Teach for America?

[33girl]

You may be the smartest person ever, but if you can't transfer that info to your students when you teach, it doesn't really matter, does it?

I've had teachers and professors that I'm sure were certifiable geniuses, but they couldn't teach for jack, and I learned nothing in those classes.

I once read a novel where the main character bemoaned the fact that he wasn't GREAT at something, like writing or math...but he came to the conclusion that he was good at a lot of things, and that made him a great teacher. I think that's about right.

[UGAalum94]

Sure, 33Girl, it's true that a lot of smart people aren't particularly good teachers, but if you don't know something then you certainly can't teach it. We'd all hope that any college graduate would have mastered the content knowledge through high school, so maybe it doesn't make that much difference.

The original point that I was responding to, I think, suggested that TFA candidates were less educated and prepared than education program folks. I think that's a hard case to make considering how staffing works at the schools that TFA is in.

I'm not sure that "not great at anything but good at a many things" is really descriptive of most good teachers, but I do think a lot of teachers choose teaching because it allows them to use many of their talents.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

The original point that I was responding to, I think, suggested that TFA candidates were less educated and prepared than education program folks. I think that's a hard case to make considering how staffing works at the schools that TFA is in.

No.

I was referring to No Child Left Behind requirements of a "highly qualified" teacher. In DC, that includes having at minimum a minor in education. Programs like TFA are ways around that requirement, because they are in essence teacher education programs and put you on the path to being "highly qualified."

At no time did I imply that anyone anywhere was more or less educated than anyone else.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

No.

I was referring to No Child Left Behind requirements of a "highly qualified" teacher. In DC, that includes having at minimum a minor in education. Programs like TFA are ways around that requirement, because they are in essence teacher education programs and put you on the path to being "highly qualified."

You are completely correct about matters of certification.

I apologize if I misrepresented your views. I didn't intend to go on a long rant about teacher qualifications, but being "highly qualified" by NCLB doesn't mean much, and that's where I was going with my first comment.

Looking more carefully, I can see that you were just dealing with the issue of labeling not quality. Sorry.

[ASUADPi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I've had teachers and professors that I'm sure were certifiable geniuses, but they couldn't teach for jack, and I learned nothing in those classes.

Like I mentioned to Alphagamuga (via PM), I work with a lady (she is in the same grade level as me) who I wouldn't call a "certifiable genius" but she is probably an intelligant woman, but as a teacher she absolutely sucks! That is seriously the nicest way to put it. I mean this woman had the lowest 4th grade scores at the school (and we are talking a 3-5% difference between the other two 4th grade teachers, and that is a pretty big difference) she was moved (on purpose) down to 1st grade because she had swore up and down that she would quit. Did she? No.

I could go on about how horrible this woman is as a teacher (since I see and deal with it daily), but that's not what the thread is about (I just wanted to respond to the comment ).