Title: Boston Globe Across The Divide for June 13, 2007

" Welcome to a special education edition of across the divide. I'm muscle contreras in Boston with a selection of stories about people of color on the England. This week -- you see an out of that stories about -- but I think that because as -- intimate. And you want them to think that you know it just because the compromise and you have a better BT's doesn't mean anything he could. Go above be entitled to motivate others to to do better and to want to do that. It's not often that a high school in America has twin sisters head into the same night in the college. But here at -- high school and points Massachusetts not only aren't twin sisters convenient casino -- heading to Harvard their classmates. To invent the consequences are going to Brown University. Two sets of twins from two immigrant families going to two different private schools in this majoli Latino city where most students -- the federal -- reduced lunch program. Finishing school and get into any college is difficult for me yet for these four girls who barely knew English walk in grammar school. Reaching for the stars -- always there to -- says her family left Vietnam she was just a child so that she and her sister could have a better life. And that's what motivated here it didn't matter that are found and that money that they that -- what mattered but that the new education was the key."

" That's our -- expectations this is right you home with a Ian parents in -- picked up side this -- what could be. What what -- that age you know some are also expected. Saying NASA has been known you came on this way for you and this would come up with. And I I out on understand my parents have great expectations from me and anyway I -- and want to meet these expectations as much as I can't that."

" Was the same stories for delighted sisters who want to miss them into -- Dominican immigrant. They too had little money but their mom and and a instilled in the early on schoolwork campers. Casino -- because it was established okay you go home from school and what you do first is school you do your scored. They need to played any complete dominance they need to do whatever and the phrase it was status he had to do your boomer parents so I was I was a big part of our -- and -- you know -- says despite -- others -- say she doesn't believe -- high -- disadvantage. To her it is always better and what might have been."

" To me it it doesn't mean and know what's going going to because what I ever ankle. In lines it's going to be better than you know I don't seem aren't as the mad city it's its Miami it's my way out it's my opportunity to."

" 16 -- in Pristina say when they received the acceptance letter from Harvard they were overjoyed. I was very happy -- hugged each -- very happy and then we we're very proud you know and it's an -- at a together and we were both going to get in. They're really happy and -- them you know she was really happy resists ecstatic release sisters found out about frown on line. They were also excited but they now know that the amnesty focus even more to maintain its success."

" And I I I know -- I really really worked on it I think I can do you know it's not only. I'm that they got to tell about it I definitely have to Atlantic a lot higher than I'm doing now which you know once something and oppression and I think they're okay."

" Devices to say they hope their story encourages other minority students in Lawrence to -- in the colleges to it UCL out of sad stories about adapting it's sad because you know those -- you we went to elementary school. And you want them to think that you know it just because the computer lines and you have a better BT's doesn't mean anything you could. -- Buffy intended to motivate others to to do better and to want to do that. So I think I hope that you know with the story it maybe decide that you know like we could do this we could rise of a lot of negativity could go -- we -- do great --"

" But the Boston globe. This is -- contreras and Lawrence. The cast as the state's annual tests in math three. For places like Lawrence the -- can be yearly reminder that the achieving gap is alive and well in this enjoyed electing a city less than a third students' test proficient in math and reading but a group of retirees and volunteers hope to change that. There or just -- he might be surprised that this is an it classroom nor library. This is a room at the new bounce headquarters in Lawrence. Here -- these corporate offices volunteers in recent retirees work with Lawrence eighth graders quality of students in math my -- Right four point. The group behind this to -- session is stand and deliver the brainchild of -- tunis to -- is different than other -- torch between organizations because it seeks to -- students one on one with the corporate tutor in preparation for the past what you -- the group after retiring in 2001 because he -- in -- test which hit hard in places -- points and he knew this city students would need some help."

" Didn't take long to hear about -- cancer exams he has these huge problem for large school district. I got this. Blue cruel idea and thinking knowing that handover -- and -- god for all these smart. And yet -- but somehow. So why don't get this more people -- the kids need help and I. Lara church pastor or Collard greens that don't start."

" Once in -- says he picked inning stand and deliver after the 1988 film with the same game. That film is based on real life teacher -- Escalante who dare to teach AP calculus to a group of port you kind of students in Los Angeles."

" Students tourists expectations are looking district. Goodness so -- it's a being that once this wants to reinforce if Latino kids and Lawrence are held to high standards they can achieve anything. Every lawyers cannot expect to go to college through these kids in her high school reunification conscious part of the future to -- organized group. Electric worse the industry. So the stakes are huge for the kids. Here in the points most students come from families who speak a language other meaningless in most adults here struggle with basic English literacy. Math tutor Tom Scioscia says he often comes across students who struggle with the language he retired engineer from the use of technology says language bears can also affect students' answers on math test."

" Math problems you have to understand what it's what's being asked for. And some of them their language skills just aren't very active maybe their only here for a few years parents don't speak English like I call them home. Getting the kids just to read the problems and understand them. Analysts say they're they're into their worded in a difficult -- math word problems in math problems mean silly example many years ago the speaker 56 years ago they had a problem it said compute this and it had like six plus three. Kids didn't do it. You know lines and have computers still Scioscia says he enjoys watching the students in the tutor program grow all its fun working with kids nine -- are working with the kids now. I mean he's seen all types I've had 12 graders to not ask him cast three years in a -- tenth 11 and 12. And your job is to get him through that last times that they get their diploma and I've had eighth graders where they're really just coming to learn the for the first time really take that fast. And you work them all the way through Wednesday through high school with them and some believe the -- grade if they pass."

