By Ashleigh Costello
EAGnews.org

RICHMOND, Calif. — After a heated two hour debate earlier this week, Richmond City Council members succumbed to union pressure and voted to send West Contra Costa Superintendent Bruce Harter a letter, urging him to hear the teachers union’s concerns about the placement of Teach for America in local classrooms.

Mayor Gayle McLaughlin introduced the proposal on behalf of the local teachers union, United Teachers of Richmond, reports richmondconfidental.org.

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“This was brought to my attention because WCCUSD puts Teach for America teachers, who are uncertified, in teaching positions.  It de-professionalizes the profession of teaching,” McLaughlin said on Tuesday night.

Teach for America (TFA) is a national nonprofit organization comprised of outstanding recent college graduates committed to two years of teaching in impoverished urban and rural schools.  Graduates enter the program after earning a bachelor’s degree and take night classes while teaching their first year to earn their credentials.

WCCUSD employs approximately 1,400 teachers, and of those only 100 are TFA teachers.

Diane Brown, president of the United Teachers of Richmond, said she feels that TFA teachers are taking positions that should be given to credentialed, experienced [union] teachers. She also claims TFA members lack the commitment to the district and will likely leave after their two years are up, reports the news site.

“We feel TFA is undermining our profession,” said Brown.  “We see TFA as a vehicle for union busting…the district is hiring uncertified teachers to reduce costs.”

But the National Education Association, the Richmond union’s parent organization, does not agree with that assessment at all.

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Delegates at this year’s NEA Representatives Assembly passed a motion acknowledging, “No evidence suggests that the TFA contracts are being used to reduce teacher costs, silence union voices, or as a vehicle to bust unions.”

Apparently the Richmond teachers never received that memo.

Meanwhile, dozens of Richmond citizens showed their support for TFA teachers at Tuesday’s meeting.

“The teachers have impacted me greatly.  It’s sad that you want to neglect future students from having this experience,” said Ashley Vera, a sophomore in Richmond.  The union members who spoke against TFA “say they want us to have the best teachers,” she continued.  “Well, the Teach for America teachers are the best I’ve had,” she said.

Andre Taylor, a recent graduate from Richmond High, strongly agreed with Vera’s statements.  “I just graduated, one of the only Africa- Americans to graduate with honors, and I had a majority of TFA teachers,” he said.  “They’ve helped mentor me and get me where I am today.  It’s not about how long a teacher is there, it’s about what they bring.  As long as you can bring education to someone, that’s the power you need to bring.”

As far as the charge of a lack of commitment, Andrew McDonald, a TFA teacher in Richmond, resents the implication.

“I don’t know where the two-year myth came from.  I like teaching in Richmond, I really do,” said McDonald.  “I was credentialed through Cal State East Bay in one year, but the education I got from TFA in one summer far surpassed the education I got at CSUEB.  I’m fully credentialed; I’ve been through every training that every other teacher has been through.  I encourage you to hear us out.”

When asked if the TFA members were bad teachers, none of the speakers or council members could substantiate the claim.