The Wisconsin legislature allocated $1million to pay Teach for America to send 70 we teachers to Wisconsin schools.
It gets tiresome to say this again and again: Teach for America is a wealthy organization that sends ill-trained recruits to teach in under-resourced districts. These poorly trained young people, with no experience as teachers and no commitment to stay beyond two years, are expected to work wonders. They don’t.
Why does TFA charge districts anything? It has $300 million in assets. Is it renting out the kids? Selling them? Auctioning them off?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
How insightful, Diane. Also, way to completely ignore Teach For America’s actual mission.
Former TFA Corp Member Gary Rubenstein
just wrote his annual article critiquing
the methods and goals of the TFA Institute that is
currently in session. As Gary indicates, he has been
called a “bully” for doing this in the past, with TFA
officials discouraging CM’s from posting or even
reading Gary’s blog:
http://garyrubinstein.teachforus.org/2013/06/22/those-teachers-are-failures/
There is a great COMMENT about the TFA
trainee leaving in disgust, calling it a cult…
near the end of the comments
First, a little context of the COMMENTS preceding this.
Gary’s article includes a story of how TFA students—
most of them from privileged backgrounds—drive around
the poor neighborhoods like those seen on “THE WIRE”,
and observe the people the same way that tourists on the
Disneyland Jungle Cruise would observe the animatronic
animals and robot natives on display.
One thing that Gary found offensive was that the TFA
instructor commented while observing the poor kids:
“Everyone you see was once someone’s student…
And those teachers (who once taught them) are failures.”
Wow! This set people off. Maggie Peterson said that the
TFA teacher who said this “espouses what is, in my opinion,
a common TFA trope, that a real, caring, belief that your
students CAN do better makes them actually DO better.
“Even in TFA policy actions, standards are touted not as
a goal for student achievement but as some magic tool
for attaining high student achievement. The idea that
students will achieve, or move out of the cycle of poverty
solely because of caring teachers and teachers who hold
students to high standards is also a belief that there is
little else to be learned about the doing of teaching.”
Carol Corbett Burris blasts away, “I am appalled to learn
that TFA would roll through any community pointing
out human beings as though they were tour guides
pointing out sites. It is an insult to the community,
perpetuates ‘us and them’ thinking, and reveals a
practice more suited for a cult than a teacher
preparation program.”
“When my husband was a teacher in Brooklyn,” Burris
continues, “On a few occasions he had students who
came to class less than 20% of the time and who did
no schoolwork, say to him ‘You failed me, Mister.’
I guess they heard the conversation on the TFA tour.”
Karyn chimed in, adding that her “drive-arounds”
included a photographic “scavenger hunt”:
Karyn: “Coming from a non-TFA background, and
having certification, as well as being significantly
older than other teachers at my school, I found
myself quietly contemplating the many strange and
silly practices which were considered professional
development.”
“We too, drove around the impoverished area of our
school and had a scavenger hunt to identify various
things and take pictures. I found this odd and
insulting to the ‘native’ inhabitants of the area,
who looked strangely on groups of more affluent
white people stopping to take photos and jumping
back in there cars.”
Mike Fiorello vents thusly, “What TFA should be saying
during those drive-arounds – where, presumably, the
windows are rolled-up and the doors locked tight while
they observe neighborhood residents as if they were
specimens – is that ‘everyone you see is an elected
official’s constituent, a citizen and human being, and
has been failed. And those officials and the people
who bankroll them are failures.’
“But TFA can’t say that, because to do so would
call into question its agenda and funding. So
instead, we get misdirection and scapegoating of
teachers, followed by attempts to remove the
statement when they were called on it.”
“This is an organization whose arrogance,
condescension, class antagonism and dishonesty
are in its DNA.”
However, all of this pales in comparison the post
from a TFA teacher-in-training by the name of
“Lida Mery”, and her description of the TFA
Institute and her reasons for quitting today
typing away as she stares at her packed suitcase.
I’ll add this in the next comment.
CONTINUED in next post
CONTINUED
On Gary Rubenstein’s blog, there’s a long post
from one “Lida Mery”, who says that,
one week shy of completion of the five-week
institute, she today left the program in disgust, and
posted her story (it’s the 14th comment down
on the comments list):
http://garyrubinstein.teachforus.org/2013/06/22/those-teachers-are-failures/
To her credit, she expresses guilt that her
getting a job via TFA mean that veteran
teachers were let go… well, I’ll just let
her tell her story…
Here’s the text:
(NOTE: the first sentence is a little confusing,
as onemight think that Lida is “teaching”—
i.e. one of the teachers—at the TFA Institute;
on the contrary Lida is indicating that he is a
student/trainee where part of the training is
includes “teaching” a summer school class of
actual students)
– – – – – – – – –
“Mr. Rubinstein,
“I am currently a 2013 CM teaching summer
school at institute. I wanted to express how
much I appreciate your blog since you bring
critical insight into the workings of TFA that
are troublesome and/or need improvement.