" In his seven years of existence stand to deliver has helped more than 300 students passed seem cast test -- superintendent of fragile boy even credits a group for helping get in tests course up the district currently the group works with around 90 students a year begin -- since put. Of course your mind when you have someone that growth of the program. They start off saying not knowing it with these problems have seen -- final later that day now only pass the test to graduate."

" I it's great to remove the bedside and -- it and get a -- justice. And I get a little emotional that. Cuba and it happens the end thing happens -- it's hosted him two hours. Happening -- 20 years most people in government that Lawrence. Cars -- so the other great thing happens as if with the mentors. -- which is a great place is almost -- your computer yet -- drugs you know ultimately didn't someone. He had some good. This could be so before it."

" Did you know that -- the Greeks the Romans were capable used in the concept of zero. It was your ancestors the Midas who first contemplated to zero absence of value -- story. He would've said nothing of for the Boston globe this is Ross enters the moment. It."

" This just across the divide. Wolves living arts writer Johnny Diaz has just published his first novel entitled the Boston boys club store about three game meaning being counseled -- for. It's part of a new genre called she called it. Books about gala at the eagles before writing the novel he said he had to really look for books -- unit in office for inspiration across the divide spoke tedious about writing the book. And we -- with the idea."

" Basically three friends who meet up. Every Thursday night at the husky -- cyclical company which is actually -- real. Bar in the South -- in the book polls a year in the life they set about finding mr. right -- the same -- from city put. With one differences with the Boston and one of the guys as Hispanic. You know one of the reasons why it -- write the book was that you don't see a lot of Hispanics featured prominently in -- fiction. My guy is coming Perez who. It's a little bit like not totally."

" in the novel he comes across -- with this tight knit Cuban American family he comes here he's looking for mr. right as he does the other two are. And he meets a character named Mickey who's and it Cape Cod counselor -- clip about -- that call auto biographical -- that."

" Well I gave Tom -- voice I mean. -- I mean it's a lot like me lobster co -- Cuba for Miami moved to Boston's write them -- the daily. Newspaper and he is the law like me has my voice but the other two guys aren't I mean its 31 person then. I just felt like -- you know. Relate to the Cuban -- it's probably a lot like me when I first moved to Boston you know peering out the seasons with what our -- arteries. And adjusting to new life you know and -- into the you know -- Young Hispanics have to be someone invisible here in the news and in general and and with your group are always asking me -- story you're telling him ago you greet them only what or you can humanly. What are you doing up here so that's part of Tommy storyline is that he's adjusting to his first or both you meet this guy. Mix of -- home but the guys this is of them. Now the other character Rico he's totally opposite Tommy. -- mars mania. Have a party animal he sort of speak up development of that character you can. -- Rico is Italian American from the Berkshire's and it's also this first your boss and -- graduate from college. And he's like the tough talking telling hot stuff the -- But he -- commitment phobic he's Alex Samantha from sex and -- along about the beers on the boards but. You know ring on the finger and a -- a lot like him that's loosely based on him so -- the talks to Tom and I came up with a character was because. Tom is more than three at least two Cuban born. Guy and I needed someone could just tell it like it is then -- them more reason. But true to his heart thought of that might be the next contrasts to the Cuban was it."

" Hard to get into character with these guys that he has some of me experienced a coming from Miami to an American to -- in. Building character of these guys for me coastal."

" The public role playing and the way wrote the book was I wrote a chapter a week Peru one of the voices of the guys that week I would take a break from Tommy and -- it. Pop into Rico but you know he's live boulder his -- the told routier case. It was as use -- as an exercise for me to try to tap into this character's voice. Kyle is you know reality TV has been -- model he's named after a name dropper is all about to see them being seen and Jason Marquis and he's obnoxious this is my way of just being like -- the knowledge that we're tough and Tommy felt like. So every week in and out we just pop in and out of that voice I would have to switch gears but. Admit farm because every week -- the from person."

" Don't aren't a lot gay Latino novels we do have some we have John -- from the past and you know I mean that the game. When you were writing this novel we you looking for role models -- looking for people to go to Syria can wear them I didn't want to review the whale."

" Here that's one others why I wrote the book was because that and find the wallet the Hispanic fictions. Told in today's time something contemporary. And we have very little -- enough the Cuban writer who wrote before night falls with no remorse. It's all doping -- Cuba before Castro and after Castro before Mario and you know for 20 years ago you know have Hyman by the -- Spanish of the Peruvian Spanish common you know journalists. His books about being game Peru what about us about the US you know and I want to write something that. You know someone who who's grown up being Hispanic in the US which we want for being an American war for being Latino. Having that bullet by cultural duality would relate to and -- but I do that with Tommy. I tried to keep it very fresh you know very about now but today. And get with giving the Boston as a backdrop it also makes it different because most days banning books -- or short stories are -- Miami LA Chicago you know Mexico so -- gives it that different --"

" That was John -- is leading arts writer for the globe."

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