amount of stress while attempting to reach perfection. The student’s need for perfection begins consuming every thought and ends in constant self-evaluation. The obsession with learning causes the student to question everything that they do.
Journalist Alexandra Robbins ventures back to her old high school to examine the competitive efforts students are having to take to compete on the battlefield that is the education system in her book, The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids. Robbins explores the lives of multiple students who are stressed and pressured to maintain good grades and get into an Ivy League college. This text allows for intriguing insight on how the educational system has “spiraled out of control” and displays the different measures students must now take to be the best. Robbins’ The Overachievers is an eye-opening bestseller which exposes the social pressures and anxieties students must overcome in their high school lives as they attempt to impress and prove to colleges they are worthy of acceptance.
One’s intelligence cannot simply be measured based on his or her educational background. Intellect is spawned from within based on an individual’s experience and desire for additional knowledge. In the article, "Blue-Collar Brilliance", Mike rose contends the egocentric notion regarding what makes an individual intelligent; western civilization has drug on their fascistic opinions since earlier times. Everything including one 's intellectual capabilities has been measured by a hierarchy designed by the white man in order to oppress non-white civilization. Our intellectual capacity is bigger than a formal education; Intelligence that is acquired outside of the classroom is commensurate to those who have solemn educations.
Since a public school district’s success is determined by state and national assessment, officials in school systems across the country have sought to make changes to effectively address the academic deficits of students. A push in education over the past couple decades has been the race to Calculus and the belief that this path is necessary for a student to succeed in advanced math courses in college. Although there has been a dramatic increase in the number of students in high school Calculus, enrollment in Calculus 2 at college has remained relatively unchanged for the last two decades (Bressoud, 2004; 2009). Many students who have taken Calculus in high school are arriving unprepared for Calculus in college (Bressoud, 2007).
As hard as SATs are a specific school was having a very difficult time, they were look and view dumb and worthless, something that they accepted, until one day their new principal, Mr.Clark decided to change that. Mr.Clark used ethos, logos, and pathos to help encourage the kids on passing their SATs.
Through out the movie you see difficulties that the students are trying to finally fit to be part of the system but they still may not be accepted because of their classes. With low achieving school, have a suspicious amount of high test scores the reliability and dependability are questioned. Conflict theory is used that the struggle in society and schools between the haves and have nots. For example, not funding for computer, not having computers, no air conditioning for summer and less opportunities for students in general. The school is portrayed as a place where students do not want to be or care about being in school. The staff don’t care about the students especially they gave up on them. There is a quote that I got from the movie, that Mr. Escalante was asking the math department for calculus
As future alumni, of Emmerich Manual High School, going on the fourth year here, I have an abundance, and variety of memories. Undoubtedly, the incomparable memory I have, was the day I realized I had found the diamond in the rocks. In the course of my sophomore year, one of my teachers motivated me by saying; “You’re selling yourself short, and turning in hogwash to get by.” The following day these words were regurgitated over and over in my head. While enduring this repetitive selection of words, I registered everyone I was surrounded by were also being navigated by almost the same words. Subsequently we all joined in on a healthy academic competition. We hustled each other, and continue to do so; my friends became my ‘saving grace’ this day. Regardless of this experience, Manual was not always a great place to go to school. Essentially Manual could have been considered a zoo by anyone who read, Matthew Tully’s 2012 book, Searching for Hope. Tully’s book details a school that contained students with academic apathy, violent action, and crippling attendance. These students demolished many opportunities that Manual yearned to present to the students. While Manual today resembles Tully’s Manual in the way some students maintain the prior students’ characteristics,
Recently, Melinda’s grades have plunged down and at the guidance office, she is told, “Melinda. Last year you were a straight -B student, no behavioral problem, few absences. But the reports I 've been getting …. well, what can we say?” (Anderson 114).
After learning the scores of the students’ practice test scores, Mr. Clark needed to talk to all every single one of the teachers. Mr. Clark used ethos to let the teachers that they were not doing enough to help the kids get better scores on the test and they need to give them help if they are going to improve. Right before the students take the final exam, Mr. Clark told all of his students that they could pass the exam even though all of those people doubted them. With Mr.