From EdNotes online:
I posted an article from The Feministe by “Anna” called “Why I Hate Teach for America” on Aug. 24, 2008. This comment came across this morning.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post “Why I Hate Teach for America”:
I am a traditionally trained teacher. I have a dual degree in elementary and special education. I’m currently working on my M.Ed in Literacy. It pains me to think of the disservice we are doing our students with TfA. I’ve seen people with no background become literacy coaches in 3 years, teaching new recruits how to teach! It’s an absolute joke.
We are putting the wrong people in the neediest situations and often watching them fail. With programs like TfA we are putting a band-aid over a huge flesh wound in the American educational system. I believe that alternative programs can be a part of the certification process but TfA is missing the boat, big time.
I teach special education in an inner-ring suburb of a large metropolitan area. I think of what our students are missing by having teachers, with less than 8 weeks of training, standing in front of them, especially in the elementary grades. Research proves that these primary years are the most important in shaping our academic success and our nation is willingly letting people with no experience or background teach literacy and math.
Unfortunately, this is the way it will be unless this great nation of ours realizes that we need to turn things around, supporting our students at home and our teachers in the classroom. Our profession has lost its nobility. Students are disrespectful and are supported in their poor choices by parents. We need to reward teachers who pursue higher education degrees and continue to teach with higher salaries and an ounce of appreciation for the often thankless things we do and the countless hours spent helping students beyond our contracted day.
Teach for America perpetuates the problem by supporting the idea that teaching is a stepping stone to bigger and better. In my mind, teaching is the bigger and better. Teach for America boasts that high expectations are required for student achievement. I agree, and I have higher expectations for programs like TfA and the people who have chosen this path. Step up to the plate TfA and require your recruits to enter the field and continue with their training to TEACH!
2 responses so far ↓
TJohnson // December 11, 2008 at 7:51 pm |
It is interesting that so many of these posts make it seem that TFA teachers receive no training past their summer training. As well, many posts make it sounds as though TFA teachers are being placed in school districts when other more qualified teachers could be placed in.
While I fully agree that programs like TFA are not a permanent fix, I don’t think their intention is to lower standards or harm the education of children which is what these posts make it sound like.
I work in a district that places TFA members. I also work directly with two TFA teachers. My district began this year 60 teachers short. There are 60 classrooms in my district that have no certified (whether it be a traditional certification, inter certification, emergency certification, etc…) teacher; they only have long term subs. Now, if TFA didn’t place in our district, we’d be 110 teachers short. So TFA is in no way holding back any certified teacher from teaching in a classroom.
As well, one of the TFA teachers I have in my grade level is beginning their 3rd year at my school. In their first two years they were required by TFA to become fully certified. This was not an option. As well, the program offered a certification/masts program which they were encouraged to join. They were able to choose their certification program. The teacher I work with became certified and got their M.Ed. in Literacy (form what I understand others chose Math some chose Curriculum, there were a few options). Now, if a Masters in Literacy doesn’t qualify you to train others on the topic then a good portion of education professors at Junior Colleges around the nation would be seen as unqualified as well.
In the first year of teaching, this teacher guided their class to the highest in the district on state testing in the writing portion of the test in a district of 25K students; and they were a political science major for their undergrad.
Like I said, I don’t think programs like this are a permanent solution, but I don’t believe that they see themselves as one. The things that my fellow teachers speak about on a consistent basis such as higher teacher accountability, high expectations of students and remaining motivated are all things they speak of because of their training. These are qualities that I admire and appreciate. While it is very true that we need more permanent and effective solutions, I don’t believe programs such as these are the worst thing to hit education as this site makes it seem. I’m not sure what the situation is like in the other cities they place in, but they seem to be doing a good job here. One day I’m sure we will find a better solution but in the mean time these group of young folks are doing a heck of a job and their heart is in the right place.
TJohnson
Traditionally Trained Inner City Teacher of 10 years
sell // February 17, 2009 at 9:10 pm |
Society, the government, liberals, and religious conservatives alike have jumped on this idea of “accountability” because they know that poor people are horrible dysfunctional parents (statistically)- so they want the teachers to take over this job- it can’t be done and teachers are being destroyed in the process. Soon no one will want this profession and I don’t blame them. The best will leave and temps (tfa) will be the replacement.
I hear Obama also wants to adopt this policy for the medical field- doctors will get paid based upon the outcome of the health of their patients. The patient won’t take care of their own life so the doctor is given the responsibility and the politician comes out smelling like roses for coming up with such a brilliant “solution”.