[AMSS]

Originally Posted by fearlessly

These sort of people tend to not aim for overall statewide quality, but rather to improve educational inequality. For years, Connecticut has LED THE NATION in achievement gap AS WELL as being home to one of the highest quality educational systems in the US. I think that's the issue that privatizers, charter school proponents, and Teach for America employees are trying to tackle; because I know CT is a rich white guy upper-middle middle-upper state, but we tend to forget that our poor and people of color are living very different lives...

Bull****. They do nothing but perpetuation inequality and exploit poor students and parents to get them some nice government contracts. The achievement gap exists long before kids get to school and TFA and the other reform scumbags (that's what they are) ignore that and think drilling kids to be test taking machines is the answer. There are plenty of teacher in the inner cities (some who live there, some who don't) that know what needs to be done to bring inner city students up. But congress doesn't listen to them because they are too busy being wined and dined by reform organization who want to blame teachers for every societal ill. How dare you say that they "forget them". TFA is not interested in tackling inequality. They are interested in growing their organization, turning teaching into a minimum wage job, and convincing poor families that only wealthy white people can save them.

[NewJeffCT]

Umm, you guys seem to be agreeing that you don't like charter/private schools? I think somebody misread something somewhere?

[AMSS]

Originally Posted by fearlessly

This is a truly idiotic post for somebody who claims that CT having high quality of education = there's no educational inequality in the state.

Where did I say there wasn't inequality? I said the people you claim are trying to end it are not...and they aren't, they are making money leading people to believe they are and only idiotic people fall for it. Good job.

[BicoastalAnn]

Originally Posted by AMSS

Where did I say there wasn't inequality? I said the people you claim are trying to end it are not...and they aren't, they are making money leading people to believe they are and only idiotic people fall for it. Good job.

What's up with the TFA hate. These are well-educated people who choose to teach at some of the most dangerous, challenging schools in the country. Yes... TFA teachers make money just like "normal teachers." So what?? The way I see it, the more well-educated teachers in the system the better. Who cares whether they apply to TFA or apply at the school.

[BPt111]

Connecticut suburbs like Greenwich, Old saybrook, Simsbury

[AMSS]

Originally Posted by BicoastalAnn

What's up with the TFA hate. These are well-educated people who choose to teach at some of the most dangerous, challenging schools in the country. Yes... TFA teachers make money just like "normal teachers." So what?? The way I see it, the more well-educated teachers in the system the better. Who cares whether they apply to TFA or apply at the school.

Five weeks of training, focus on nothing but test scores, treat inner city kids as animals who need to be saved by wealthy white people, exploit the plight of poor kids, leave after two years, force "finder's fee" contracts" on districts, lay off traditional teachers in process (it's happened), have a cult like mentality where those that left now work for the firm by either lobbying state and federal governments for huge grants and special status for TFA, opening up "consulting" businesses and charter schools and gaining more tax payer funded contracts through the TFA connection. Sorry - they are slime. I used to forgive idealistic college grads for joining TFA and wanting to make a difference. But if they are truly the best and brightest, then they could see for themselves that this oranization is a cancer.

Now why do you think traditionally trained teachers aren't well educated?

[BicoastalAnn]

Originally Posted by AMSS

Five weeks of training, focus on nothing but test scores, treat inner city kids as animals who need to be saved by wealthy white people, exploit the plight of poor kids, leave after two years, force "finder's fee" contracts" on districts, lay off traditional teachers in process (it's happened), have a cult like mentality where those that left now work for the firm by either lobbying state and federal governments for huge grants and special status for TFA, opening up "consulting" businesses and charter schools and gaining more tax payer funded contracts through the TFA connection. Sorry - they are slime. I used to forgive idealistic college grads for joining TFA and wanting to make a difference. But if they are truly the best and brightest, then they could see for themselves that this oranization is a cancer.

Now why do you think traditionally trained teachers aren't well educated?

I don't know about all the behind the scenes stuff but several of my friends did TFA and worked their butts off and really cared for what they were doing (none were "wealthy white people" actually - not that there's anything wrong with it). Maybe the system is messed up but those kids are putting off a much easier life to go do a difficult job... they're idealistic, sure, but shouldn't we be encouraging kids to be idealistic and help under-served communities when possible. And I didn't say traditionally trained teachers aren't well educated... I said the more teachers, from any source, who are well educated the better.

[Wilton2ParkAve]

Originally Posted by AMSS

Five weeks of training, focus on nothing but test scores, treat inner city kids as animals who need to be saved by wealthy white people, exploit the plight of poor kids, leave after two years, force "finder's fee" contracts" on districts, lay off traditional teachers in process (it's happened), have a cult like mentality where those that left now work for the firm by either lobbying state and federal governments for huge grants and special status for TFA, opening up "consulting" businesses and charter schools and gaining more tax payer funded contracts through the TFA connection. Sorry - they are slime. I used to forgive idealistic college grads for joining TFA and wanting to make a difference. But if they are truly the best and brightest, then they could see for themselves that this oranization is a cancer.

Now why do you think traditionally trained teachers aren't well educated?

You nailed it, great post. Their "save the world" money grab is strikingly similar to carbon tax and trade.

[Mr_250]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Connecticut suburbs like Greenwich, Old saybrook, Simsbury

What does this statement even mean?

[AMSS]

Originally Posted by BicoastalAnn

I don't know about all the behind the scenes stuff but several of my friends did TFA and worked their butts off and really cared for what they were doing (none were "wealthy white people" actually - not that there's anything wrong with it). Maybe the system is messed up but those kids are putting off a much easier life to go do a difficult job... they're idealistic, sure, but shouldn't we be encouraging kids to be idealistic and help under-served communities when possible. And I didn't say traditionally trained teachers aren't well educated... I said the more teachers, from any source, who are well educated the better.

Make it a better source then. A program that allows a two year stint in unstable communities is a bad idea. Letting kids think they are a community service project is demeaning. I'm glad they worked their butts off...welcome to the club of those that still do that. How sweet of them to sacrifice a much more lucrative and easy life to join those lifers who are teaching poor kids as a career. Are any of your friends still teaching? Do they believe in what the TFA brass has become (nothing more than a pyramid scheme)? Many alumni have issues with the road TFA has gone down. I'm good with alternative programs for people interested in teaching as a career; those that see it a small stint to jack up their law school applications or resumes can stay away.