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TFA or Teach for America celebrated its 20th anniversary recently. This program since its inception has always attracted the idealistic, bright and educated young with impressive commitment and energy levels.

However, if you really consider the role TFA plays in American education, you find that it is grossly overstated. At least 8000 students were sent this year to schools that really needed them to stay for at least two years or longer. Obviously, within the next three years, most of them will be gone.

There are over 4 million teachers across our country and this is indeed a small figure. We face the severe issue of attrition in this industry. At least 50 percent of the teachers leave within five years.
Our teaching profession in other words is most unstable with not many thinking of making teaching their career.

It is time we gave new teachers the opportunity and support necessary to stick on beyond the early years and continue on to improve and make a career out of teaching. Teachers must be chosen with care based on solid educational background.

TFA is indeed benefiting hugely from the Federal government as well as corporate donations that amount to millions. The extent of their success story can be gauged by the star studded guest speakers present at their 20th anniversary celebration held recently. This event was interestingly sponsored by some of the major corporations and foundations.

Prominent personalities present included Arne Duncan, our education secretary, national journalists, charter school leaders and urban superintendents. There is no doubt that TFA is a phenomenal success. However, it does makes one wonder if so much power and money centered around a core belief that a college graduate with only five weeks of training is capable of educating our country’s students is actually justified.

All the powerful and right people have indeed fallen in step with TFA. In the year 2009, there was a similar proposal by a surgeon to initiate a medical program called “Heal for America” similar to the “Teach for America” program.

He proposed that a brief training would provide HFA members capability of advising patients on their diet, exercise and hygiene. They will also be proficient in taking the blood pressure, temperature and pulse of patients and will be in a position to advise them on the right medicine dosage prescribed.

He however warned that members of the HFA under no circumstances will substitute for physicians, registered nurses or physician’s assistants. As compared to this, TFA does not really believe in the importance of providing extensive training and importance of experience.

The phenomenal success of TFA has maybe stifled national discussion on building a profession of experienced, well prepared and well educated educators for whom teaching is an experience more than just a career.

Today, TFA’s alum are taking places in the state legislatures, congress, the Wall Street and other private and public sector corridors. Hopefully they recognize the need for a solution at the national level based on progress made by other nations.