Seattle Public Schools Community Blog Looks at TFA

A recent comment cited  http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/. The purpose is to "Debate the issues facing Seattle Public Schools, share your opinions, read the latest news. Organize and work for high quality public schools that educate all students to become passionate, lifelong learners."


They've got quite a few contributers and have been blogging education issues since 2006.  Their most recent post on TFA is rather thoughtful and I felt worth sharing:  http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2010/10/hard-to-say-when-board-has-made-me-this.html

Here's a snippet:

And, if you read the so-called action report, well, TFA is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Are they kidding me? So what was my central question before? What is the problem they are trying to solve? Is there a shortage of teachers? No. From the item: 

We believe that the larger our candidate pool, the more likely that we will hire the best teachers for our classrooms.

OHHHH. That's the problem, not a big enough candidate pool.

Why TFA?

TFA’s mission is to help eliminate educational inequity by enlisting the nation’s most promising future leaders in the effort.

So is by bringing TFA to SPS, the district is admitting to educational inequity because they haven't put the best teachers we have in struggling schools?

TFA, through its vetting process, has found that most promising future leaders.

That's a pretty big full-of-ourselves statement. Here's another one:

Our region is a finalist for the organization’s new site selection process.

Wheee! We are so lucky

What is needed to bring them here?

To expand into the Puget Sound Region TFA requires district partners, funding, and university partners.

Well, we know who the district is. Funding? Well now, that's an interesting thing because the Superintendent told me, in front of other parents at the NE coffee chat that the district DID have the money. But wait for it...

Check out the post for the rest of the story:
http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2010/10/hard-to-say-when-board-has-made-me-this.html