Padilla, Ben

1/2/2015
The Importance Of Lessons Towards Education
In todays education system we face a variety of different
problems. At every school one is facing inequality in the classroom.
One person might have trouble paying for classes. Another person
could be facing distractions from their educational goals, which in turn
will affect the amount of time and effort one puts in class. Another
student could be facing a poor teacher to student relationship; having
a poor connection with each other will bring down morale, affect
grades, effort and time spent towards class. In our education system
today there are many different ways one could be facing adversities.
Lessons from the past can help us shape our future. Learning from The
movie called Walk Out filmed by Edward James Olmos demonstrates
evidence towards positive change of our education system. What are
some changes needed to be done by students to make a better future
toward their education?
A change can shape a person in a positive way but it could also
be a negative way. A student that may be facing an adversity from a
financial standpoint deserves change. If students stress about paying
for their education then one will not want to pursue that educational
goal. The cost of college is in the tens of thousands of dollars
depending on which school you attend. At first glance the price tag on

college per year may shake some heads and discourage students in
enrolling. When a positive change in the financial portion of school is
achieved students will most likely enroll, with change in the inequality
one faces through prejudice would be changing in a positive way as
well as helping our education systems. Corky Gonzalez created a poem
called I am Joaquin he made this poem from the prejudice his people
was feeling from society. He states I am Joaqun, lost in a world of
confusion, caught up in the whirl of a gringo society, confused by the
rules, scorned by attitudes,
suppressed by manipulation, and destroyed by modern society. Under
the pressure he felt from prejudice his people were feeling, had given
him the inspiration to create this poem. A possible solution for students
today is to obtain the motivation to create change. Some things just
need a little pushing and the constant tension one faces day in and day
out of their daily lives will push them to achieve great things. From I
am Joaquin states, From the whips of masters, who would lose their
blood so pure, When revolution made them pay, Standing against the
walls of retribution. Corky states this line out of his poem. He got
motivation from oppression and demanded change, without the
motivation of the pain his people was facing I dont think his people
would have enough power or motivation to demand change which can
relate to our school system, the student body must have their back

against the wall and have to have the will to fight and motivation to
demand change.
Discrimination defined is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of
different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of
race, age, or sex. Discrimination in the class room is something that
no one should ever experience, but yet in class room today students
still face discrimination. This type of treatment is not acceptable
whether it is racial discrimination; financial discrimination or any type
of discrimination is something our world has to cease doing. The movie
called Walk Out by Edward James Olmos the students he was
portraying felt discrimination to the fullest in their high school. They
were not only beaten when speaking Spanish in the class room, but
teachers and administrative staff would not motivate the students to
attend colleges, because they thought they would not make the goal of
graduating out of high school. They felt pressure from the
discrimination and felt the need for demanding change in their
classrooms. After strenuous hard work and dedication their voice was
heard and the change they had did was monumental! Their movement
sparked nation uproar and had caused monumental changes in the
education world as well. Segregated classrooms from the past still
affect out school systems today. Another text by Maria Blancos Before
Brown, There was Mendez: The lasting impact of Mendez v.
Westminster in the struggle for desegregation. A student is trying to

attend school but when applying to a school that is closer to her the
school isnt accepting her due to her race. This is another example of
how one faced difficulties of prejudice in the classroom.
Inequality, which another person may be facing in todays
education system, would be the connection between a student and a
teacher is not up to par compared to a more successful classroom.
When students are not getting a good relationship with their teachers
then grades and classroom effort drops. The importance of a strong
relationship between student and teacher is essential toward education
equality. An example from Walk out there was a strong bond between
teacher and student in the classroom. Not only were students actively
participating in class, they also were striving to better their education.
A strong relationship like this has other benefits as well; it creates a
peaceful class environment where hostility or inequality a student
would face is a thing of the past. Communication is the key between
any good relationships, communication between the student and
teacher must be clear in order to achieve a strong relationship. When
communication is clear students will hear directions and messing up
with classwork will be little. One can relate the Poem I am Joaquin by
Corky Gonzales like the poem representing the teacher and the student
is the oppressed people. Once a positive relationship is developed then
great things will be achieved.

John F. Kennedy states Change is the law of life. And those who
look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. This
quote I felt as if it touched upon how deep of a meaning change has.
Staying in the past cannot make change; we must advance from here
on out. Lessons we pick up as we grow will affect our future, but if
there isnt a change in our education system then we will be stuck in
the past or present. Being stuck in the past or present doesnt change
anything it keeps us stuck in our old ways and benefits dont occur.
When we change our way of thinking possibly financial inequality will
be less and students can attend college. Distraction in the classroom
will be less, which will promote a healthy and productive classroom.
Finally a strong teacher student relationship can go a far way in
producing quality work and helping us strive for education equality.