“I am a non-traditional student (albeit only a few
years older than most CM’s). For a long time, I
had thought that teaching was that one elusive
career for me and I applied to TFA so I can make
that a reality. I did not apply under a pretense
like most CM’s who just want to embellish their
resume. I actually wanted to teach and make
a difference.
“In my hometown in FL, many teachers are being
laid off. This is where TFA comes in…many
teachers are being laid off, yet Miami Dade county
is hiring inexperienced college grads through their
TFA contract. It is wrong, I admit but I went ahead
and subscribed to the unfair and unethical system.
“I was accepted into TFA and quit my job (my
permanent, full benefits job that I was good at)
so as to attend induction and institute. In the
meantime, I spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars
on certification exam materials, review, supplies for
institute, professional dress, etc….over $1500.
“It seemed to me induction was a major time-waster.
Days ran from 8 AM to 8 PM and ALL discussions
dealt with race and class diversity. You had a bunch
of 22 year old white, mid to upper class college grads
who were compelled to contemplate on their privileged
upbringing. I desperately wanted to start my teacher
training but I was told to be patient.
“That is what institute is for after all. I paid my $500
ticket to institute and there I was.
“Yet instead of actual teacher training, all we had
were grueling, exhausting, boot camp days where
the focus was on making us feel and act like fifth
graders. More race and class discussions followed
during the first week, followed by think pair share
partner discussions, silly games and then more
silly games.
“It was worse than a typical college atmosphere…
for non-traditional students it seemed unbearable.
“Nobody…none of the 22 year olds EVER questioned
anything. Not because they were afraid of repercussions
but because TFA is a cult and they were acting like
cult members. If anyone said jump, they would promptly
follow. Not a day went by when we did not have big circle
hugs, chants and motivational bits aimed at brainwashing
us even more than we were.
“Every day TFA used strategic behavioral techniques in
order to advance their brainwashing of CMs. School
would end at 1 PM but redundant lessons would run
until 5 PM and before we could go back to the dorms,
the school director would extend our schedule by 20
minutes, during which time we would sit by the door
while little ‘hot wheel’ cars would be given to
‘outstanding’ CM’s.
“Then 10 more minutes of shout-outs aimed at
motivating us to get through institute.
“The sheer exhaustion was not really necessary. The
endless, redundant sessions on race and class did
not make us better teachers… I wanted to be lectured
on teaching, I wanted actual experience in teaching rather
than little intimidating signs held up by our faculty advisor
or corps member advisor on how to behavior narrate.
“Yet all that was provided was game after game after
silly game.
“Our day would begin in our advisor’s room where we
would play little games, silly writes, draw pictures… etc. …
honestly I wanted to learn how to teach, I wanted to
prepare for my upcoming lesson, yet there I was having
to draw a silly picture so that TFA could teach us how
important it was for us to make teaching fun.
“They wanted us to start off the day for our students with
the same irrelevant fun stuff. Whereas I wanted to start
off the day by asking a critical question or journal entry
about the last lesson’s theme, I was strongly advised to
have fun kinesthetic activities for my students…that had
nothing to do with the concepts we were learning.
“But yet again no one questioned ANYTHING, not the
time-wasters, the schedule, the fact that we only had
4 hours of sleep max on many days even though we
were not really learning how to teach properly. I can
see why the brainwashing was effective.
“In essence, TFA stripped CM’s of choice, time and
decision-making processes during institute so CM’s
became engrossed in the cult….the main line of
thinking was: ‘Well, if I can get through this, I can get
through my sole two years as a teacher.’
“TFA loves to talk about differentiated instruction,
they love to suggest kinesthetic and visual activities
for our students, yet when it comes to them practicing
differentiated instruction, they are lacking. The two
non-traditional members in my school group were
the only ones feeling hopelessly misunderstood during
sessions. We would question things, we would roll our
eyes at big circle hugs and chants and we would resent
the fifth race and class discussion at 4 PM in the
afternoon or the miniature car shout out at the end
of the day that would prolong our day by a considerable
amount.
“The typical CM’s thought we were crazy. Why would
we question things? Why would we not participate in
the 30 minute teacher stare contest at 5 PM on a
Friday (even though we had more important things
to do like grading, reading and planning)?
“Most of our corps member advisors were clones.
They were racially diverse but nevertheless they were
clones in their demeanor, personality, approach,
philosophy. We were supposed to be clones of each
other. About 90% of my fellow CM’s, though there
was some racial diversity, were in fact individuals
with privileged backgrounds.
