PBS documentary profiles East Salinas teacher and student

A heartwarming friendship between a student growing up in a migrant family and an east Salinas teacher has inspired a documentary on PBS.

The film is called “East of Salinas.” A PBS camera crew spent three years following 12-year-old Jose Anzaldo, documenting his struggles and successes, and his close relationship with Oscar Ramos.

Josewas 8 years old when he walked into Ramos’third-grade classroom at Sherwood Elementary School in east Salinas and it wasn’t long before the two became friends.

“I saw Jose in me. I was Jose many years ago,” said Ramos.

Also the son of migrant workers, Ramos knew exactly what Jose was going through both at home and in school. He often gaveJose clothes and food.

“Jose used to fall asleep in class and he was always hungry,” said Ramos.

Like many kids of migrant workers,Jose wakes up early for a 30-minute walk to school.

“It can get hard sometimes,” he said.

Money is also tight. Half the year his stepfather if off working somewhere else and the familymoves to a placethey can afford, sometimes living with others to save cash.

“We had a bed but my parents would sleep on it, and my little sister and me and my brother would sleep on the floor,” Jose said.

Before third grade,he had already been to five different schools. It’s a life familiar to many Salinas students and Ramos said it often causes them to fall behind.

“So how do you expect a child to want to read a story when all he’s thinking about is, ‘I’m hungry’ or ‘I didn’t get a full night’s sleep?'” Ramos asked.

It’s part of why Ramos became a teacher, to change young lives and in some cases, like Jose, help them see beyond the lettuce fields.

“I kind of don’t see him as a teacher. I see him as a friend,” Jose said.

Now aseventh-grader at Washington School, Josesaid he wants to be an engineer.

The PBS documentary is expected to air on Dec. 28.