In its twenty-five years of existence, Teach For America (TFA) has
transformed from an organization based on a perceived need to ameliorate
a national teacher shortage to an organization that seeks to
systematically replace traditional fully-certified teachers while
simultaneously producing alumni who are interested in facilitating
neoliberal education reform through elected political positions. From
its inception, TFA has had its share of critics; yet criticism of the
organization by its own members and alumni has largely been silenced and
relegated to the margins.
This book - the first of its kind - provides alumni of TFA with the
opportunity to share their insight on the organization. And perhaps more
importantly, this collection of counter-narratives serves as a testament
that many of the claims made by TFA are, in fact, myths that ultimately
hurt teachers and students. No longer will alumni voices be silenced in
the name of corporate and neoliberal education reform.