<p>* have had some very honest discussions about race, racism, gerrymandering of school districts to keep the white schools white and the black schools black, and the like.*</p>
<p>Speaking of…
[Mom</a> Convicted of Felony, Jailed for Fraudulently Sending Kids to Safer School](<a href=“http://gawker.com/5743399/mom-convicted-of-felony-jailed-for-fraudulently-sending-kids-to-safer-school]Mom”>Mom Convicted of Felony, Jailed for Fraudulently Sending Kids to Safer School)</p>
<p>God, what a heartbreaking story. It hammers home that we certainly do not have equality of education in this country. (And yet we have lots of energy for arguing about how not to achieve it.)</p>
<p>The story reminds me of “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” - anyone else remember? When Francie’s father helped her attend the great little school they found instead of the slum school in their neighborhood?</p>
<p>Wouldn’t even be ATTEMPTED in the community where D teaches, emeraldkitty4. Thank you for sharing the article.</p>
<p>
Just pointing out that there are more than 5 weeks of training and preparation involved before TFA corps members enter their own classrooms. My d was required to take both parts of the Praxis exam before her training began - which she did while completing her senior year in college. There was also intensive required reading, accompanied by writing assignments and teacher observation - she did these between graduating from college and beginning her institute.</p>
<p>A major problem is indeed that these are resource-poor teaching environments. One of TFA’s major selection criteria is how effective each applicant is as a problem solver, because they’re looking for creative ways to deal with limited resources. Like many teachers, TFA and otherwise, my d has invested quite a bit of money in classroom materials. And she has also made off with more than 100 books from her childhood (that I was saving for grandchildren :)) for a classroom library - though I’m happy to have them well-used in this way.</p>
<p>My D also had to take the Praxis exam before she could teach. In fact, she had to take Praxis exams for TWO different subjects. TFA administrators told her she would be teaching advanced high school mathematics, so she took and passed that Praxis. Then when she got there for the training, they said she’d be teaching high school civics instead, so she took that Praxis exam and passed that one too. Those exams require a lot of critical throught and a necessary ability to convey HOW you would present the material to your students for optimal learning and retention. It’s not just a focus on if you know the subject.</p>
<p>Our son is applying to TFA right now and is hoping to get admitted and hired in the new Seattle program. He is aware of the potential drawbacks, but is really excited about the opportunity. I think that it sounds like a very interesting program, despite the level of controversy involved. Of course, the typical person with an education degree is better-trained than the typical TFA-trained person, but that does not necessarily mean that a particular degreed individual will be more successful than a TFA individual.</p>
<p>Well, I’m hoping the practice Praxis ll tests I found online to help my SIL prepare for the Wa licensing process( she was certified in Indiana & Colorado) are not an indication of the level needed, because I didn’t have any difficulty with any section & I don’t even have a high school diploma.
( but I admit, I have been to a few weekend workshops for educators in order to better understand what was needed to help parents- especially those with SPED or ESL students , so perhaps I picked up the lingo)
[PRAXIS</a> II Guide](<a href=“http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073525820/student_view0/praxis_ii_guide.html]PRAXIS”>http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073525820/student_view0/praxis_ii_guide.html)</p>
<p>Yeah, the Praxis tests are not very impressive, but it tells you something that they are set at that level because a significant number of people coming out of teaching programs who want to teach, and existing teachers who need re-certification, find them challenging.</p>
<p>More importantly, TFA may devote only 5 weeks to training people for teaching in a challenging environment, but (a) they pick very strong people, many of whom have prior relevant experience, (b) it is an extremely intensive 5 weeks, and (c) it is 5 weeks more than many traditional teaching programs provide.</p>
<p>Boy, the Calculus-based Praxis that my D took sure looked difficult to me when I looked at the material she was studying beforehand. But hey, it could have been me - I guess there’s a reason I’m an attorney and not an engineer. ;)</p>
<p>I do think that the teaching profession can be helped by some new energy & I think that the education programs in some schools need an overhaul.
I expect the lack of rigor in those schools, turns some students off & I would agree that some programs do not have enough class room experience.</p>
<p>My oldest is currently engaged in a MAT program which is * very* practical, she is considered staff at a K-8 school( in Oregon), and is team teaching for two years in a looped classroom. While some programs that require teachers to spend time with more than one age group also could be very useful,( although it is a small school, so she does have contact with other grades) I am glad she is getting a lot of experience ( & being paid) :)</p>
<p>My contention with TFA in our district stems from a few things.
We are far from having a teacher shortage- I would agree that schools could be more deliberate in * hiring* teachers, I have been on several hiring committees including for principals & IMO, the best candidate doesn’t always get chosen.</p>
<p>Our district doesn’t * like* innovation & punishes rather than rewards teachers who go above and beyond , so that they can say they have " curriculum alignment".</p>
<p>For instance, my D@ attended an excellent inner city high school, with very experienced teachers, some who have written their own curriculum and go well above & beyond in supporting the students.</p>
<p>They do have many AP classes, but over years have developed their own Marine Biology curriculum ( for example) , that is very rigorous and which the UW will give college credit for.
