The Evolution of Teach for America

Teaching as a Profession

The Evolution of Teach for America claims that any individual can become a teacher and help those in need. “Teach for America has persuaded thousand of the nation’s brightest college graduates to spend two years teaching in the neediest schools.” Before graduates are sent to teach they are required to complete a five-week training. TFA sends Joe a political science major from La Crosse, Wisconsin to do his five-week teacher training in a 4th grade class at Watts, California.

During the Education Debate on October 21st 2008 Barack Obama’s education adviser, Linda Darling-Hammond reported that 30% of teachers leave within five years and of those teachers 49% come without teacher training leave teaching within three years. Only 19% teachers that come fully trained teacher programs leave teaching within three years.

When will this county respect teaching as a profession and not something anyone can do after five-week teacher training? When will this country see that we need a holistic approach to change and not perpetuate the idea of an individual saving the needy?

Regina Chagolla

Master Student in the Developmental Teacher Education Program at the University of California Berkeley

Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin Madison

TFA

I think this is an excellently written article. It is a good guide for those who know little about the many issues facing the DC schools. As one such reader, I find it refreshing and insightful. I'm sure there are reasons to be critical of the work being done by Rhee and others but look at the state of DC schools in the past. Can anyone say they were being held up as great examples of excellence? I'm sure there are and will be many mistakes made and odd choices. But it's hard to believe that a concerted effort to reform the school system will produce anything other than a long term improvement. Even if it is with clear weaknesses. It's the big picture that is important.

I enjoyed reading this well written article and learned a good deal.

teach for america

I've been a teacher in training for about 5 years. I just want a decent job. I tried accounting and got out before the downfall of a large firm because of ethics, I went into investment banking and got laid off. I've done all kinds of smaller jobs that didn't go with my business degree but it kept me busy and kept me fed. Now I'm teaching adults and tutoring after school.

Does it help to have these experiences behind me? Does it help to understand my students. Many of my students are trying to get their high school degrees in order to get better jobs (ie. higher pay).

Education is a means to high pay, more status. Why do you think it costs so much for a college degree.

My goal is to help students learn the math, science and writing to pass the test and also to make it relevant to their daily lives.

It seems to me that Teach for America is getting people in the classroom who are ready and willing to work. Just don't forget the ethics component.

dcps parent and tfa alum

Love your comments, Inspired Teacher!

It is disheartening, frustrating and outrageous that TFA continues to get glossy media attention while our children have no such advocate. This wouldn't be so bad if TFA weren't promoting such disrespectful and behaviorist classroom practices (the stuff coming out of their summer training institutes is downright disturbing). The TFA teachers I have to work with are consistently among the worst, and least committed to learning to teach.

The changes in my children's DC Public School since Fenty/Rhee/Reinoso rolled through have not been positive ones. Our hiring has been limited (by the policies and partnerships that bring more TNTP and TFA teachers to the District) which has resulted in a lesser faculty this year. Our long-standing programs have been diminished by these same and other Rhee admin policies. School climate and consequently classroom climate have worsened. Our local school "board" (LSRT and PTA) desires have been ignored by a Rhee admin's "Office of Portfolio Management." I am ever closer to pulling my kids out of school.

I do wish The Wash Post and other conservative media outlets (such as US News) would have more journalistic integrity, and not merely regurgitate language from Rhee. When they tour schools with her, as I have witnessed, their blinders are obvious. As an aside, her personal and professional behavior on one such visit, while not appalling, was far below the standard we have set for the adults and children in our school building.

Inspired Teacher

I agree that teachers need to be inspired.

Inspired by their students.

Inspired by the opportunity to be apart of students academic and personal success.

Inspired by students setting their own goals and working relentlessly towards achieving them.

Inspired by students embracing a rigorous and challenging environment where they welcome high expectations.

Being a '08 TFA Corps member I am now becoming aware of the realities of our nations public school system. It takes a proven work ethic, acceptance of accountability, and a true investment of time and effort to make sure all students receive an exceptional education.

Our destinies are intertwined and it will take bold leadership and a constant sense of possibility to make young dreams a reality. TFA makes an impact in the lives that matter most.

To: Distressed Parent

Let me state for the record that I am a Teach for America alum.

I also work for an education non-profit in DC. While my teaching experience was not in the District (and far from) - I feel this to be one of my "homes" and work tirelessly to improve the opportunities for students in need here. I value the opportunity for dialogue with those who support/oppose TFA. However, I would like to encourage you to put your feelings of TFA aside for one moment and look at Rhee as an individual. I think the article is correct assuming that progress is being made. Give her the chance to "succeed." (I do concur that it cannot be measured by test scores alone.)

School reform success cannot be measured overnight, or in a year. Let me share some insight from my classroom experience - if you automatically assume someone is failing at what they're attempting- you simply reinforce pre-existing low expectations and you'll end up getting someone who fails. Raise the bar, you're more likely to have success.

I hope that as a DC parent you acknowledge that change is necessary for the success of our students. I ask that you embrace those changes you are in support of, and find ways to understand those you are not fond of. Ultimately, should you decide that you will not support the new administration/policies/procedures, that you do what's best for your child/children as you see fit. Please note that the hearts of those working tirelessly (TFA alums or otherwise) do so because they truly want our students to succeed. Success is, after all, a point we can all rally behind.

Salary

Larry of DC. Ditch your hierarchical thinking. It's not unheard of or inappropriate for talented people to be paid better than their superiors in progressive organizations

Good work, Rhee & Fenty!

Keep it up! FINALLY there's a team in place with the intention and will to overhaul DC's schools - what a relief! The Nation's most expensive school system shouldn't be its lowest performing.

Frankly, I think all the nay-sayers are AFT (Am. Fed. of Teachers) union types terrified of the prospect of competition and being held to accountability. The bright, hard-working, achievement-oriented background of Rhee and her TFA cohorts is a breath of fresh air.

She's EXACTLY what the system needs to staunch the flow of "middle-class flight" of families out of the District once their children are old enough to be in school.

ALPHABETS

HOW ABOUT TRYING ONLY ONE ALPHABET FOR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE? CAPITAL LETTERS, PRINTED.

TRY IT FOR NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, TV, INTERNET.

JUST THINK - ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WOULD NOT HAVE TO LEARN THREE MORE ALPHABETS FOR ENGLISH! THIS LETTER IS ALL CAPITALS. IS IT NOT NICE AND CLEAR?

AND MAYBE CHILDREN COULD ALL LEARN TO READ!

Michelle Rhee

In your article about Chancellor Rhee, you stated that her annual salary is 275,000. However, this has to be inaccurate. I am resident of the District and I know for a fact that the mayor of DC, Adrian Fenty, makes roughly 200k per year. How could Rhee, who is in a subordinate position to Fenty, have a higher salary?