Editor’s note: This column is in response to Brett Stidham’s Wednesday guest column, “Teach for America inspires.”
I have written multiple times now attempting to expose Teach for America/Awhile for the failure that it is.
It is possible to write at length on the failures of the program, but I will try to be short here and skim the surface of three serious problems.
First, the program is a basic failure in its own aim of improving student achievement. The largest study to-date on the organization, a six-year Stanford study involving 4,400 teachers and 132,000 students, showed that students taught by Teach for America teachers performed worse on all six tests than students taught by certified teachers.
This study is curiously missing from the program’s website’s list of studies, but even those listed on its website are mixed and show mediocre improvement at best.
For instance, it cites a Mathematica Policy Research study that indicates how great the program does. But when you look at the study, it tested two things: reading and math. On reading, Teach for America teachers performed statistically the same as non-TFA teachers. On math, students of TFA teachers received scores of 30.44 — 2.43 points higher than non-TFA teachers whose students scored at 28.01.
No difference in reading, a trivial-at-best increase in math — I can see the achievement gap closing before my very eyes. And remember, this is on TFA’s own selected list of studies!
Second, TFA operates under the bad school hypothesis of the achievement gap. See, we all know poor people do worse in school than rich people. TFA’s causal explanation for this is there is something on the school-side, specifically teachers, that is to blame. Thus, it takes the most sensible approach under that hypothesis: putting recent college graduates with no experience and minor training in the most challenging classrooms in the country.
This would make no sense even under the bad school hypothesis but makes even less sense when you realize the bad school hypothesis is itself unsupported. TFA’s own failure, the failure of charter schools (twice as many do worse than do better), studies that show, when controlled for economic class, even students of elite private schools do about the same as those in public schools, and studies that show that, past a certain point, achievement does not increase with increased funding — all point to the fact that it is not primarily bad schools that are at issue.
What is at issue then? The most supported explanation I can see is poor people do worse because they live like poor people live. That is, their parents are often out of the house, maybe working multiple jobs. Their parents are not as educated, which make them less able to reinforce lessons. They get worse nutrition; they live in worse housing; they are inundated with negative neighborhood effects like drugs, crime and violence.
I could go on and on. If I am correct in saying these are primarily the cause of the achievement gap, then Teach For America does a good job of avoiding the root problem altogether, explaining its spectacular failure thus far.
Third, in the process of failing, TFA also displaces real teachers, who do as well as or better than TFA teachers and who will Teach For Life instead of Teach For Awhile. Because TFA teachers are so cheap, these better, more-committed teachers get pushed aside in some poorer districts looking to save money. I am sure this will have a glorious impact on long-term educational achievement.
If anyone did the most superficial research on the organization, it would be clear that it is a joke. But of course, this won’t stop people who are attracted to useless, ineffective organizations with important-sounding names in college (you know, like “Student Congress”) to continue to pursue similar organizations after graduation.
— Matt Bruenig, philosophy senior
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amschmitz2 1 year, 4 months ago
Matt- Are there problems with TFA? Of course. But your deficit based thinking does not good for the millions of children we fail to educate each year. Not to mention the fact that you say "The most supported explanation I can see is poor people do worse because they live like poor people live" I don't even know what that means, other than it is an unbelievably unfounded, stereotypical, and borderline racist comment.
Do you know any poor people Matt? Have you seen how they "live?" Have you ever spent time in an under-resourced community? Have you been to an under-performing school? My guess is no because if you did you'd realize that what it actually says on the tfa website is accurate. The achievement gap exists for 3 reasons: lack of school and teacher capacity, the effects of poverty, and a lack of political will at all levels of government to address the problem.
Do your some legitimate research before writing incendiary remarks in your column. And stop with such egregious, inaccurate comments about poor people.
brandeis 1 year, 3 months ago
Sup amschmitz2, you sure gambled wrong with your post. I went to the same high school as Matthew Bruenig. He was extremely poor and, as far as I know, still is. We are not talking 'college poor' as in 'OH LOL I EAT LOTS OF RAMEN WHILE MY PARENTS TAKE ME ON VACATIONS TO ASPEN' but actually seriously impoverished and periodically homeless.
