Some have asked how the job fair went this past Tuesday. I've told them about my first encounter was with Principal Alcoff, how he told me directly that he was not interested in hiring fellows because out of the nine that he has hired, only two of them have stuck with him past three years.
The other fellows and I weren't sure if it was because there was something wrong with those fellows or if there was something fundamentally wrong with the school. But from what I've read and researched, it seems that Teachers Preparatory School is an establishment that does seek its best for its students. It's located in an impoverished area, but still it struggles to be a haven - and an honorable one at that - for those in the neighborhood. They're serious about what they do, and Principal Alcoff showed that.
One of the things I struggle with is commitment. There's a lot of praise for programs such as TFA and NYCTF, for how we're raising the bar for urban kids and providing for the shortage of teachers [though at the moment, it seems like there are a shortage of vacant positions..], but there's also a lot of criticism - particularly for the high turnover rates. Let's be honest - a lot of us view these programs as a transitional stage, a stepping stone to greater, higher things. Some of us are here to "serve our time" and do our own temporary peacecorps without the commitment [though arguably, NYCTF is comprised of many career-changers who had grown wary of their cubicles in the corporate world and decided they finally "wanted to do something with their lives"]. Some of us aren't even here because we want to "help people" and raise the achievement rates, but because all other things fell through.. and so they'll stick around until the next best thing comes around.
Principal Alcoff told me that the fellows who had been at his school were great teachers - but that didn't matter because they left so quickly.
Sigh.
I do wonder if we have the best interests of these students in mind. I wonder if I could in good conscience apply to this school, not knowing whether or not I consider this to be a long term engagement, or a mere 2-3 year stint.
Anyway, back to those thank you notes.
The other fellows and I weren't sure if it was because there was something wrong with those fellows or if there was something fundamentally wrong with the school. But from what I've read and researched, it seems that Teachers Preparatory School is an establishment that does seek its best for its students. It's located in an impoverished area, but still it struggles to be a haven - and an honorable one at that - for those in the neighborhood. They're serious about what they do, and Principal Alcoff showed that.
One of the things I struggle with is commitment. There's a lot of praise for programs such as TFA and NYCTF, for how we're raising the bar for urban kids and providing for the shortage of teachers [though at the moment, it seems like there are a shortage of vacant positions..], but there's also a lot of criticism - particularly for the high turnover rates. Let's be honest - a lot of us view these programs as a transitional stage, a stepping stone to greater, higher things. Some of us are here to "serve our time" and do our own temporary peacecorps without the commitment [though arguably, NYCTF is comprised of many career-changers who had grown wary of their cubicles in the corporate world and decided they finally "wanted to do something with their lives"]. Some of us aren't even here because we want to "help people" and raise the achievement rates, but because all other things fell through.. and so they'll stick around until the next best thing comes around.
Principal Alcoff told me that the fellows who had been at his school were great teachers - but that didn't matter because they left so quickly.
Sigh.
I do wonder if we have the best interests of these students in mind. I wonder if I could in good conscience apply to this school, not knowing whether or not I consider this to be a long term engagement, or a mere 2-3 year stint.
Anyway, back to those thank you notes.
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