“I only met a handful of education majors that wanted
to stay in teaching for the long run. Most saw TFA
as an adventure.
“Their first job out of college and an exciting one at
that! I am quitting TFA and the reason is not because
I am exhausted, not because I do not think I can be a
good teacher. My summer school students respect me
and actually listen to me (which can be a hard feat in a
Title I school). My lessons are engaging and focused.
“The reason why I am quitting TFA is because I cannot
and will not be part of a cult. I feel like I am treated
fifth grader and no importance is given to my
individuality, my suggestions or needs. Even though
I executed my lessons much better than my fellow CM’s,
“I am quitting because TFA has made teaching horrible
in my eyes. They have denigrated the one profession
that I thought would be my long-lasting career.
“Even though I know I can be a good teacher, TFA has
left a sour taste in my mouth through its propaganda
and cult-like atmosphere. TFA has ruined teaching for
me. I don’t know how to get ‘it’ back. I am disillusioned.
“While I used to love to give presentations at my prior
job, I have now come to loathe even speaking in front
of a group because TFA has made everything so
mechanical and lackluster. I no longer have any
passion for teaching. I do not enjoy it any longer.
“I feel that TFA, through its brainwashing methods, has
stripped me of my passion for teaching and my dreams.”
“I am certain that this would not have happened had I
gone through a serious, traditional teaching program.
“As I am writing this, I am looking at my one
suitcase neatly arranged and sitting my dorm
room floor. Early in the morning, I will be flying
back home. Yet because of all the stigma
associated with quitting, I barely had any guts
to tell anyone, not even my closest friends here.
“Ethically, I also cannot bear to know that
traditionally trained, veteran teachers are out of
jobs in my hometown and people like myself
(with no training or experience in education)
are next in line for their jobs.
“I have lost over $2000 so far….I spent so much
on supplies, printer as I arrived at institute, I lost
my job, my dreams and my passion.
“All in 4 weeks of TFA-ness.
“Lida Mery”
Enabling the hostile takeover of public education, and enriching itself, IS Teach For America’s actual mission.
Oh, and by the way, America’s schoolchildren, especially those living in poverty, don’t need missionaries helicoptering in to have a cup of coffee in a public school classroom, while they use the kids as props on their Tumblr accounts. They need committed educators, decent housing, diet and health care, and living wage jobs for their parents.
But that’s a taboo subject in Best and Brightest Missionaries of Excellence Land, and a dangerous indicator of UnGoodThink, isn’t it?
How does the country provide living wage jobs except by growth in the economy, which at present is being suppressed by the debt and by the government’s borrowing to fund other undesirable or unnecessary programs? The “war on coal” is another perfect example of your own liberal radical agenda suppressing growth and job creation. I charge YOU and all those like you in ideology with depriving the poor of a living wage.
I accept full responsibility for “the war on coal,” Harlan, and for everything else, too.
If you were serious, that would be a start.
Harlan, how am I to take seriously someone who uses the terms “radical liberal” and ‘the war on coal” with a straight face?
Like many Tea Partiers, you often make salient points about the problems we face, but then go completely off the rails when discussing causes and remedies.
I personally don’t see what’s wrong with the phrase “war on coal.” You seem to suggest it is as bogus as the “war on women,” yet I suspect you think that the right really is engaged in a “war on women” to suppress their freedom of action and opportunities within the society.
Likewise “radical liberal.” There are many idealistic people whom I would consider liberal, but I consider President Obama a “radical” liberal because he SEEMS to want to alter the structure of constitutional government in this country by doing things by regulation he could not get through Congress. His so called “recess appointments” are a case in point. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear those cases.
Those two usages, do not, in my view, disqualify my ethos in commentating on contemporary events.
If you really find those phrases misleading language, you at least ought to explain why. You have some interesting views, but I do not see that you like to defend them with cogent argument.
Oh, well, what would one expect from Walker & his ilk? I’d advise him to talk to the governor of Minnesota, but that guy is a REAL Democrat.
Walker must have been talking to Illinois Democrats…who are really Republicans.
In North Carolina, the state has invested four million dollars in TFA despite getting rid of teacher assistants, cutting supplements for teachers for advanced degrees, eliminating class caps, and other misguided policies that will spell disaster for public schools. From Senate Bill 402
“Teach For America
$5,100,000
Current state support is $900,000. State support to increase by $5,100,000 to establish a TFA program in the Triad region, grow in the southeastern region, targeted subject specific recruitment and the assumption of management responsibilities for the NC Teacher Corps beginning 2014-15.”
Click to access summary-sb-402-2013.pdf
These are corporatist privatizers and they do nothing unless there is good profit in it. Read the Broad Foundation Report and they just lay it out. These people and organizations make no bones about what they are about and what they will do.