The * district* recently made it so that class so it does not fulfill any science credit for graduation- only " elective", ( & they want to increase required vocational credits).
This is because the course is not replicated at any other schools & apparently the effort to reduce the " achievement gap" means to lower the bar. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I have long thought that education ( like other professional type degrees- such as engineering or business), are better placed in post-bac programs, & I still think that.( & I believe in our state we don’t have any undergrad education programs)</p>
<p>I would hope that school districts would have better communication with our state schools of education- our district at least certainly has enough money going to administration to do so, but I haven’t seen much change in the past twenty years.</p>
<p>I admit I was all for TFA when I first heard about it, my D1 did Americorps before college, working in low income communities, which she found very involving. But while I have read quite a few blogs of TFAers talking about how they feel overwhelmed & undersupported, I haven’t found much saying the opposite, which concerns me, because in our district teachers are already stretched thin, I imagine that the teachers we found so inspiring at D’s high school would be the type to mentor the TFA teachers, but that isn’t the sort of school they will be placed in.</p>
<p>If I have missed this, I apologize. Is there any type of student loan forgiveness related to TFA?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[Compensation</a> and Benefits - Teach For America](<a href=“http://www.teachforamerica.org/admissions/faqs/finances/]Compensation”>http://www.teachforamerica.org/admissions/faqs/finances/)
"Does Teach For America help with student loans and/or future educational expenses?*
Because Teach For America is currently a member of AmeriCorps, our corps members who (1) have not served previously as AmeriCorps members and (2) are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or nationals are eligible for the following AmeriCorps benefits:</p>
<p>•Loan forbearance (a period of time during the repayment period in which the borrower is permitted to temporarily postpone making regular monthly payments)and interest payments on qualified student loans during their two years of service.
•An education award of $5,350 at the end of each year of service (a total of $10,700 over the two years), which may be used toward future educational expenses or to repay qualified student loans.**
*Recent changes to the national service law, including increasing the amount of the education award and expanding the definition for qualified student loans, will likely not go into effect until the 2010-2011 school year. Corps members will be notified should these changes go into effect sooner.</p>
<p>** Teach For America is currently a member of AmeriCorps. Given the nature of the AmeriCorps competitive grant process and the dependence on Congressional funding cycles, we cannot guarantee these benefits for the 2010 corps until receiving final confirmation in spring 2010. Recent changes in national service laws may result in an increase to the education award for 2010-2011."</p>
<p>"Does Teach For America offer loan cancellation or loan forgiveness?</p>
<p>Teach For America and AmeriCorps do not offer loan cancellation or loan forgiveness programs. However, some state and federal agencies offer loan cancellation programs to corps members who complete their two-year commitment."</p>
<p>thanks^^^^</p>
<p>To add to what JHS, Frazzled and ColoradoMom have already said about training: in addition to the intense summer institute training and pre-institute work and exams, there is a lot of ongoing training required throughout the year. At least in the Colorado Corps this means several mandatory workweek evening and full day Saturday workshops. Plus, each tfa corps member has a person assigned to him or her who does regular observations and provides support and feedback.</p>
<p>I just found this thread. Son is headed to Memphis TFA. Anyone know anything about Memphis? He is very happy to be going there.</p>
<p>I just bought Wendy Kopp’s (founder of TFA) new book, “A Chance to Make History: What Works and What Doesn’t in Providing an Excellent Education for All” ([Amazon.com:</a> A Chance to Make History: What Works and What Doesn’t in Providing an Excellent Education for All (9781586487409): Wendy Kopp: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Chance-Make-History-Providing-Excellent/dp/158648740X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296606994&sr=1-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Chance-Make-History-Providing-Excellent/dp/158648740X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296606994&sr=1-1)).
From the professional and reader reviews on Amazon, it sounds like it will be a good read. She apparently addresses most of the criticisms outlined in previous posts, so that should be interesting. I’ll let you know when I finish it.</p>
<p>Our son is having his first TfA screening interview tomorrow. It seems to be a 3-step process: Application - screening interview - final interview.</p>
<p>^Actually, I think I remember three interview stages, at least a few years ago. There was a phone interview, a more substantial one-on-one interview, and a half-day+ group interview with multiple candidates, multiple interviewers/evaluators, and multiple exercises.</p>
<p>And wasn’t there a 20-minute lesson presentation to the group somewhere in there? I remember my d working on “do not” = “don’t.”</p>
<p>Best of luck to your son, ALF! My d was at TFA’s 20th anniversary conference in DC this weekend and said it was the most inspiring event she’d ever attended.</p>
<p>Good luck to your son, ALF, and let us know what happens!</p>