Yesterday I discussed Peter Campbell's criticism of Teach for America as unworkable on a large scale. Because "success" --meaning higher test scores-- is predicated on both teachers and students working longer and harder (much, much longer and harder) than can realistically be expected of typical educators and their students, the TFA approach has limited utility in the reform of public schools.
In his second essay, Campbell suggests the "apolitical" zealotry of Teach for America recruits undermines progressive efforts to remedy the plight of poor and minority students who are most likely to struggle in school. The TFA mantra of "no excuses" for poverty or other extenuating conditions that hamper learning is at the heart of the problem.
Campbell puts it this way:
Teach for America's founder, Wendy Kopp, has acknowledged the importance of poverty-ameliorating pre-school programs. But then, Campbell says, "...she turns around and argues that poverty should not be used as an excuse for why our schools won't work."
He then asks:
That "powerful policy statement" plays right into the hands of neoliberal and libertarian think tanks which argue for increased testing for accountability, teacher pay for performance (merit pay), charter schools, and even, from the libertarians, school vouchers. All of these "market" solutions threaten the very existence of public education.
Teach for America, in a very real sense, aids and abets the undermining of public schools.
Many Teach for America alumni go on to train for leadership positions in education. According to Campbell that's not something to be celebrated. In a comment to his own blog post, he describes Wendy Kopp's praise of a TFA alum who was "on track to become the youngest graduate ever of Harvard's National Institute for Urban School Leaders."
Campbell's response:
One final note. I've watched several interviews on PBS' NewHour with first and second year TFA teachers toiling in the non-charter half of the revamped New Orleans school district. The interviewees, without exception, looked shell-shocked by the experience.
No matter how it's spun, none of these young teachers looked like they were on the road to "success."
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