The Real World of Teach for America: Jeylan Erman - The Perfectionist

Jeylan Erman graduated from Princeton. She enrolled in Teach for America, worked hard and really wanted to be a role model. So why didn't she get the results she expected?

Follow 7 Teach for America recruits through their first two years on the job in New Orleans. Watch the full series here: http://bit.ly/bBn4Kw.

A Learning Matters production.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• teach
• for
• america
• tfa
• learning
• matters
• pbs
• new
• orleans
• katrina
• teaching
• daniel
• hoffman
• john
• merrow
• yale
• university
• wendy
• kopp
• jeylan
• erman

[BandofSorensons]

How not to get your student's attention: "I went to Princeton and could have worked in wall-street." "Put your heads on your desk because I said so." "Speak louder when I ask you how your doing." etc. What a jackass. I wouldn't have listened to her either. Why listen to someone who doesn't think you're a person?

[iceblaze159]

she comes across as very uninspiring...she would have been better off in wall street

she's a control freak and that doesn't work well in the classroom

the importance of personality is overlooked in teaching

[knightre1985]

Typo "make connections with students" was the intended phrase

[knightre1985]

@skinnylotus I had the same training as she did and was even trained at the same school. I was successful with my students because I took time to relate to them and to understand where they come from. The ability to relate and make none tigons with students is not something TFA can teach, it just has to be a part of the person. I feel it was missing for those featured in these videos.

[knightre1985]

I was a TFA corps member as well. Unlike the people in these videos I took the time and had the aptitude to understand my students and build relationships with them. They respected me because they knew I cared. TFA is not easy and those that join thinking they will change the world in one day ar bound to be disappointed. It takes time.

[MsRosebudRez]

@kkaa705: Are you serious?  Wow.

[MsJanetWood]

TYPO CORRECTION:

Well, what you do expect? She has no teaching credential or classroom experience!

She is just winging it and flying by the seat of her pants!

[MsJanetWood]

Well, what do expect? She has no teaching credential or classroom experience!

She's just winging it and flying by the seat of her pants!

[ELEMENTsk8FUN]

The fact that she thinks the greatest pleasure to be derived from teaching is a feeling of power and control is quite disturbing.

[itsjustme2919]

Part of it is too that if she was teaching Economics, its a drab subject that will make anyone fall asleep. Sorry. Its a harsh subject even in college.

[skinnylotus]

well-intentioned teacher who doesn’t understand the experiences which put them in the underprivileged category she wants to rescue them from. So they make it clear to her that the learning style she’s been trained in doesn’t work in the real world. I think it’s sad that she gave up, because those kids can’t get back the time they lost, and they could have made her into a great teacher. The program could have helped by better preparing her to understand her kids.