'Teach for America' can help close our achievement gap

We welcome Teach for America to Minnesota's public schools. Bright, young, energetic college graduates who want to work with students who are falling behind - who could argue with that? Teach for America has been described as the Peace Corps for American public education, and those who have given their lives to the system do not always take kindly ...

[SPPS Parent]

Isn't it wonderful that they get jobs when some very energetic, young CERTIFED teachers are laid off. Saint Paul lost some outstanding young teachers who were making a difference. Perhaps young people should skip being trained as teachers, get their degree in something else and then be brought in as teachers.

[human too]

Works for me!! Seriously, the District should welcome ANYONE who has demonstrated that they have a shot at narrowing the "achievement gap." While they're at it, maybe they should seriously consider why their current model, which they keep flogging year after year, and for which they keep demanding more and more funding, clearly has NOT been working. At this point, I for one am willing to try just about ANYTHING else.

[Craig]

In the opinion an example was used of a local man teaching in NC who worked 90 hours a week?!? Then scaled it back to 60-70 the second year. Yeah, that's really better. What would it have been the next year? This is a recipe for burnout and thus one of the reasons that Teach for America people last only 3 years on average. Also, keeping a cell phone on all night for homework help is great, but again, how long can this enthusism continue? Teachers are human too, have families, and do activities outside of their work day like every other PROFESSIONAL. Why is it that teachers are asked to give everything to make up for what isn't being offered at home and getting pay, benefits and professional status that makes many people (Teach for America people too) look outside of education for jobs. Until we put educators at the same level as doctors, scienctists, and other porfessionals like in Finland, we will always have the lower end of the spectrum of the brightest and most talented in education.

[mediablamer]

Craig, the whole point of Teach for America is that nobody can maintain the 90 hour week pace. But a young, energetic, knowledgeable person without too many outside commitments can dedicate a few years at that level of commitment.

[Craig]

Mediablamer,

Are you saying taht we should make education like the military in Sweden and make it mandatory to teach if you get a science or math Bachelor Degree? How can we keep up this pace with such a "war of attrition? The points I am after is continuity in the schools, not a revolving door, and where does society start keeping its end of the bargain and allow the education system to teach academics and not everything else that I am sure much of the 90 hours per week had to deal with.

[denise]

If what we need is a 80-90 hour work week to close the achievement gap, then clearly what we need are TWO PEOPLE working 40 hour work weeks for each struggling classroom. Just imagine what would happen if we got twice as many certified teachers in urban classrooms!!! Heck, how about a certified teacher AND a TFA scholar? Wouldn't that be fabulous?

[Joey]

mediablamer wrote:

Craig, the whole point of Teach for America is that nobody can maintain the 90 hour week pace. But a young, energetic, knowledgeable person without too many outside commitments can dedicate a few years at that level of commitment.

As a former CM, I can assure that this is not the case. Nobody can do that for two years, and the administration of TFA actively discourages that mindset. This 90-hours-a-week fellow is an anomaly. I worked 60 to 70. And guess what? I burned out and left early.

I don't think there's anything wrong with bringing bright minds into education, but I question TFA's solution to the achievement gap.("Education inequity" is new since I left in 2007, btw). Every teacher struggles her first year, and her students suffer as a result. That's half of a CM's commitment. Kids in struggling schools don't have time for that. They're too far behind already. They need excellent educators from day one.

When people I know talk about joining Teach For America, I always suggest they start off in a "regular" school and move to a low-income area after they've learned the ropes--if they still want to. It's only fair to the students.

[Madaman]

The editorial was well-written, stating that the TFA folk are not THE answer, but they can make a difference where they are stationed; and if they inspire long-term structural changes in the districts (such as the doubling-up suggested by denise) they will have had a tremendous impact.

My fervent hope is that the regular, certified teachers welcome the input -- and not shun these wildly committed folk for turf or other petty reasons.

Our children are at stake here!

[Stephanie]

In order to fix the healthcare crisis, I propose a "Cut for America" program, in which Biology Majors have a six week course in general surgery, and then work as general surgeons in rural areas. They could bring innovation to the system as they haven't had the training that will make them entrenched in the system.

Teaching pedagogy is more complicated than people think. Just as going to a doctor doesn't make you qualified to be a surgeon, going to school doesn't make you understand teaching.

[Dave Houg]

I see everything has been tried to improve student performance --- EXCEPT smaller class size. At 35 kids to a room, all anyone can do is present info and hope most pick it up. At 15 kids anyone can check on indiviual performance and help. BUT 35 kids seems to be the educational theory that is tried the most.
[e-mail]

[Informer]

Stephanie wrote:

In order to fix the healthcare crisis, I propose a "Cut for America" program, in which Biology Majors have a six week course in general surgery, and then work as general surgeons in rural areas. They could bring innovation to the system as they haven't had the training that will make them entrenched in the system.
Teaching pedagogy is more complicated than people think. Just as going to a doctor doesn't make you qualified to be a surgeon, going to school doesn't make you understand teaching.

They already have that program. It's called the U.S. Army and Reserves.

[Chris Conner]

This is a great program, but the only problem is, we don't have 4 years, or even 2 years to address the achievement gap. It needs to be addressed now. Teach for America is only one small piece in a comprehensive plan that needs to be immediately developed for school reform.

www.SaintPaulSchoolReform.com

[wow]

So...qualified teachers are getting laid off, and we fill the positions with a bunch of barely even student teachers? How is this a good thing?

Sounds like just cheating our children out of a good education just to save a buck.

[TaxTaxTax]

I think we should let Ma and Pa send all inner city kids to Walnut Grove and starg educating them in 1 room schools,

[handy dandy]

Let's start with teaching adults to speak correctly. When did it become ok to ask for "a juice", or "a coffee", "a milk"? How about asking for a CUP OF COFFEE, A CARTON OF MILK, OR ORANGE JUICE!!!

Who talks like that? Geez, it's annoying to listen to aduilt talk like that, then we wonder why our kids are stupid?

[human too]

I'm all for good grammar and proper speech, but I don't get too worked up over dangling participles and such anymore.

I'm just grateful whenever they DON'T say %@*#, &*!^$%, or *#$^%@!&*%$!!!

[handy dandy]

human too wrote:

I'm all for good grammar and proper speech, but I don't get too worked up over dangling participles and such anymore.
I'm just grateful whenever they DON'T say %@*#, &*!^$%, or *#$^%@!&*%$!!!

It bothers me. I hear it everyday; it's annoying. And I do agree, &&&^^^&&m us pretty bad to. You should hear some of these young parents, it rolls off the tongue without any thought at all; and that my friend is why we have kids who don't care. It is what they learn at home.

[Facts over Fiction]

Are these undereducated kids getting the same pay as the laid off, credentialed, experienced teachers? Why is Mpls doing this?