this is one of the best accounts of teach for america i have read. i could go on and on in support of his position, but that will only upset me and keep me up long past my bedtime so i'll try my best just to add the link and leave it at that.
i had no idea, however, but am horrified (but not surprised) that: "TFA spent $2 million more in 2007 on recruiting and selection ($18.5 million) than it did on candidate training ($16.5 million)"
of course it did. which explains the fabulous pr, the great reputation, and the reality of what goes on behind closed doors in the classrooms nobody knows about or checks up on.
*i could rant on tfa for a long time, and i apologize if you've heard me do it. but whenever i do rant i always do want to say that i know fabulous people who have been tfa people (people i love dearly), and one of my amazing coworkers is post-tfa. but through the wonderful tfa-ers i know i've become fully aware aware of the reality, and it makes my stomach hurt*
hat tip to jenny for sharing this. and now i'll blame you when i'm up ranting late into the evening. i try to only read things on tfa when i know i can get it out of my system by a long run.
3 comments:
Oh gosh, I feel the same way about TFA. And I too can end up ranting/debating for hours about it.
and don't you feel like a leper for saying anything negative about them in public? most people gasp and wonder what's wrong with me... i guess that's good marketing on their part.
In many circles, yes. My college professors were anti-TFA (after all, they spent their life helping people think about how to be a good teacher - and we, the students, all spent 4 years plus an extra semester learning how to do that).
But, the other STUDENTS at my college are exactly those white liberal arts students that the article talks about. Those who are sucked into TFA because they don't know what else to do, and they like the prestige, and they know it's only two years (though some of them don't even make it that long). And I'm guilty to admit it, but I do kind of look down upon TFA teachers, because I feel like, if you want to be a teacher, get the training and become a good teacher. Don't just get 5 weeks of training and get thrown into a tough classroom with little support. You're not going to be helping anyone. It's hard enough, and you're ineffective enough with 4 years of training and thinking and practicum experiences.
But anyway. Yes, I can rant for hours too.
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