Louisiana BESE just approved another $1 million plus (annually) to fund 25 new and 23 second year TFAs. That does not cover salaries by the way or the additional $5,000 each for training fees that the state also pays. The fact that our Superintendent was CEO of TFA prior or that one member of BESE is the New Orleans director of TFA has not been deemed a conflict of interest in awarding these contracts. This is reminiscent of the Mafia control.
Yet, they are vilifying our colleges of education and professional teachers… I can’t wait to find a dentist with only 6 weeks of training and a few “strategies” to take care of my root canal!
:-)…Needed this respite !
Minnesota says NO to TFA:
http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/212573891.html
The rich get richer. Wisconsin, the state that destroyed collective bargaining and tried to tie teacher benefits to the economic crisis has no qualms in shelling out money to an organization that doesn’t need it. It’s just their way of turning the knife in the backs of hard-working, dedicated teachers.
PS: I really can’t stand Campbell Brown!! Shame on her and her awful NYC anti-teacher ad!!!!
And Campbell is so concerned about sexual predators while she and her hubby hang out with Rhee and Johnson, an admirer of teen girls. He likes to hang our with them late at night. Maybe she doesn’t know predators are closer than she thinks.
Click to access Phoenix_Police.source.prod_affiliate.4.pdf
When Kevin Johnson, the former NBA star who is now mayor of Sacramento, was under investigation last year for alleged financial misdeeds and inappropriate behavior with female students, he had an important ally behind the scenes.
Michelle Rhee, the nationally known education reformer who is now head of the Washington, D.C., public schools, had several conversations with a federal inspector general in which she made the case for Johnson and the school he ran in Sacramento, according to the inspector general. Rhee, who had served on the board of the school and is now engaged to marry Johnson, said he was “a good guy.”
Rhee’s position had little effect on the inspector general, Gerald Walpin, who filed a criminal referral to the U.S. attorney on Johnson, a self-described friend and supporter of President Obama. But both the Sacramento police and federal attorneys declined to pursue charges. Walpin, who protested the prosecutors’ handling of the case, was ultimately fired by the Obama White House in June. [LA Times]
– See more at: http://rokdrop.com/2009/11/23/michelle-rhee-linked-to-kevin-johnson-sex-scandal-cover-up/#sthash.giFjQkUb.dpuf
Proving once again, it’s who you know. I can kick myself for being so afraid of a Romney win, I voted for Obama when I really wanted to vote GREEN.
Health and Education intertwined?? TFA is now into public health???? Did they get a few weeks training for that as well??? Are we going to have TFA nurses instead of real nurses in each and every school??? Will TFA now be taking over public hospitals?? Will Pearson be timing operations???
I have not watched CNN since they treated Diane with such disrespect and then deleted all her readers’ comments off their wall.
CNN does not even have an Education Tab .
16 tabs.
As a Teach For America alumna who taught HS science in Eastern North Carolina, I am choosing to improve educational outcomes for my former students by transforming health education. After all, healthier students perform better in school. I chose to remain in NC to pursue my graduate studies and plan to work in the state to combat health disparities and educational inequities.
A fellow TFA alumna are starting a project titled MyHealthEd that aims to provide individualized comprehensive sex to students in low-resourced schools. By decreasing the rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, we hope to increase levels of educational attainment for all students. For more information, visit http://www.microryza.com/projects/myhealthed. Please support our endeavors!
Unionized public school teachers improve educational outcomes for their students everyday.
Please support OUR endeavors!
We are complementing the efforts of teachers by providing a multifaceted approach to promote health alongside what is already going on to promote education. Public health and public education are intertwined!
I am aware. Great ideas and hard work happen all the time and it not merely from TFA temps.
Your leadership demeans the career teacher and OUR profession.
Unfortunately your brand is tainted due to the eduvultures: Rhee, White, Huffman, Kopp and TFA scabs, who take jobs from certified, yet unemployed/laid off teachers.
Well said. I think the idea of national service could be harnessed for college grads who really want to make a contribution to our society, who may not be ready to commit to a career immediately following college, or who want some meaningful post college experience that offers work experience and personal development. However, it demeans and undermines our profession to assume that anyone with a college degree can walk into a classroom with 5 weeks of training and teach, not to speak of the questionable practice by states of devoting increasingly scarce public funds to such a program. It would be wiser to have some kind of network of national service for young people for this purpose.
But you didn’t remain a teacher. That’s a problem with TFA.
They aren’t making teachers. They are making 2-year space fillers who use “teaching” as a stepping stone to go do something else. Who cares what you’re going to do next. You didn’t stay in the classroom – where the help really needs to be.
I imagine many of the male students are enthusiastic about “individualized comprehensive sex.” As a high school student, I know I would have been.
Larry Flynt might be a potential investor for this, and hopefully it won’t be the obscenity TFA is.