Jeffrey Weiss

Recent Activity

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  Jeffrey signed the petition | 19 days ago

  Universal Pictures: Let the Lorax Speak for the Trees!
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  Jeffrey signed the petition | 6 months ago

  The Abita Brewing Company Bottle Reuse Campaign
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  Jeffrey signed the petition | 10 months ago

  Tell GOP Chairman: Focus on Jobs, Not Demonizing LGBT Families
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  Jeffrey signed the petition | 10 months ago

  Tell Kosher.com: Homophobia Is Not Kosher
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  Jeffrey signed the petition | over 2 years ago

  Tell President Obama it's Time to Act on Climate Change
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  Jeffrey commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  Teach For America, Awhile: Ivy League Temps and Corporate Missionaries, Part 2

  Greetings, all. I am currently in the midst of my first year of teaching (yes, as a part of Teach For America) and predictably, am having trouble reconciling Dr. Horn's views of TFA with my own experience.
  I understand, and fully admit, that TFA is imperfect, but I do think the "fierce urgency" of today's education landscape requires immediate solutions with constant re-evaluation and adjustment. Regardless of what TFA's literature claims, or conversely, the way in which Dr. Horn sometimes characterizes it, I think most realists (hello, straw man) can agree the truth is somewhere in between. It is neither perfect nor evil.
  What does bother me somewhat, though, is Dr. Horn's apparent hostility towards even considering that there may be any pieces of the TFA model which are worth examining, sharing and spreading. However, I truly appreciate your sharing your views in this forum and am happy to admit that it has challenged some of my own views and preconceptions about the ways in which my colleagues and I are doing what we are doing.
  Lastly, I want to add (a la Horn's assessment of Gladwell making the obvious more obvious), that whatever your opinion of TFA, there is no single TFA entity that enters each classroom and teaches each of my and my fellow corp members' students. Instead, we are each individuals who have our own personalities and identities and despite our 5 weeks of summer indoctrination, draw far more inspiration and knowledge about education from our colleagues at our schools and non-TFA sources than Summer Institute could ever hope to pack in. So, regardless of your opinion of TFA and its model, please spare those of us who pour our blood, sweat and tears into our classrooms daily and may or may not have had any official contact with TFA for 6 months the crucifixion which you may or may not intend for the larger organization.