"We belive that
education inequality
must be our generation's
civil rights issue."
http://www.teachforamerica.org
Teach for America is about addressing the fact that "nearly 70% of inner-city
and rural fourth graders cannot read at even a basic level" (Rod Paige, US
Secretary of Education). Teach for America is about addressing the fact that
students from low income areas are 7 times less likely to graduate from
college than students from higher income areas. Teach for America is about
learning firsthand what inner-city and rural kids face and then going into
your respective fields and helping to make a difference in your own way. Teach
for America is about addressing this socio-economic inequality at the
source... the kids.
Teach for America is a two year program that offers many benefits. As an
Americorp partner, they offer $9450 in educational credit that can be used for
future education or to pay back loans. Generally, you can expect to receive a
beginning teacher's salary and benefits for whatever district you end up (96%
of last year's new teachers got into an area they "highly preferred"). Many
graduate and professional schools offer a two-year deferral for the program.
Several give credit for the experience (check the website... I'm told that the
number of partnering schools is increasing rapidly).
So, what do you get out of Teach for America? Well, you get a job, for one...
and with this economy, we all know that's not guaranteed anymore. But more
importantly, you get the chance to really change someone's life. If we all
could reach just one student and help them to get a good education, imagine
the kind of world we would live in. Teach for America doesn't believe this is
a pipe dream... they think it is a lofty, but achieveable goal.
If you are interested in more information, contact Paul Barnhardt
([log in to unmask]) or Leah Shalev
([log in to unmask]).
Even if you are not interested in Teach for America, please consider what part
you play in helping to make America a land of opportunity for everyone, not
just the priviledged.
Thanks for your time and see you in the spring!
Jennifer LeBlanc Gridley
UT Chapter President, Golden Key
have an awesome day! ~jcszeto
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