Narrative vs. Counter-narrative: Teach For America in their own words
What do Teach For America corps members say in private conversation? How can you not love Teach For America after having a conversation with one of their gregarious and articulate supporters? Their rhetoric is convincing— typically tugging on the heartstrings. Have you also noticed that they are also masters of citing data that they have NEVER released or had independently verified by the public? Anyways, let us begin with a personal Facebook message that is typical of what you see in Teach For America’s glossy brochures (and from their lobbyist andembedded staffers on Capitol Hill).
TFA Narrative:
I am defending my experience as a young Chicano who is the product of a broken public education system (DPS)… I am also defending my experience as someone who had the opportunity to be trained by TFA and serve, alongside other peers whom I admire and respect, countless of students in South Texas with similar experiences as mine and we witnessed the success of those efforts within 36 months…… When you mix veteran teachers (many experienced BUT burned out) with young, vibrant, idealistic, and energized teachers (also with experience), it creates a different working relationship and atmosphere and increases accountability.
TFA counter-narrative:
Not all TFA alums think that the corps is as lovely as he does. For example, read these experiences previously