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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Did they go through an actual teacher preparation program? Or TFA or some alternative program? Dropping unqualified people into such a demanding job is unconscionable. Nobody should be surprised when they quit. [/quote]

My sister came up through TFA and I have such admiration for her for sticking with it.  Teaching is hard enough as it is, but TFA placements are typically in pretty challenging, understaffed schools.  Several in her cohort quit.  She's a great teacher now, but I know those first couple years were super tough.  I think part of the reason she persevered is that we didn't come from a particularly privileged background, so she couldn't really afford to just quit and move back home with my parents without income or health insurance (this was pre-ACA).  I guess at least those in TFA have another degree to fall back on, but for first year teachers who majored in education, what do you do if you decide teaching is not for you, especially during a recession? [/quote]

I did TFA as well in the early 2000s.  The only preparation I had for teaching high school was doing summer school with 4 fifth graders.  It was useless.  And the support from TFA was just a 24 year old who taught two years then left to get a job in the TFA office.  They had no helpful information to share.  It was such a difficult job.  I think the only reason I made it through those years were friends I made at the school, a few veteran colleagues took me under their wings and feeling like I had to push myself to do it.  I know lots of people who quit for really good reasons.  A friend's students tried to poison her, another friend starting losing her hair from stress of going to her very rough elementary school job, etc.  It was really hard.[/quote]

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