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Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Can anyone teach?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Teach for America will have about 3,700 new teachers working in the country’s poorest schools next school year. This marks the largest class for the program that recruits graduates from the nation’s most prestigious colleges and sends them to teach for two years.
Some school districts, including Atlanta Public Schools, have had good experiences with these teachers. They’re bright, young and energetic. Many entered the program because they wanted to give something back to society. And the program provides teachers to urban and rural schools where few experienced teachers are willing to work.
Others find problems with the program. They say many teachers are unqualified because they receive about a month of training before landing in a classroom. Many critics point out that fewer than 5 percent of the teachers were education majors, further questioning whether they can do the job.
What do you think of this program? Would you want to work with one of these teachers? Would you be comfortable with them teaching your child?
