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Lisa Cristaldi
Lake Forest, CA
College student majoring in Human Services, with an emphasis on Persons with Disabilities. I intend to be a high school Special Education teacher. I am vegetarian and voted for Obama. My current goals include to read more and become involved in the political process, as well as activism for the causes I believe in.
Recent Activity
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Lisa signed the petition | -
Lisa signed the petition | -
Lisa signed the petition | -
Lisa commented on the article |
There absolutely is a racial element to all this. Well-funded districts are in areas of better socioeconomic status with higher property taxes. This is also quite generationally entrenched. There has even been a recent trend toward re-segregating schools. Top funding goes to where there is already money and parents who are vocal. In other areas, there may not be the time to become involved or they are already feel so defeated which further perpetuates the cycle.
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Lisa commented on the article |
A friend of mine was one of the teachers arrested. He sent me a text that evening. I looked on the Times website. Lo and behold Saturday morning he was on the front page of the paper. He is a brilliant teacher who is very involved in the community and activates his students to do the same. Many of the news reports provided conflicting information, so far as to say the teachers may be fired and lose their credentials. I was hard-pressed to find consensus on the budget matters. To my understanding from what I have read, there were agreements in the works between UTLA and LAUSD prior to the act of civil disobedience last Friday. The intent was to drum up public recognition and support for the teachers. Many people are unaware as to how bleak the outlook really is. How is it fair to further pack students into classrooms when their educations already suffer? It pains me to see the comments people have made around the internet in anger and ignorance.
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Lisa commented on the article |"Schooliness" smacks right upside the head one of the main reasons I do not want to teach. Well, aside from parents with lawyers and IEP meetings that rob time from me getting to know my students (I want to teach Special Education, IEPs are a huge black hole, sucking time and resources). Samuel Clemens (to those of you who have forgotten, Mark Twain) said "Don't let schooling get in the way of your education." How appropriate to this very day. If I could always and forever remain an Instructional Assistant, making a living I could survive on at the same time; and not constantly want to face down administrators for the injustices I see, which I have no place to rectify because I do not have a degree (I have been put in my "place" more than once), I would consider it. A great read, if you have the time (it is nearly 500 pages), is "Overachievers" by Alexandra Robbins. Definitely expands on Clay's re-post
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Lisa commented on the article |It seems not even Compton is particularly fond of TfA. I think that is very telling. There was an article in the Los Angeles Times yesterday, the online version has a different title, the printed paper headline was "Controversial reunion: Teach For America has returned to the Compton district after five years, but some view the highly selective program with disdain."
Here is the link http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-teacher27-2009jan27,0,5241803.story -
Lisa commented on the article |
You did cite Linda Darling-Hammond. I missed the hyperlink during my first read, my apologies.
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Lisa commented on the article |
Thank you, Dr. Horn, for yet another opinion to dissuade me from considering Teach for America as a path toward earning an M.Ed in Special Education. I do want to teach and make a difference. I have worked as an Instructional Assistant for Resource Specialist Program, and am immensely frustrated with the injustices I have seen in supposedly serving our students. I want to change that. TfA was an option I was looking into as a way to go about doing so.
The more I read and learn about TfA, the more concerned I become about my own motivations. The students are paramount and deserve continuity, especially at the secondary level; teachers whom can serve as mentors not for just two years, but ideally see their students through high school graduation. These students need incentive and support to get their diplomas, not a further sense of abandonment. I was surprised you did not cite Linda Darling-Hammond about the general lack of efficacy of TfA. I have read some of Ira's work, and he comes across as quite biased, but definitely informed. Will be looking out for part II of your column!
P.S. If anyone knows of some sort of database with other alternative credential programs or NCATE accredited institutions to earn both my preliminary credential and Master's at the same time, please let me know! My university is not forthcoming with the information at all. I currently live in southern California but would consider moving for the right opportunity. Thanks. -
Lisa signed the petition |
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