<p>[Ford:</a> Don?t forget the prep schools | Yale Daily News](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2010/dec/02/ford-dont-forget-prep-schools/]Ford:”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2010/dec/02/ford-dont-forget-prep-schools/)</p>
<p>My mom, who was in various levels of public school education from teacher on through asst. superintendent, has always abhorred the idea of sending bright young kids into inner-city schools. A program seeking to make a real impact, she would say, would send the highly experienced teacher into that environment, so that the people interacting with the kids: can spot issues before they’re a crisis, know the myriad resources that are out there and know how to get them delivered where they’re most needed, have the confidence and maturity and gray hair that’s required to be advocates for the kids when they’re greeted with hurdles and resistance and negativity, etc. If you want to FEEL like you’re doing something for at-risk kids, create a student loan forgiveness program and throw inexperienced, wet-behind-the-ears teachers at the situation. But if the goal is to help the kids learn and not help the new teachers get out from debt, then create a program that puts the best teachers in those tough-as-nails schools. That’s what she did when she “retired.” She went back to teach.</p>
<p>I think this column is right…because young teachers can make a strong impact if they’re in an environment where they can teach and they’re getting support. The boarding school environment removes most of the barriers-to-entry that young teachers face if they’re dumped off in an inner-city school. And it lets the young teachers shine and excel at the things that they’re best able to share. Then again, as long as nobody in government is willing to get serious and deliver excellent, experienced teachers to the inner-city schools then it’s hard to say that TFA is a bad thing. In a vacuum of meaningful support, it’s a great thing. It’s just that it’s a bad thing that it’s a great thing…if you follow.</p>
<p>Not sure I am following, DM.</p>
<p>But I agree with the commentator at the bottom of the article. The kids in BS who are underprivileged have already proven they are great students. Sure without the means, they are at risk also of not making use of their talents.</p>
<p>The kids in TFA are both underprivileged and at risk of failing out, many with likely Learning Disorders. It takes a special teacher and person to take on this crowd who not only has to teach and inspire, but often take care of basic needs.</p>
<p>My niece who graduated from Georgetown (local public high school BTW), was a TFA for two years. She used to bring in bagels herself twice a week as many of the kids had no food (way different than BS).</p>
<p>No new knowledge to us when it comes to these well-known boarding schools, but for day schools, are Horace Mann and Harvard-Westlake the best out there in reaching out to low-income students? Only 17% of Horace Mann students are on financial aid. And their need-blind admission is acutually a misuse (?) of the term:
While I believe need-blind admission means 1)Admission decisions don’t take one’s financial conditions into consideration; 2) All admitted students’ financial needs are met fully. And that’s why not so many colleges and even fewer secondary schools can claim need-blind because it does require financial strengths and more importantly commitment.</p>
<p>Harvard-Westlake’s admission is super competitive, and FA applicants are put in a even more competitive pool. A couple of years ago, I went to an open-house of the school. The parking lot was packed with Mercedes - not uncommon on the top BS campuses of course but did look richer. And I don’t know how much they spent on that day - definately the best food offerings even seen on a a campus.</p>
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<p>Exactly…which is why it’s just silly to address that situation with freshly-graduated young adults. Bringing in bagels is swell, but a truly meaningful program would bring in fully experienced teachers from nearby districts. In other words “bus the teachers in.” This is not a knock against TFA. In the absence of any real will to address the needs of at-risk kids, TFA is a godsend. However, I think the author is right to commend boarding schools to young graduates. There they have the opportunity to make an impact on at-risk kids without also having to navigate situations that even experienced teachers would find challenging and without having to buck a system that they’re in no position to buck because they have none of the credibility of experienced teachers.</p>
<p>The problem with TFA is not TFA or its teachers. It’s that the kids that TFA serves should be getting seasoned veterans, not brand new trainees. That’s not TFA’s fault. It’s the lack of resolve from politicians to do what’s needed to fix the system and deliver teaching resources where they’re most needed.</p>
<p>Actually there are plenty of problems with TFA… well meaning young kids are thrown into an environment that they aren’t prepared for, with minimal mentoring to support them. It does them AND their students a disservice.</p>
<p>If a Yale graduate wants to stick his big toe into the world of teaching, prep schools are an excellent place to start. He’ll be in a supportive environment and learn the ropes of how to teach effectively from the master teachers on staff. He’ll learn pretty quickly if he really loves being in the classroom. If he doesn’t like it in this ideal environment, he’ll exit the profession quickly. If he does, he can go on to work in a school in a high poverty area, if he so chooses. A very close friend of mine did exactly that over 25 years ago and is still teaching today in a poor rural school. </p>
<p>The idea that someone should go teach for a couple of years until he figures out what he really wants to do with his life is insulting to the profession of teaching.</p>
<p>I agree though with you D’Yer, that it’s the seasoned vets that those at-risk kids need, not the doe-eyed newbies fresh from college.</p>
<p>Got it, D’yer. I agree, those kids (TFA) need experienced teachers, problem is by the time you get the experience you have a family and kids to put thru BS (only kidding). I’m sure there are lots of empty nesters they could bring in with great teaching experience.</p>
<p>There is some truth though that only the youth are willing to tilt at windmills. The TFA kids are a challening group of kids that need so much help.</p>
<p>I agree with the article that bright young Georgetown and Yale grads who want to make a difference should keep BSs in mind, not just TFA. TFA though does pay for a masters degree as part of the draw which is appealing to young adults who want to tackle the next phase of their education on their own two feet. My other niece who is a Vassar grad was given an opportunity to coach soccer and teach Bio at Kent. I think its a fabulous idea for a young teacher who wants to stay in a safe and vibrant community of learning.
To each his (or her) own.</p>