Just Say No to Teach for America
Just Say No to Teach for America
by Erik Loomis
by Erik Loomis
Teach for America is being played out as this great progressive movement. “You, young bright-eyed college graduate, can go out and change the world through willpower and optimism.” TFA taps into deeply seated notions which reside in 21st century young people about the ability of the empowered individualism to create positive change in society. But the reality of Teach for America is far more sinister. In effect, the agency serves as the shock troops for busting teacher unions and sends inner-city kids the message that they don’t deserve qualified and experienced teachers. Chicago Public Schools teacher Katie Osgood has a long open letter urging TFA recruits to turn it down. In part:
Teach for America likely enticed you into the program with the call for ending education inequality. That is a beautiful and noble mission. I applaud you on being moved by the chance to help children, of being a part of creating equality in our schools, of ending intelligent, to have the skills necessary to help our neediest children. This fall, on that first day of school, you will be alone with kids who need so much more. You will represent one more inequality in our education system denying kids from low-income backgrounds