Lessons to Learn: Voices from the Front Lines of Teach for America (Hardcover)

by Molly Ness (Author) "The morning bell rings at Walker Elementary in Washington, D.C.'s, northwest corner..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Los Angeles, North Carolina (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Ness, who taught for two years in the Teach for America program in Oakland, Calif., surveyed 154 other alumni about their experiences in the program. Founded in 1989 by Princeton student Wendy Kopp, the program recruits college graduates from a variety of fields. Recruits are given only a five-week training program before being sent to work for two years in some of the nation's worst classrooms. Ness organizes her survey responses around the recruit's life cycle: training, job placement and career choice after the program. While there's controversy over the adequacy of the training, almost all the interviewees report satisfaction with some or all aspects of their teaching experience. They believe they've enriched the lives of children and communities, gained new insights into the problems of poverty and renewed their faith in the potential for social change through education. While some 40% of alums remained classroom teachers after their two-year stint, and 20% went on to careers in educational leadership (e.g., founding schools, directing educational policy), others used the experience to move into other social action careers (e.g., law, medicine and public office). While the education establishment still eyes these uncredentialed young teachers with some skepticism, "their raw intelligence, their content knowledge, and their passion" can often make up for their lack of pedagogical training. It's not a perfect program, Ness concedes, but it does do good and necessary work. Although the book suffers from frequent ungainly prose and is often repetitive, it's an affirmation of Teach for America's importance.
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Review
On the heels of Michael Johnston's book, In the Deep Heart's Core, comes the broader-themed I
essons to Learn. Ness, who joined the national teacher corps in 1999, writes a book that seeks to describe the broad range of experiences corps members report, and to tell their stories of hope and determination. -- Harvard Educational Review
Ness, a former TFA teacher herself, weaves together a narrative of voices from over 150 current and former TFA participants. Her thorough analysis of the program highlights its merits as well as its weaknesses, offering a concise and thought-provoking look at this idealistic and entrepreneurial response to a core national problem. -- Library Journal
An affirmation of Teach for America's importance. -- Publishers Weekly
In the field of education reform, Teach for America is often an overlooked but significant element. Lessons to be learned from this ongoing rough experiment are well explored through the lens of Molly Ness and her teacher colleagues. Lessons to Learn is a vital contribution to the national debate. -- Meredith Maran, author of Class Dismissed
Lessons to Learn is the first book to provide a comprehensive look at the individual and collective stories of TFA. It bears witness to TFA's powerful ripple-effect--this young organization really has ignited an irrepressible national movement for educational equity. Lessons to Learn is a balanced evaluation of the most important American service organization since the Peace Corps. -- Michael Johnston, author of In the Deep Heart's Core
On the heels of Michael Johnston's book, In the Deep Heart's Core, comes the broader-themed Lessons to Learn: Voices from the Front Lines of Teach for America by Molly Ness. Ness, who joined the national teacher corps in 1999, writes a book that seeks to describe the broad range of experiences corps members report, and to tell their stories of hope and determination. She also acknowledges her own passionate committment of Teach for America to recognize the day when all children have access to a quality education. All of this notwithstanding, the tone of the book illustrates the salience of this mission to the thousands of young people who have applied to and participated in the corps. -- Harvard Education Review
[A]n affirmation of Teach for America's importance. -- Publishers Weekly
Lessons to Learn will find an audience with educators and people who care about he future of public education in America.
. -- Harriet Little, The Roanoke Times

On the heels of Michael Johnston's book, In the Deep Heart's Core, comes the broader-themed I
essons to Learn. Ness, who joined the national teacher corps in 1999, writes a book that seeks to describe the broad range of experiences corps members report, and to tell their stories of hope and determination. -- Harvard Educational Review
Ness, a former TFA teacher herself, weaves together a narrative of voices from over 150 current and former TFA participants. Her thorough analysis of the program highlights its merits as well as its weaknesses, offering a concise and thought-provoking look at this idealistic and entrepreneurial response to a core national problem. -- Library Journal
An affirmation of Teach for America's importance. -- Publishers Weekly
In the field of education reform, Teach for America is often an overlooked but significant element. Lessons to be learned from this ongoing rough experiment are well explored through the lens of Molly Ness and her teacher colleagues. Lessons to Learn is a vital contribution to the national debate. -- Meredith Maran, author of Class Dismissed
Lessons to Learn is the first book to provide a comprehensive look at the individual and collective stories of TFA. It bears witness to TFA's powerful ripple-effect--this young organization really has ignited an irrepressible national movement for educational equity. Lessons to Learn is a balanced evaluation of the most important American service organization since the Peace Corps. -- Michael Johnston, author of In the Deep Heart's Core
On the heels of Michael Johnston's book, In the Deep Heart's Core, comes the broader-themed Lessons to Learn: Voices from the Front Lines of Teach for America by Molly Ness. Ness, who joined the national teacher corps in 1999, writes a book that seeks to describe the broad range of experiences corps members report, and to tell their stories of hope and determination. She also acknowledges her own passionate committment of Teach for America to recognize the day when all children have access to a quality education. All of this notwithstanding, the tone of the book illustrates the salience of this mission to the thousands of young people who have applied to and participated in the corps. -- Harvard Education Review
[A]n affirmation of Teach for America's importance. -- Publishers Weekly
Lessons to Learn will find an audience with educators and people who care about he future of public education in America.
. -- Harriet Little, The Roanoke Times

See all Editorial Reviews