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Remembering Jaime Escalante

Jaime Escalante is seen here teaching math at Garfield High School, in California, March 16, 1988. Escalante is the teacher on which the character in the movie "Stand and Deliver" is based. (AP Photo)
Jaime Escalante is seen here teaching math at Garfield High School, in California, March 16, 1988. Escalante is the teacher on which the character in the movie "Stand and Deliver" is based. (AP Photo)
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AP Photo
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Listen 4:23
Remembering Jaime Escalante
The East LA math teacher whose story inspired the 1988 film Stand and Deliver has died. Jaime Escalante challenged Garfield High students in one of the Southland’s toughest barrios to excel at math. When 18 of his students passed the Advanced Placement Calculus exam in 1982, examiners were so surprised they accused Garfield students of cheating. As NPR’s Claudio Sanchez reports, the students retook the test, some scoring higher. Bolivian-born Escalante was 79 years old. Were you a student at Garfield High during Escalante’s tenure? How will you remember him?

The East LA math teacher whose story inspired the 1988 film Stand and Deliver has died. Jaime Escalante challenged Garfield High students in one of the Southland’s toughest barrios to excel at math. When 18 of his students passed the Advanced Placement Calculus exam in 1982, examiners were so surprised they accused Garfield students of cheating. As NPR’s Claudio Sanchez reports, the students retook the test, some scoring higher. Bolivian-born Escalante was 79 years old. Were you a student at Garfield High during Escalante’s tenure? How will you remember him?

Guest:

Edward James Olmos, actor who portrayed Jaime Escalante in the film Stand and Deliver