Jaime Escalante stood and delivered

Every day Jaime Escalante stood in an L.A. classroom and delivered the kind of education every student, not simply those who are well off or lucky to have two parents, deserve. He wrote book and it became the hit movie, "Stand and Deliver."

Escalante died today at the age of 79 from bladder cancer. NPR has a pretty nice take on his career, with an able assist from the L.A. Times.

All the brain trusts directed at narrowing and closing the achievement gap and Escalante did it for his largely Mexican American. His method? Strict attendance and homework requirements.

I didn't agree with his opposition to bilingual education. I think requiring students to master English first ignores the fact that many students come to America proficient in every subject but English. The fact that they are forced to demonstrate their knowledge immediately in English is what trips them up and consigns them to struggle and often, failure.

Of Escalante I will say he left this lesson for educators: Teaching is part alchemic mix of motivating and exciting students about a subject. Mostly though it is the unglamorous work of showing up and working hard day in and day out and by example, showing students that success is nothing but a series of their strongest efforts.