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Teach For America

Has anyone participated in or had a close friend participate in Teach For America? (http://www.teachforamerica.org/)

I am thinking about applying to teach some sort of technology class after I graduate from Uni in a year.

Do they teach the children about needing better maps of Africa? lol


On a serious note, it sounds like a good thing.

Teach for America places you in the shittiest areas in the US - innercity ghettos and the like. They pay very poorly especially given the inherent hazard involved with walking your white ass into the ghetto. I'm thinking about teaching for a year or two after college too so I looked into it. The recruiter said that since I live in Miami they would probably place me in Liberty City, an area I would never go into without body armor and an M16. Don't do it.

I'm looking into teaching english abroad as are some others on this forum. Better pay, they hook up housing, and its safer than the gun ridden slums of america. And cheaper cost of living = more savings.

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName Teach for America places you in the shittiest areas in the US - innercity ghettos and the like. They pay very poorly especially given the inherent hazard involved with walking your white ass into the ghetto. I'm thinking about teaching for a year or two after college too so I looked into it. The recruiter said that since I live in Miami they would probably place me in Liberty City, an area I would never go into without body armor and an M16. Don't do it. I'm looking into teaching english abroad as are some others on this forum. Better pay, they hook up housing, and its safer than the gun ridden slums of america. And cheaper cost of living = more savings.

I want to teach in the U.S., and I don't want to teach English, I want to teach a technology class.

They put you in places where they need teachers, and obviously places that need teachers aren't in the heart of where millionaires live (although they may be in a radius of where the millionaires live).

Thanks for some of the input, but it wasn't enough to convince me not to do it.

quote:

Originally posted by Ek0nomik I want to teach in the U.S., and I don't want to teach English, I want to teach a technology class. They put you in places where they need teachers, and obviously places that need teachers aren't in the heart of where millionaires live (although they may be in a radius of where the millionaires live). Thanks for some of the input, but it wasn't enough to convince me not to do it.

its still not a good idea...and what kind of 'technology' will you be teaching 4th graders that are lucky to have one computer per class room, if that.

teaching english in a foreign country might not be what you want to do, but that experience TEACHING, would lead you into teaching whatever you want and is a much better reference. everyone i know that has done TFA has gained very little from it and generally regrets it|

I hear where you're coming from - english abroad is a far cry from technology in the US. But for serious, "teach for america" is not where you want to be looking. They'll put you in the middle of the ghetto in underfunded rooms with too many disaffected apathetic kids who would rather mug you for a dollar than learn anything. And the above poster is right, what kind of tech will you possibly be teaching besides Word and Powerpoint, if you're even lucky enough to get an assignment in a school with computers at all? Do what you will, but make sure you know what you're getting yourself into.

Have you tried getting in touch with other people who have done this specific program? All I know is what their propagandists have told me, I haven't done it myself nor do I know anyone who has, so i am hardly the definitive source for this.

Factors to consider:

Benefits:
-pay
-insurance
-housing
-if housing is provided, is it anywhere near your place of work? If it is close, congrats, you are in the ghetto. If it is far, congrats you have to work far from your home
-how many kids will you be teaching?
-what hours will you work? what kind of overtime will you be expected to put in? overtime compensation?
-safety of the location your school is in?

etc. that's just off the top of my head.

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName Teach for America places you in the shittiest areas in the US - innercity ghettos and the like. They pay very poorly especially given the inherent hazard involved with walking your white ass into the ghetto. I'm thinking about teaching for a year or two after college too so I looked into it. The recruiter said that since I live in Miami they would probably place me in Liberty City, an area I would never go into without body armor and an M16. Don't do it.

spot on.

No offense but you don't sound like you have a clue. You won't be teaching tech, you'll be dealing with inner city kids who are years behind their grade level. If you can't handle minorities who have had very little parental discipline I suggest you look else ware. Teaching isn't for the faint of heart. Why don't you volunteer at a school in the worst are near you just to get a whiff of reality.

from the looks of this, it doesn't sound like it involves a whole lot of teaching:

http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_1_how_i_joined.html

quote:

Originally posted by biznology its still not a good idea...and what kind of 'technology' will you be teaching 4th graders that are lucky to have one computer per class room, if that. teaching english in a foreign country might not be what you want to do, but that experience TEACHING, would lead you into teaching whatever you want and is a much better reference. everyone i know that has done TFA has gained very little from it and generally regrets it|

Perhaps I'm being naive, but it isn't as if high school aged kids have the necessary teachers all across the country, and having computer classes taught there could be very beneficial. I've already thought about the one computer issue, which is why during my time there I'd also be trying to get into contact with local companies who are going to throw out computers, and I could also donate two of my own. (Although I suppose 3 total still won't be enough. :P)

quote:

Originally posted by Ek0nomik Perhaps I'm being naive, but it isn't as if high school aged kids have the necessary teachers all across the country, and having computer classes taught there could be very beneficial. I've already thought about the one computer issue, which is why during my time there I'd also be trying to get into contact with local companies who are going to throw out computers, and I could also donate two of my own. (Although I suppose 3 total still won't be enough. :P)

You can't teach kids that are unmotivated, and uninterested.

quote:

Originally posted by gehzumteufel You can't teach kids that are unmotivated, and uninterested.

