tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post3785408630206854741..comments2023-11-03T04:00:24.785-04:00Comments on Kentucky School News and Commentary: Teach for America Expanding into ApplachiaRichard Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586435007687942849noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-64908741117389537392011-05-02T00:33:08.128-04:002011-05-02T00:33:08.128-04:00I actually heard about this recently in my car on ...I actually heard about this recently in my car on the radio. I really like this idea. Teach for America seems to be a great organization. However, I believe we need the best and brightest in EVERY county in eastern Kentucky. I am from the southeastern Kentucky area and while I did not attend a public school, I heard stories about pitiful teachers who considered pushing play on the DVD player an education. I am not generalizing about teachers in that area, and I am sure that there are lousy teachers everywhere, but many times in school systems in small communities it is politics before qualifications. I also think that for eastern Kentucky in particular we should be looking within our communities for community members who are going to become educators, as opposed to getting teacher from outside. There needs to be more incentives for the best and brightest to come back home as opposed to moving to the county over because there is "more to do" there. In my opinion, the education you receive early in school impacts your mindset for the rest of your life, and teachers cannot take that lightly. <br /><br />On another note, I'm curious as to why they are opening their central office in Hazard, but won't have a presence in the Perry County school.Jonathan Sizemorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-3811963156097732502011-04-08T08:46:11.412-04:002011-04-08T08:46:11.412-04:00Good for you.
Teach for America seems to be built...Good for you.<br /><br />Teach for America seems to be built on one idea: that the best teachers were the smartest students. <br /><br />There is some evidence to support the idea that student achievement is greatest when the teachers' own test scores are high. The average GPA of Teach for America folks in 2008 was 3.6. Then they send their recruits to work with the most needy children after a training program that has been widely criticized for being too short.<br /><br />This would seem to be resume padding and American missionary work for many participants.<br /><br />Anecdotal information from a few former Cassidy students leads me to conclude that the work for these ideological and enthusiastic kids is just as hard for them as it is for every other teacher. The difference is that in most cases, the Teach for America folks are soon gone from the profession.<br /><br />A 2008 study reported that only 43% stayed more than two years and 35% past four years.<br /><br />It's hard to predict what long-term results will accrue from this revolving door-style personnel policy.Richard Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586435007687942849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776587.post-49142423353258035112011-04-07T23:48:32.413-04:002011-04-07T23:48:32.413-04:00I believe in Teach For America (TFA), and I'm ...I believe in Teach For America (TFA), and I'm not threatened by non-traditional teachers in the classroom. However, I am simply unconvinced that these TFA teachers are any better than any other enthusiastic, well-educated Kentucky teacher who makes herself available outside of class to help students succeed. <br /><br />With daily review and guided in-class practice and a great classroom management sytem (along with the support of principals when it comes to discipline) most teachers can help most of their students succeed.<br /><br />There will, however, always be that crowd of students who are not interested in school, who refuse to do homework, who refuse to abide by the rules. I'm unconvinced that even Teach for America teachers can change those students. But I have no objection to the offspring of Barry Bingham paying to send these modern-day Annie Sullivans into the classrooms and let them try!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com