The Daily OrangeTeach for America inspires students but not effective in long run
By Krystie Yandoli
Posted: 9/24/08, 12:36 AM EST Section: Opinion
There have been three words coming out of everyone's mouth on campus due to upcoming application deadlines and information session advertisements: Teach for America. Between conversations among seniors and enthusiastic former members, Teach for America has been the buzz around Syracuse University.
Millions of American children are dropping out of high school. Largely poor, only a fraction of these teenagers will ever graduate high school.
Teach for America is a non-profit organization that assists underprivileged students in the inner city schools of the United States. The organization distributes educated college graduates throughout needy national school districts. Teach for America instructors provide two years of high-level education that underprivileged students don't experience due to class differences.
The program has a strong reputation and good intentions but has a major weakness: It employs short-term teachers who are not in it for the long haul.
The two-year time commitment for Teach for America is appealing to students with other plans for their future but want to find a way to contribute to a mission of social change. Good intentions aside, impoverished children should not be taught by people do not have long-term plans to continue teaching.
The students deserve to be taught by teachers who are in it for the long haul. The two-year mark leaves teachers with an impression that they are fulfilling their duties within this time period and do not need to continue with their efforts.
Despite recent recruiting efforts, some students are still skeptical.
"Teach for America sounds like an interesting idea, but I don't have any interest," said Briana Bartel, a television, radio and film major. "It seems like a process that has no continuation, and doing something for two years isn't going to get the country in the right direction towards bettering our education system."
It is only a step in the right direction toward making a real change in the public education system, not a solution to the whole problem.
Millions of American children are dropping out of high school. Largely poor, only a fraction of these teenagers will ever graduate high school.
Teach for America is a non-profit organization that assists underprivileged students in the inner city schools of the United States. The organization distributes educated college graduates throughout needy national school districts. Teach for America instructors provide two years of high-level education that underprivileged students don't experience due to class differences.
The program has a strong reputation and good intentions but has a major weakness: It employs short-term teachers who are not in it for the long haul.
The two-year time commitment for Teach for America is appealing to students with other plans for their future but want to find a way to contribute to a mission of social change. Good intentions aside, impoverished children should not be taught by people do not have long-term plans to continue teaching.
The students deserve to be taught by teachers who are in it for the long haul. The two-year mark leaves teachers with an impression that they are fulfilling their duties within this time period and do not need to continue with their efforts.
Despite recent recruiting efforts, some students are still skeptical.
"Teach for America sounds like an interesting idea, but I don't have any interest," said Briana Bartel, a television, radio and film major. "It seems like a process that has no continuation, and doing something for two years isn't going to get the country in the right direction towards bettering our education system."
It is only a step in the right direction toward making a real change in the public education system, not a solution to the whole problem.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
thecapedcrusader
George Peters
posted 9/24/08 @ 5:27 PM EST
A couple of things:
1.) The need for teachers is so great that if someone is willing to do it for only two years, especially in an inner city school, their help and all help should be appreciated. (Continued…)
Al
posted 9/24/08 @ 11:15 PM EST
While it may be your opinion, there's no hard evidence that says TFA isn't effective in the long run. In fact, it's quite the contrary.
I also will add an anecode. (Continued…)
WHO is feeding you guys this baloney?
posted 10/04/08 @ 6:09 AM EST
"The need for teachers is so great" that Michelle Rhees is FIRING FACULTY RIGHT AND LEFT to make room for more TFA people! Don't be so damned full of yourselves. (Continued…)
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