New DI Column: Teach for America
by Jon Monteith • Mar 28th, 2007 at 10:08 am • 3 comments
Not my strongest column, but due to the subject matter, it hit #8 on U-wire and prompted an interview request from the D.C.-based Chronicle of Higher Education. Here you are.
There was a fairly feisty exchange on the DI comment section between an incoming TFA corps member and a grad student in education (well, he says he is, at least). I enjoyed it.
Any thoughts out there on Teach for America? Is it too idealistic for its own good?
Comment by kofi the no means yes on 29 March 2007 at 9:11 pm:
My first impression after reading the column was that you were not doing it for the pragmatic reasons. You go on and on about the connections you will make, the top-tier schools that will give you preference, the political elbows you will get to rub. And then you try to end the article as though it’s all about the children. Allow me to clean it up for you:
Upon learning that Teach For America was far from being the two-year professional hiatus that I had imagined, my concerns about the day-to-day classroom stress were not enough on their own to pull me away from such a brilliant career opportunity
And in doing so, we are making an important promise to our nation’s neediest children: where you’re born and how much money your parents make does not have to stop you from getting the education that you deserve, especially when its going to pay off so well for me.
“Teach for America: Why it is so hard to say no.” Your answer seems to be because it’s going to shine on your resume and get your foot into some tightly guarded, lucrative doors; not that it’s hard to turn your back on needy children you deserve quality education.
Comment by kofi the you was not the correct word there on 29 March 2007 at 9:12 pm:
correction: “children who deserve quality education.”
Comment by Jon on 30 March 2007 at 6:57 pm:
Do you mean your first impression was that I AM doing it for the pragmatic, rather than idealistic, reasons?
In any case, I am open about the fact that even with my passion for seeing social and economic justice become a reality in this country, I would really find it hard to say yes to a two-year commitment that was 100% unrelated to my professional track. This path combines the two, and I want the many other UIUC students who are considering Teach for America to know that it could do the same for them. Do you actually see a problem there?
Just like I doubt you’re in law school solely to serve as an advocate for the underprivileged who need your legal representation the most, most of the high-achieving student leaders who do Teach for America aren’t carbon copies of Mother Theresa. I see no point in pretending to be in my column. I think it’s important to emphasize that TFA is a way for us to help those who need it the most without checking every last personal goal at the door.