You need to figure out how to criticize an argument without criticizing the author. Bruenig's article has facts. I hereby propose that anyone who comments after this and mentions bruenig instead of his arguments is reflecting so poorly on the quality of education at OU that their arguments should be counted as recruitment ploys for UT.
schumes 1 year, 4 months ago
Let me first say, as a TFA alum, that SOME of your criticism is warranted. So to the extent that you wrote that to help either the organization and/or the kids who are receiving an inferior education, thanks for writing this.
There are also, however, many problems with your argument. In the interest of time, let me point out one obvious one. At the end of your article, you suggest that while TFAers "Teach For Awile" they replace those who "Teach For Life."
The first problem with the aforementioned argument is that it is a rarity that a TFA teacher actually displaces a teacher. Usually, what they do is fill a gap that needs to be filled. Secondly, those teachers who aren't TFA rarely teach for life. Contrary to what you suggest, the average teaching career is about five years. You can find that statistic any number of places if you look. A third reason why your particular argument in this area is flawed is because even though many TFA teachers do not "teach for life," statistics show that 60% + of them DO stay in education: policy work, ed law, teaching, administration, etc.
All those areas are necessary and good, and I doubt that crowd would be committed to education long-term without entering TFA after college.
ihmb 1 year, 4 months ago
Can matt bruenig ever shut up? He is probably the most obnxious writer on the enitire daily staff! He is negative, petty, and has the most arrogant writing I have seen in my life! He is not God. He needs to stop putting down every single thing. I know he has freedom of speech, but it is really annoying to read!!! I am so happy that he is a senior so perhaps his writing will stop pleaguing the Daily! :)
brandeis 1 year, 4 months ago
I am so proud to see that the OU student body responds to well researched arguments with 'this is petty U R NOT GOD!!!!' What a fine institution.
bruenig 1 year, 4 months ago
I agree with ihmb. Why is bruenig always so negative? Can't he write about happier things?
Also, I hate it when he uses all of these facts and stuff in his article to logically support a argument he favors. That is elitist, and he needs to stop.
Aphrodisiac 1 year, 3 months ago
"But of course, this won’t stop people who are attracted to useless, ineffective organizations with important-sounding names in college (you know, like “Student Congress”) to continue to pursue similar organizations after graduation."
You mean, useless, ineffective organizations with important-sounding names like Students for a Democratic Society?
bruenig 1 year, 3 months ago
@amschmitz2
You know what "The most supported explanation I can see is poor people do worse because they live like poor people live" means? It means (quoting you) "the effects of poverty."
THAT, I and the studies on student achievement point out, is the real cause of the achievement gap. Schools, teachers, etc. is marginally important up against that.
I support that claim with an entire paragraph starting with the sentence "What is at issue then?" Try reading it.
Your defense and support of TFA is causing us to fail to address the real problem: poverty. Poor people do worse, so make them not-poor. Don't fumble around with provably-failed nonsense like TFA and charter schools; make them not-poor.
we_are_the_strange 1 year, 3 months ago
"My guess is no because if you did you'd realize that what it actually says on the tfa website is accurate. The achievement gap exists for 3 reasons: lack of school and teacher capacity, the effects of poverty, and a lack of political will at all levels of government to address the problem."
"the effects of poverty." LOL.
Praytell, o wise one, what the effects of poverty might be other than what Matt outlined in his letter? Your arrogance is amazing. How are you more qualified to talk about how the poor live, even if you "know lots of them?" Counter-question: have you ever spoken to a social worker, health care professional, or courts official to verify if any of the claims that Matt made are correct? (Hint: they are largely accurate.) And how is it borderline racist to say that "their parents are often out of the house, maybe working multiple jobs. Their parents are not as educated, which make them less able to reinforce lessons. They get worse nutrition; they live in worse housing; they are inundated with negative neighborhood effects like drugs, crime and violence." That applies to lower income families as a whole.
Some friendly advice: if you are accusing someone else of having a morally flawed argument, it would be best not to use similar language in your own post. It kind of ruins your credibility. Sorry that Teach For America isn't generating rainbows, unicorns, and poverty-free kids; but it does seem to be generating a lot of lucrative careers in law and policy. Welcome to the world.
bruenig 1 year, 3 months ago
Good one Aphrodisiac. Oh wait a minute, did SDS just work as a lone student organization to get a new mental health outreach program started that was successful, is funded, and moving forward? http://oudaily.com/news/2011/jan/24/o...
I know it's not as cool as "passed a resolution about dead week that failed" and "named the day Joe Lieberman day," but it's something.