Independent Lens | East of Salinas | Update: Jose and Oscar | PBS

Oscar Ramos, a dedicated 3rd grade teacher in Salinas, California, is trying to help one of his promising students, Jose Ansaldo, succeed. Jose is the Mexican born son of a migrant farmworker family. Ramos, who grew up as a migrant worker himself, wants Jose and others like him to have the opportunity he had to go to become a U.S. citizen and go to college.

[melissa]

This is surreal to see now, I grew up in salinas and before I moved there I went on a field trip to the exploratorium and never forgot it… the schools in salinas didn’t have field trips at all that I remember. That teacher is a gem and I’m sure he made an impact on so many kids who became better humans. The schools were so overcrowded it was almost impossible to cater to students needs like this.

[joseanzaldo]

hi im Jose thank you for the nice comments

[imerrill]

It's a wonderful coincidence that Jose is shown walking past a field of lettuce while wearing a UC Berkeley sweatshirt. This year he graduated from high school and has a FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP TO UC BERKELEY! He has done so well because of his determination and the support from Oscar Ramos. They are both heroes.

[Kvblunt]

Now I understand why my friends always liked you and talked positive about you

[sugarkane]

I was so touched by this documentary! Jose, I wish you the very best. I hope that soon this country will have the honor to have you as a citizen. Mr. Ramos, you are an inspiration to us all.

[Monchisromero]

He was my teacher but now I’m going to third grade!!!!😢😭😭😭😭😭😭

[mr.bannanomanoman]

Salinas is not an easy place to grow up in and this video really captures this. I'm the daughter of field workers and I am extremely proud of my roots. I'm currently a student at UC Davis, majoring in Engineering. Jose can do it, I know he can.

[aguilar]

I was a 3rd grade teacher for a few years...but this teacher, seems to me, like an extremely good teacher! Good job Mr. Ramos!

[RomanBarba-vv]

Roman from little old Gonzales loves this story. I wish you all the luck and don’t let anything hold you back keep working hard.

[ceciliasperry]

Oscar Ramos is a wonderful teacher. What a great world if every teacher were like Oscar Ramos. Jose, you are a great success. Stay strong and never give up. God is always with you.

[Kvblunt]

no one talked to us like this. never. just do ur work and turn it in and be quiet

[OMAR.CORTEZ]

The countless stories of ppl in Salinas that will never get publicity:(

[AquarielCharms]

What a fabulous human being Oscar Ramos is. Dios te bendiga!!

[inquiringmind]

Mr Ramos is truly a inspiration to these children it's saddens me to see the difficulties these children face just trying to gain a foothold in America a chance to obtain the American dream. To think of what their families contribute to this country we owe it to them to guarantee a path to citizenship and all that comes with it God bless Mr Ramos. And yes I am a Hartnell who's family has been trying to educate the people of Monterey county since the day's before state hood, again hopefully we survive Mr Trump's presidency and can find a way to better these hard working families opportunities to succeed and become citizens

[thaiyogamassagewl]

I saw this film tonight and thought it was extremely powerful. Thank you to the filmmakers!

[ameliaa.mendez]

Jose teacher have a good heart, for Jose keep a good work at school and God bless you and your family

[cherrycakes]

real true meaning of a inspirational teacher. great job honestly...I hope God blesses you and those children.

[cokisu]

Am from salinas am 41 and I love salinas

[isaacsenglish]

I went to Sherwood Elementary from 1971 to 1974. The first thing I noticed was that there were no white, black or Philipinos in the classroom, only Mexican kids. I am Mexican, my mom worked at a Bruce Church packing plant, a union job(Teamsters), my stepdad was a drill seagent at Fort Ord. After he retired we moved to southern California. I don't recall kids being so poor, or could it have been that we were all poor and didn't know we were poor? I lived in Meadow Dr., one block from John Street. We walked to a lot of places, I sold flower seeds door to door to make money for myself and to save for summer camp. The student desks seem to be the same ones we had. In my memory I lived in a BradyBunch neighborhood. I looked up the house I grew up in with google earth and it's the same, same aluminum siding and block fence we left.

[SuperRip]

Hello everyone,
If there is one complaint about Salinas, California, is that a majority of the Hispanic population does not speak English. I know English being taught in school is law, but it did not result in being a bilingual town. The schools always produced a mixed record of academic achievement and does nothing to prepare for the main-stream English-speaking America. It's almost the town in waiting for America to be a Spanish-speaking nation. If they are proficient bilingual people that is because they have long-term goals in the United States. For others who took ESL and never quite mastered it, it is because they didn't see a point to it because it's an cultural infringement on their being. So didn't think Salinas as being bilingual. Simply it is a predominantly-Spanish speaking town with elements of English-speaking Hispanics. I said what I said. Now let me here your comments and I will respond to them.