Um hello, haven't you seen Dangerous Minds?

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie Um hello, haven't you seen Dangerous Minds?

a little coolio can go a long way in the ghetto!

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie Um hello, haven't you seen Dangerous Minds?

Michelle Pfeiffer was fucking them all.

quote:

Originally posted by gehzumteufel You can't teach kids that are unmotivated, and uninterested.

Thats not what Antwone Fisher taught me

Note: I have not seen this movie and never will. I hate denzel washington and black propaganda. Except undercover brother, that movie was awesome

Was that the movie I developed a terrible cough while watching?

To add to this discussion, I have a couple of English friends who've taught ESL abroad. perhaps i could pm some info but i'm unaware of their whereabouts, last time i heard one of them was giving lessons in vietnam. pretty amazing for a man that graduated from cambridge and decided to travel and teach for the rest of his life

the more reasons i support RJTs decision to take his little adventure to the next level. i don't know what's worse, someone who's never experienced other cultures (people who've never been out of the u.s)or someone who never had the opportunity but always the will to explore.

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName Was that the movie I developed a terrible cough while watching?

What? no? I've never watched it and I highly doubt you would have

By reading your posts and as someone who actually teaches, i suggest you do not do what you are thinking of doing. Teaching stable kids is a lot harder than you could imagine. Coming in with 0 experience , you really are not prepared to make a difference in problem children's lives . Get experience first, and then come back to play Michelle Pfifer in Dangerous Minds if you still feel like it.

quote:

Originally posted by elFreak By reading your posts and as someone who actually teaches, i suggest you do not do what you are thinking of doing. Teaching stable kids is a lot harder than you could imagine. Coming in with 0 experience , you really are not prepared to make a difference in problem children's lives . Get experience first, and then come back to play Michelle Pfifer in Dangerous Minds if you still feel like it.

The fact that you're even allowed near children, let alone being paid to educate them and shape their malleable little minds, truly boggles mine.

quote:

Originally posted by UWM The fact that you're even allowed near children, let alone being paid to educate them and shape their malleable little minds, truly boggles mine.

I know...asians aren't as smart as we make them out to be.

plus young mom buffet!

quote:

Originally posted by elFreak By reading your posts and as someone who actually teaches, i suggest you do not do what you are thinking of doing. Teaching stable kids is a lot harder than you could imagine. Coming in with 0 experience , you really are not prepared to make a difference in problem children's lives . Get experience first, and then come back to play Michelle Pfifer in Dangerous Minds if you still feel like it.

By reading this post, you make it seem as though you find Teach For America to be a terrible program unless the individual graduated in education (which implies experience in the teaching environment).

Have you ever actually been to a school of the type you'd be in with TFA? Just curious, not implying anything. Something to think about checking out if you haven't. You already seem pretty dead set on this judging by your dismissal of everyone's negativity so I say go for it. The worst that could possibly happen is you have a terrible year and something good to put on the resume (or you get sued for $20million but w/e that will only happen to someone else). Follow your dream, who am I to say not to. I'm making my own mistakes and am quite happy doing so

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName You already seem pretty dead set on this judging by your dismissal of everyone's negativity so I say go for it.

I love how this guy takes the advice of ppl who have "seen it in movie" over those of us who have taught in the field. We're not trying bad mouth TFA, we're saying, sending a noob into the worst teaching situation he'll ever face for his first year isn't a recipe for success.

You're White (strike 1)
You have no experience (strike 2)
God help you if you don't have balls of steel (strike 3?)

quote:

Originally posted by pvc I love how this guy takes the advice of ppl who have "seen it in movie" over those of us who have taught in the field. We're not trying bad mouth TFA, we're saying, sending a noob into the worst teaching situation he'll ever face for his first year isn't a recipe for success. You're White (strike 1) You have no experience (strike 2) God help you if you don't have balls of steel (strike 3?)

I haven't heard anyone give advice about TFA in a movie, but thanks for the heart filled words, "guy".

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName Have you ever actually been to a school of the type you'd be in with TFA? Just curious, not implying anything. Something to think about checking out if you haven't. You already seem pretty dead set on this judging by your dismissal of everyone's negativity so I say go for it. The worst that could possibly happen is you have a terrible year and something good to put on the resume (or you get sued for $20million but w/e that will only happen to someone else). Follow your dream, who am I to say not to. I'm making my own mistakes and am quite happy doing so

Thank you for the info.

why would you guys assume all children in the ghetto are uninterested in learning..shit if these guy can reach atleast 1 or two of the kids..he would of done his job as a teacher.

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