Lives on the Boundary essays

Lives on the Boundary essays Mike Roses Lives on the Boundary is an Educational Autobiography. The book begins at the beginning of his life and we follow him up into his adult years. The book focuses on the struggles and achievements of Americas educationally underprepared . In order to understand Mike Rose, and his book Lives on the Boundary, you must first understand where Mike is coming from and examine his past. Mike was born to a first generation immigrant family, originally from Italy. He spent his early childhood in the mid-west and then in his latter childhood, parents not knowing any better, in East Los Angeles. Mikes father suffered from arteriosclerosis. Neither Mikes mother nor his father had completed high school and no one in his family had ever attended college. This is the setting, background, and characters of Mikes tale of struggles and achievements of Americas educationally underprepared . Through this book Mike constantly is emphasizing three main themes. First, the importance of an educational mentor; later in this treatise we will examine several of Mikes mentors. Second, social injustices in the American education system; specifically the lack of funding and bureaucracys affect on the public educational system. Third and lastly , specific teaching methods that Mike has used to reach out to kids on the boundary. Throughout Mikes life, he had the fortunate experience of having some inspirational mentors. I have identified four of his numerous mentors as the most critical to his development, both educationally and personally. The first of Mikes mentors I would like to discuss came into his life just after his father passed away, beginning of his senior year. His name was Jack MacFarland. Jack, as described by Mike Rose is, ...a beatnik who was born too late. His teeth were stained, he tucked his sorry tie between the third and forth buttons of his ...