Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson are educators who share the same understanding of the importance of seeing their students accomplish. They both want to be assured that their teaching is effective; inserting the idea that the student have learned a viable lesson. Mr. Escalante teaches a math class that consists of a mostly troublesome teenagers. He is challenged to take on a role that will eventually turn the classes attention toward reaching a higher level of education. The role that best describes Mr. Escalante is as a mentor. Similar to Mr. Escalante, Ms. Watson plays the role of a mentor, who teaches art history at a college that has a heavy influence on the students. Ms. Watson decides to make a difference at Wellesley, broadening her students minds and influencing them to look at life a bit differently than the school encourages. Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson share similar characteristics of a mentor, however, they have different methods of teaching when being a mentor to their class.
A common characteristic of a mentor is motivation, a good example of this characteristic is seen in both Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson. For example, Ms. Watson wants the best for her students, however she sees the opportunity to change the belief most girls have about their future. A majority of the women at Wellesley College believe they will at some point discontinue their education and become a housewife. Ms. Watson is motivated to help these women realize that their is more to life than putting your education aside and becoming married. In the film, "Mona Lisa Smile," Ms. Watson encourages Joan, a student who dreams of becoming a lawyer, to apply to Yale Law School. Ms. Watson practically fills the application out for Joan and later hears back that she has been accepted. Joan, however, makes the decision to get married to her fiance. Despite Ms. Watson's failed attempt of convincing Joan to follow her dreams she stays set on making some sort of difference in her students life's. Her motivation eventually pays off; changing Betty Warren's perspective on life, someone who had a strong belief in becoming a mother and wife. Similar to Ms. Watson, Mr. Escalante is dedicated and motivated to win over the attention of his rebellious class and transform them into well educated students. He knows he is going to have to work hard for his below average students, despite the skepticism from the faculty. His eagerness to successfully teach his class calculus is seen throughout the film, "Stand and Deliver," where he works around the clock. Mr. Escalante requires the students to attend a summer course in order to be ready for calculus during the students senior year. With all of his dedication the class passes their AP Calculus exam, however, the class is accused of cheating on the test and is instructed to retake the test to prove themselves. Despite the accusations, Mr. Escalante is motivated to prepare his class for a more difficult version of the test, in which they pass.
As a mentor to troublesome teens Mr. Escalante is obligated to use disciplinary action to gain respect from his class. The first few weeks of class the students try to walk all over Mr. Esclalante. They come to realize though that Mr. Escalante is different than most teachers at Garfield High School. He uses a teaching technique that keeps the class from dismissing his authority. For example in the film "Stand and Deliver" Mr Escalante notices a student trying to be humorous during a session; he decides to embarrass the student by seating her in front of the class so everyone can enjoy "the show". By enforcing discipline he teaches the students the importance of being disciplined. We see this in the film when the class starts to put in extra hours at school, working hard to prepare for the AP calculus exam. This sort of action is a good example of why, as a mentor, Mr. Escalante has the characteristic of a disciplinarian. Opposed to Mr. Escalante, Ms. Watson doesn't advocate discipline in her class as much as Mr. Escalante does. She is introduced to a already very organized and disciplined class of students. Unlike Mr. Escalante, Ms. Watson would rather see her class branch off from their predictable behavior and try to be more original with their future, instead of doing what most women in up doing at Wellesley College and becoming a housewife. A good example of this teaching technique is when Ms. Watson influences one of her most conservative students, Betty, to take a new direction after graduation. Instead of marrying and raising a family Betty considers applying to Yale Law School and going to Greenwich village with Giselle. To quote Betty Warren from the film "Mona Lisa Smile", she describes Ms. Watson as "an extraordinary women who lived by example and compelled us all to see the world through new eyes." Mr. Escalante enforced discipline in his class in hopes of putting structure in his class, however, Ms. Watson influenced her class to branch off from their mapped out life's and chase something new.
Both Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson, as mentors, share the characteristic of being optimistic. When Mr. Escalante arrives for his first day of class he would have good reason to believe that the students in his class were not going to succeed. Most teachers would have little faith in a class of disorderly students, however, Mr. Escalante kept a optimistic attitude throughout his time with the class. He knew his students had the potential to become a academic success. An example of this is when Mr. Escalante is present during a faculty meeting and bring up the idea of teaching Calculus, "Students will rise to the level of expectation," says Escalante. Even when his follow educators show disbelief in teaching a 7th grade level class Calculus, Mr. Escalante doesn't let the opinion of others change his outlook for his students potential. Similar to Mr. Escalante, Ms. Watson expresses optimism for her class of students. She teaches at a school where education means finding a husband, however, Ms. Watson sees a opportunity to make a difference. Throughout the film Ms. Watson challenges the minds of her students, despite the criticism she receives. For example, Betty Warren talks back to Ms. Watson numerous times, attempting to prove her hopes for changing the minds of her class is a waste of time. Ms. Watson stays optimistic though and doesn't give up until she sees a change in her students. In the end of the film, "Mona Lisa Smile", her class follows her as she is leaving town, thanking her for all she has done for them; changing their perspective on life.
Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson have similar characteristics of a mentor, such as being optimistic and motivated. Both mentors have the ability to motivated themselves and their students. This characteristic proves effective for both educators, for example, Mr. Escalante was a teacher who was more eager to teach his class Calculus, despite the difficulty. Ms. Watson is motivated to make a difference at Wellesley even when the teachers and students didn't appreciate her teaching methods. Both educators are optimistic of the outcome of their class. This characteristic helps both Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson look pass the negativity they receive from students and fellow teachers. Mr. Escalante's students didn't show him any respect in the beginning of the school year, however, he didn't let the students disrespectful behavior effect his optimism for the classes success. Ms. Watson didn't let Wellesley's strict syllabus, in which her students followed religiously, stop her from believing she could make a difference in her students life's. A characteristic they do not have in common is discipline, which Mr. Escalante uses in his classroom. He uses discipline in order to organize the rebellious students in his class room, where as Ms. Watson does not need to use this method because her students are already so behaved. Mr. Escalante and Ms. Watson, who show similar and different teaching methods, are good examples of being a mentor.
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