|
Teacher,
Rafe Esquith |
|
Tamara
Robinson, VP & Dir. Programming, Channel 13 |
Ode to Those Hobart Shakespeareans
By Liza Young
It is rare to see a
school year come to a close with a room full of students
with tears streaming from their eyes, but when it’s the classroom of Rafe Esquith it’s
not a surprise.
Esquith’s teaching
approach is phenomenal. More than just inspiring students
academically, he motivates them to be their best in life.
Working with Mexican and Korean children at the overcrowded
Hobart Boulevard elementary school, located in a low income,
high crime area in Central Los Angeles, Esquith devotes tremendous
energy and care to his mission of helping each student shine.
The work of Esquith is captured in a documentary film entitled The
Hobart Shakespeareans, masterfully directed by Mel Stuart,
renowned director of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Selections of the film, a co-production of Mel Stuart Productions,
Inc., P.O.V./American Documentary Inc., and Thirteen/WNET,
were recently screened at the English Speaking Union.
Watching clips of the Hobart Shakespeareans perform strongly
in roles of Hamlet, we see the slogan “Will Power” printed
on the shirts—an indication of a joint admiration for
Shakespeare, and Esquith’s expectation of students.
Esquith begins the
school year by telling his students that they should be prepared “to kill their TV sets.” But
he expects no less from himself, often heading to work at dawn
and giving up after school hours to work with kids.
He believes in the
potential of all his students, even in the face of the disbelief
of other teachers. When casting the role of Hamlet for the
school performance, Esquith was confronted by a teacher who
said he could not understand why this particular student
was chosen for the role, as “his test scores
are low and he’s unstable and dangerous” to which
Esquith, without missing a beat responded: “Well then,
he’d make the perfect Hamlet.”
The clips of the Shakespeare
performances are impressive even to Sir Ian McKellen, who
during a visit to the classroom indicated his sense of the
students’ real understanding of the
words they are reciting, which is more than he can say for
many actors.
Esquith’s teaching
does not stop at Shakespeare. He wants students to get the
best out of life and takes his students on educational trips
such as to Washington D.C., initially funding them out of
his own pocket.
The visits leave indelible
memories on the children, as stated by one student: “I was so impressed by the Vietnam memorial.” The
way the wall extends for such a great length is something she
will never forget.
The emotional departure
of students at the end of the year is mitigated with Esquith’s words indicating it’s
not a time for tears, “this is just a beginning for you.”
For students wishing to continue their education with Esquith,
he holds Saturday classes. Esquith describes the real backbone
of his work as students who return, helping with the newcomers.
Classes are packed, with students overflowing from classroom
doors. Children entering his classes know they are entering
a promising world, where students continue on to great things,
with cases of students turned Rhodes Scholars.
Appearing before the
audience after the screening, Esquith is modest. He has no
qualms about discussing past mistakes, because from his point
of view, it’s not about him; it’s
all about the students.#
