A Chance To Make History: What Works And What Doesn't In Providing An Excellent Education For All (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
I read this book as part of my pre-institute work as a 2013 TFA corps member. I know opinions about TFA are super polarized, and as a new-comer to the organization I am working hard to tip toe carefully among all those opinions - I don't know enough yet to say what is true. What I do know is that, personally, I'm not trying to use under-served children or communities as a stepping stone in my career in law or business or medicine as is often a criticism of TFA corps members. I don't have a clear vision for my own future, but tentatively I think that I would like to stay at the school I'm placed at for at least five years if I feel that I am useful to the community and that from there I may want to get involved in education administration to try to effect broad positive change in the system. I am not working under the assumption that as a first year teacher I will be a better teacher than those who have decades of experience - in fact, I'm pretty sure that at first I won't even be a good teacher at all. But I do know that my constant presence in the classroom will be better for my students than a string of long term substitutes, which is what TFA is meant to replace - not veteran teachers. I will strive every day to be the kind of transformational teacher that Wendy Kopp describes in this book. That being said, this was an interesting book to read. I think she makes a case for a kind of broad scale, no excuses education reform that doesn't rely on any one "silver bullet" as she calls it - not even TFA. I found myself throughout wondering what SPECIFICALLY makes a "transformational teacher," but I'm sure that that is explained in more detail in Teaching As Leadership, the other TFA pre-institute book, which I am beginning now. This book served as my March non-fiction challenge book. I was hoping for a discussion about what is failing in education today but it was mostly about TFA and their alumni. it talked about schools they have created and what they have done in the field of education. It seems repetitive and intent on making TFA look like they have the "transformative" attitude to get the change done. It doesn't really address the bigger picture in education and leaves you feeling the way you did when you started reading-what's the answer?
What do You think about A Chance To Make History: What Works And What Doesn't In Providing An Excellent Education For All (2011)?
I really liked this book. I think it's a must-read for everyone, not just teachers.
—difra
Good overview of the education landscape and related challenges.
—jaimee
