Comparing and Contrasting/Opinions of Teachers from Stand and Deliver and Dead Poets Society

Comparisons:

-Both teachers use new and unique methods to teach their students that stands them apart from other teachers in their schools

-Both receive criticism from their colleagues.

-Both must deal with a wide range of personalities and forces in their classrooms

-Both are loyal to their students and  love teaching

Contrasts:

-Mr. Escalante's class is made up of poor Hispanic children who have mostly low grades, don't have means or motivation to work hard in school, lack encouragement from their parents, have experienced racism, and are unsure of their futures.

-Mr. Keating's class comes from rich Caucasian families that have come from academically successful families, feel a lot of pressure to be top students at their school from their parents, and have been predestined by their parents to be great scholars and businessmen. 

-Mr. Escalante must show his students that he has high standards to make them work hard, while Mr. Keating almost does the opposite. He wants the boys to disconnect from pressures of family and try to find their passions. 

What are your opinions on Mr. Escalante?

     I think Mr. Escalante was a very strict teacher with very high standard, and I think he might be too harsh if he was in any other situation, but I think the students he had would only respond to a teacher like that. Even though he had a hard time finding balance between his teaching career and his family, I think he made a difference in those kids lives.

What are your opinions on Mr Keating? 

    Mr. Keating was my vision of a perfect teacher. He did not put his students on the spot or pressured them until he knew they were ready, and gave them time to discover themselves and find once again passion in life. He could truly empathize with his students and knew the pressure they had on their shoulders, and was trying to redefine their views of what is success: not money and pride, but joy and indescribable passion.