A LETTER TO A BRILLIANT FRIEND...
Please read these very "fair" articles. They are by no means biased, though I have lots and lots to share on that end.
Please read when you get a chance.
The underlying truth that is NOT apparent on the surface of the idea of bright eyed, bushy tailed college grads coming in and inspiring children and making wonderful inroads for their own careers and lasting lessons for their souls is that the enormous amount of public funds spent on this just goes to aid the global assault on teachers and public schools. Sad, but true--Hidden behind good intentions, but true-- Sounding far-fetched, but true!
THE ASSAULT IS REAL, PLANNED, FUNDED BY TAXES, AND UNDERWAY AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL NEAR YOU!
If funds went to training principals on documenting teacher incompetence, and getting their schools cleaned up of ineffective teaching, either through teacher education, or firings with due process we would not have the problem of these so called"bad" teachers that everyone is out hunting for.
If we want a better "hunt..." we should go after the "BAD" principals who can not attract and keep quality educators. WE need more quality principals. That must be the quest.
That is the hunt I want to see! :-) If there are so many "bad teachers" why are these lazy principals who allow this not being held accountable? Just as teachers are responsible for student growth... so should Principals be held accountable for teacher effectiveness! RIGHT?
In reality as TFAs flood the urban schools "no one else will go to" as some of its defenders say... it is factual that top veterans are getting fired and squeezed out of other schools to make room for this cheap labor force that TFA is providing, with mixed result, at best. Many being pushed out are qualified talented teachers the system is no longer willing to pay since we have so many young, energetic college kids eager to buy into the ideology of TFA, and willing to work for a TFA paycheck.
The high cost of knowledgeable veterans is what is leading the "bad teacher" witch hunt propaganda/ Our communities and parents who have had some good, and some not so good, experiences are going for it hook line and sinker.
IT SADDENS ME THAT ANYONE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING PUBLIC EDUCATION WOULD BUY THIS PROFITEER INSPIRED, CHARTER OPENING DIALOG AS TRUTH. IT IS NOT TRUTH. WE HAVE PROBLEMS TO FIX... BUT TEACHER WITCH HUNTS AND TFA'S ARE NOT ONLY NOT THE ANSWER.... THEY PLAY RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE REALIZED THAT THE EDUCATION COFFERES OF AMERICA ARE THE LAST EXISTING GOLD RUSH! THEY HAVE TAPPED INTO IT NOW. THEY ARE UNWILLING TO LET GO OF IT.
Slowly, the ideology behind TFA, school reform (deform) and testing for school and teacher accountability is proven false.
The TFAers are telling sad tales. The management of urban class loads can not usually be managed by untrained young people with eager heats, willing souls, and a hope to change education for the better.
Please consider these well-reasoned, fair articles....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/28/its-time-for-teach-for-america-to-fold-former-tfaer/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sandra-korn/why-i-said-no-to-teach-for-america_b_4151764.html
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Harvard alumni reflect on their Teach for America experi...
“It’s like you’re the special ops team that’s coming in to rescue education because real teachers are terrible at their jobs.
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