Postcollege do-good program with buzz
A news article in today's New York Times about Teach for America (click title below to open link):
Options Open, Top Graduates Line Up to Teach to the Poor
This is an interesting article about the people who sign up to join TFA. It approaches it mostly from the application side, but it is still worth reading. After all, you get the in-the-classroom side from reading this blog.
What is TFA? The article says: "It is the postcollege do-good program with buzz, drawing those who want to contribute to improving society while keeping their options open, building an ever-more impressive résumé and delaying long-term career decisions."
What is TFA? I say: "It is the postcollege do-good program with buzz, sapping the spirit out of idealistic overacheivers as they realize that the acheivement gap is only partially caused by bad teaching, that spirit doesn't compensate for actual ability to teach and experience in the classroom, and that their most valient efforts only bring them to the bare minimum of effectiveness."
Options Open, Top Graduates Line Up to Teach to the Poor
This is an interesting article about the people who sign up to join TFA. It approaches it mostly from the application side, but it is still worth reading. After all, you get the in-the-classroom side from reading this blog.
What is TFA? The article says: "It is the postcollege do-good program with buzz, drawing those who want to contribute to improving society while keeping their options open, building an ever-more impressive résumé and delaying long-term career decisions."
What is TFA? I say: "It is the postcollege do-good program with buzz, sapping the spirit out of idealistic overacheivers as they realize that the acheivement gap is only partially caused by bad teaching, that spirit doesn't compensate for actual ability to teach and experience in the classroom, and that their most valient efforts only bring them to the bare minimum of effectiveness."
posted by Jessica at 5:26 PM
2 Comments:
Amen to that, the system is against us.
I have a former student who is working to improve the education in the delta. He says it is a tough situation for any teacher and that TFA is one of the only bright lights they have going for them. You are doing a good thing. You are in a place that needs your help. The poverty and desolation is not a place that attacks high quality teachers. This program allows the children to be exposed to bright, enthusiastic people who care.
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