DEATH OF A GARFIELD TEACHER

Jaime Escalante died today, March 30, 2010, at age 79. Never met the man, but our connection is James A. Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, California.

Escalante was a math teacher at Garfield High, where he turned gang kids into calculus scholars. More importantly, he motivated students to succeed who may not have otherwise. The movie “Stand and Deliver” was about his excellence in teaching at Garfield.

I was born across the street from Garfield High School, at 570 Woods Avenue. Grew up watching the goings-on at Garfield - including gangfights from our living room window, and in the alley behind our home. I'm a proud graduate of Garfield High, Class of Summer 50.

If Mr. Escalante had been one of my Garfield High teachers, I would be a lot better at math, and perhaps everything else, than I am now.

The “Malamute Kids” came to visit me again this year. I heard the bill they proposed last year to make the malamute the state dog of Alaska. What a great job they did!

The Malamute bill is now going through the 2010 legislative process in the State Senate. I hope it passes.

What a great lesson the Malamute Kids are learning from their work and “lobbying.” They gave me a cookie one time. Should I report that?

Some naysayers bad-mouth the legislature for working with these future leaders, and hearing the malamute bill. They allege it’s “too time consuming.” I disagree. Cut us some slack, please. Legislators, and everyone else, should avoid being too “busy” to spend time with our kids.