S.F. school board divided on using interns as teachers

[RandySF]

With 500 teaching jobs to fill by the first day of school this fall, San Francisco’s superintendent has asked the school board to let him hire more Teach for America interns for hard-to-staff schools. But some board members are balking, saying students in those schools deserve experienced teachers.

Superintendent Richard Carranza wants 24 teachers, up from 15 this year, from Teach for America, a national nonprofit that places new college graduates in low-income communities for a two-year teaching stint.

“We are facing a teacher shortage crisis, not only in San Francisco, but in the state of California,” Carranza told the board at a recent meeting. “I am asking, I am pleading with the board: Don’t take away this option that we have to guarantee 24 slots.”

But instead of voting on the request, the board put off a decision and sent the issue to committee. A vote is now expected Tuesday.

At least three of the seven school board members have said they outright oppose the idea of Teach for America, which was created to help put teachers — albeit not credentialed ones — in classrooms that have had a hard time attracting teachers. Other board members expressed concern about increasing the number in the district.


http://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/S-F-grapples-with-adding-uncredentialed-teachers-6227392.php

[tularetom]

1. I know nothing about "Teach for America" but it has sort of a religious corporate sound to it

Is it some sort of plot to indoctrinate public school students with some goofy christian "family values" bullshit?

[RandySF]

2. A little about them at the end.

"Still, the organization has been vilified in recent years, accused of having ties to market-based education reform efforts, including the charter school movement. In addition, critics say the model weakens the idea that teaching is a profession requiring expertise, especially in vulnerable communities."

[tularetom]

3. Well, thanks for that

Theres enough dog whistles in that one paragraph to trip my bullshit detector.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

5. Teach for America is a way to replace committed and experienced teachers

with inexperienced, cheaper and more easily manipulated young temporary employees that burn out way before needing a pension.

[LWolf]

4. It's not a surprise

that it's hard to find teachers after a couple of decades of scapegoating them.

[NYC_SKP]

6. Pre-intern and intern teachers are everywhere, not just TFA teachers.

Shortages of teachers compel districts to hire not-fully credentialed teachers with, usually, the requirement that they are "working on" completing coursework required for a credential.

I was one of these, an Bachelors degree was all I needed to get the job under an emergency credential, then two years of classes while working, then the clear credential.

[lindysalsagal]

7. Thank you, captain obvious. No job protection=No teachers. It costs $300k to become a teacher in my

Yet, they expect us to teach to the test and fire us when the kids fail a test that's written by Pearson backed by hedge funds that's 2 or 3 years beyond their reading level.

Just can't imagine why people don't want to be teachers.

Duh.

[Starry Messenger]

8. I wonder where they'll live.

$3000k a month for apartments there anymore. SF is probably losing teachers, if that is actually happening, because they can't afford to live near the jobs. Short sighted profiteering will be the death of the city.