Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Newsweek On Teach For America

It's a short article that's light on analysis, but go take a read anyway.

4 comments:

DADvocate said...

An excellent read. Getting better teachers is a complex problem. Better pay, increased discipline of students and less Mickey Mouse administrative crap would help.

I thought about teaching at times but then I thought, "Who wants to put up with that crap for such little pay." By crap I meant disruptive students, school politics, angry parents, over regulation, etc.

I graduated from H.S. in 1969 making me part of the generation to which more recent ones are often compared. If we misbehaved in school we were punished, sometimes physically. When we got home, we were punished again, sometimes physically again. Now too many schools and households lack solid discipline.

I've rarely used physical discipline with my kids, less than once a year on average. They're too old to spank now. But they know if they screw up there will be consequences.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this. As a Teach For America alumna, I thought you might be interested in how the second part of the mission plays out as mentioned at the end of the article.

Many of us choose to stay in the classroom for a third year or even longer while others use the experience to expand educational opportunities for students in some way.

That's exactly what we (myself and another TFA alum, Eli Savit) are seeking to do with a new educational non-profit that engages individuals in meaningful giving to kids in low-income communities.

Unlike traditional charities--where donors just open their checkbooks and aren't 100% sure where the money goes--The Generation Project gives donors creative control over gifts geared toward high-need students. So, YOU can give gifts based on what experiences YOU think are important, engaging you in the process of becoming an educational philanthropist. Check us out at www.thegenerationproject.org to learn more.

Right now we're in a contest on ideablob.com to help us win $10,000 in much-needed start-up costs. Please vote for us! This doesn't cost you a penny and it only takes 2 minutes of your time! (Please help spread the word if you like the idea)

Vote NOW through AUGUST 31st:

http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/2889-Share-YOUR ...

ALSO vote here if you have 2 more minutes:
http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/UA ...

I hope you don't mind the plug. Your blog is great and definitely lends new perspectives on some issues. Keep up the good work.

Darren said...

Let's get the full URLs out there:

http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/2889-Share-YOUR-passion-with-kids-T?filtered_view=true

I can't get the URL for the Members Project site. If you come back, post it again, please!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much, Darren! I'm not sure why it cut off before...

Here is the link to The Member's Project:

http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/UAKFMD

I really appreciate your support. If you and your readers like the idea, please pass the word around :)