Analysis of “McFarland USA,” “Stand and Deliver,” and “Walkout”

Solution

Analysis of “McFarland USA,” “Stand and Deliver,” and “Walkout”

“Stand and Deliver,” “Walkout,” and “McFarland USA” are three films that deal with themes of education and the struggles of marginalized communities. Each film approaches these themes from different perspectives and focuses on different aspects of the experiences of these communities.

“Stand and Deliver” is a drama film that tells the true story of a high school math teacher, Jaime Escalante, who inspired his students to excel in calculus (Ramirez, 1988). The film focuses on Escalante’s struggles to motivate and educate his students, who come from a predominantly Latino, low-income community, and the obstacles he faces in the form of a lack of resources and support from the school administration. The film highlights the importance of dedicated teachers and the transformative power of education.

“Walkout” is a historical drama film that tells the true story of the 1968 student-led protests in East Los Angeles for educational reform (Estrada, 2006). The film focuses on the experiences of a group of Mexican-American students who organized a walkout to protest the discriminatory treatment they received in their schools. The film highlights the importance of student activism and civil rights movement in education.

“McFarland USA” is a sports drama film that tells the true story of a high school cross-country team in a predominantly Latino community in California (Caro, 2015). The film focuses on the struggles of the team’s coach, Jim White, to motivate and educate his students, who come from a low-income background, and the obstacles he faces in the form of a lack of resources and support from the school administration. The film highlights the importance of dedicated teachers and the transformative power of education.

As historical documents, all three films provide valuable insights into the experiences of marginalized communities in education and their struggles for equity and justice. “Stand and Deliver” and “McFarland USA” are particularly strong in this regard, as they are based on real-life events and people. “Walkout” also provides a powerful portrayal of the student-led civil rights movement in education.

As Hollywood films, all three are well-made and engaging, with strong performances from the lead actors. “Stand and Deliver” and “McFarland USA” are particularly effective in this regard, with strong pacing and emotional resonance. “Walkout” is also solid, though it may not be as polished as the other two. Overall, I would rank “Stand and Deliver” as the best of the three, followed by “McFarland USA,” and then “Walkout.”

In a class, I would incorporate all three films as they provide valuable perspectives on education and the struggles of marginalized communities. “Stand and Deliver” would be especially useful in a math or education class, as it deals with the specific subject of math education and the transformative power of a dedicated teacher. “Walkout” would be useful in a social studies or history class, as it deals with the student-led civil rights movement in education. “McFarland USA” would be useful in a physical education class, as it deals with the story of a high school cross-country team.

If I could change anything about these films, I might want to provide more context and historical background in “Walkout” to help students better understand the broader historical context of the student-led protests.

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