A thought or two on Teach for America and all that

There is quite a lot of writing in the educational blogosphere about Teach for America. Is it a force for good? Is it the Big Bad Wolf dressed up in Grandma's clothes?

Well, we won't get into all that, as we don't think there's enough research to support all the opinions that are out there. What we do find interesting is this: An awful lot of the education "reform" and alternative certification ideas seemed to be aimed at changing teaching -- from a profession into a job.

This makes sense if you are a tax-cutter. Many state budgets have been cut to the core, but education stands in the way of further tax cuts. What is the biggest budget item in education? Teacher salaries. So, to keep cutting taxes, you have to figure out a way to cut teacher salaries -- typically, an unpopular notion.

The one sure way to cut teacher salaries is to turn teaching from a respected profession into a job, especially a job that is performed by young people -- kind of like waiting tables. Hang on, let me be more specific -- a job like "waitressing." Alternative certification, instant certification after taking a national multiple-choice test, a surge in Teach for America publicity, all this seems to be going in the direction of de-professionalizing teaching.

It might be for a reason other than a desire to cut taxes, no matter what. But, as Deep Throat would say, "Follow the money."