The civil rights activist Malcolm X was born intellectually capable, hopeful, and adept.  Although he lived during a period of severe racial injustice, through his capabilities, the chances of him succeeding and living out a normal life were high.  By being told he was a lesser human, his perspective changed, bringing him down a path of fighting the same entity that denied him hope.  The students to To Sir With Love, show signs of having experienced a similar disillusionment, until Mark gives them love and support.  According to Locke, humans have no innate understanding of their limitations or status, meaning that the key to a successful education is not through discipline, but through positive reinforcement.  This can be seen in the education of both Malcom X and the student body of To Sir With Love.
      One of the first things to make note of, is the fact that Malcolm X was able to teach himself a great deal despite leaving the standard education system.  This is why he acts as such a great example of why formal education has failed.  He proves himself highly intelligent through his journey of self-education, but if he himself, a bright and promising young man, was rejected from the American schooling system, one wonders how many intelligent pupils have been lost for the same reasons.