Mona Lisa's Smile

Catherine Watson's introduction to Wellesley U., was anything but smiles. She soon discovered that the all women university was an elite prepschool for wifehood, and not likely to accept change or new ideas, she hoped to give. She soon discovers quite the opposite, and is appolled at what the schools overall mission was. The perfect wife.
       Like a piece of chicken thrown into a pirranha tank, Catherine soon had to resort to survival skills in dealing with her all lady class of intellectuals. The first day of class was a wakeup call,that forced her to change her art history syllabus in order to get the upper hand on her class that seemed to know more than her on the subject matter. Catherine soon discovers that not only are her students well educated, but the institutions overall goal of making these ladies into the perfect housewifes, and the boards policy of staying to the syllabus, sending her, the students, and faculty on a collision course of discontent
      As the film progressed, student and staff's personal lives come to surface, with a student getting married, another having a relationship with a profeesor and her very own single status was challenged by an out of town boyfriend of sorts that proposed to her. Saying no the proposal,in some way seemed a statement and a self image decision, that partly, I think was a msg. to her students that there is plenty of time for marriage, and that law school or continuing their education a better choice. Reprimands would soon come, for the dean didn't approve of her direction of teaching.
      Soon, all comes to a boil as Catherine lashes out with rage and discontent in a final attempt to tell the students and staff how wrong they were. Finally realizing, she's not going to change the system, especially after reviewing the next years syllabus, she decides to move on to another school to continue her teaching role.
       The students escort her departure on bycycle, waving and quite emotional, so it seems she had some affect on the girls lives, but most likely not changing their future as the perfect American wife.
      

STAND AND DELIVER BY MR.ESCALANTE
A INNER CITY COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHER MEETS THE CHALLENGES OF INNER CITY EDUCATION
       
1) NO  computers, no order in the class, but he finds a way to get into the students heads by creative techniques, while also dealing with gang members.
2) The teacher finds a way to get the students to listen and learn by challenging the individual students using examples the students can relate to. He starts to gain control in the class
3) Mr. Escalante, also challenges the school board with his optomistic attitude that his class can succeed in the face of adversity. Every day he makes contact individually with the troubled students. building positive relationships that bring the students to a higher level of learning. The teachers unwavering attention to the students as a whole and one on one begins to make a difference
4)The film further exposes the students life outside the classroom, exposing their day to day challenges, and how they quite possibly affect  their ability to learn in the classroom. The teacher shows an extraordinary ability to work with the students, that in time changes the lives of nearly every student leading many to succeed.
5) Mr. Escalante soon challenges the school staff by requesting a calculus program for his class but backfires causing a staff member to quit her position. He continues to challenge the troubled inner city kids by adding tougher programs and more class time, turning his class into a very successful educated group.
6) Individually and as a whole, the students begin to shine with aspirations of their future of a better life but not without a struggle. Mr.Escalante’s students one by one show their personal struggle and the teacher shows the ability to handle them individually, but eventually at the price of his own health. suffering from what appears to be a heart attack.
7) Meanwhile as mr. escalante recovers the class improvises by teaching each other, mainly through the effort of the talented students. Soon the teacher is back to see the class take the big exam, and astonishing the faculty with their success, setting new standards of inner city education and the students lives as individuals.