Wendy Kopp stated in a recent interview that the average TFA corps member remains in the classroom for eight years.
This caused quite a blowback because most independent surveys say that about 85% of TFA are gone at the end of three years.
Gary Rubinstein was a member of the first corps of TFA who decided to become a career teacher. He teaches mathematics at the elite Stuyvesant High School, a public school in New York City.
Gary says that Wendy’s claim does not pass the giggle test.
TFA would do itself a world of good by adhering to a policy of humility, honesty, and transparency.
Even in this article about Grand Rapids, Michigan, a representative of TFA claims that TFA has been incredibly successful in Detroit, but there is no evidence that this is true.
Remember: Humility, honesty, transparency. Values to live by.
I address this here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/13/1169447/-Preaching-for-Teach-for-America
Humility, honesty and transparency are values to live by in a democracy… but does a private for-profit enterprise necessarily follow those rules?
Given the arrogance and dishonesty of TFA as an organization, using the term “giggle test” is far too kind.
It’s more accurate to say “smirk test,” or “laugh-behind-the Rubes’-back-because- they-fell-for- it-yet-again” test.
Successful in Detroit? Where? More propaganda and lies that will remain unchallenged by many interviewers. Charlie Rose is definatley the worst.
Yes, he is awful. I don’t watch his show very often, but the last time I did The Broad Foundation was listed as a prominent sponsor.
QED.
Well, I have to admit it. I am sorry to say I’ll have to take Mr.Rubinstein’s assertions on faith because quite frankly when he started to break things down statistically and was I believe (?) extrapolating…I couldn’t follow the math. Oh the shame.
While the often maligned TFA has its detractors, I imagine that there are many optimistic, bright, enthusiastic young people who are joining the ranks of the program, much in the manner of the Peace Corps and Vista back about 50 years ago. There goes that math thing again. Anyway, While the TFA may be evil incarnate, the young folks’ good intentions hopefully count for something: perhaps making a difference in the lives of their students.
It is not only TFA. The other spin-offs (e.g. Teach First in the UK) also like to be creative with the facts.
From my vantage point, here is Denver, CO, the city’s school system treats honestly about test scores, TFA and most all other accountability stats as if they were fodder for fiction! Teachers here KNOW the straight skinny @ TFA, and it can be summed up in one word:misery! The past superintendent LOVED TFA…why? MONEY! The poor souls are cheap, benefits are nil and the participants count the days till they can flee and I know they do just that! If decisions about faculty are LARGELY based on money, you literally get what you pay for! I have a friend who interacts with the TFA folks and she tells me they are objects of pity; demands for time commitments outside of the regular class day are absurd, pressure to perform is intense, and many literally cry daily! Just another hair-brained $ ruse that some “educator” dreamed up with a veneer of concern for the classrooms these people try to manage.