Last month, City Journal published a long article by Justin Kaplowitz, a former Teach for America corps member whose teaching career was abruptly ended after one year when a disgruntled parent filed a frivolous $20 million lawsuit charging that Kaplowitz had hit her child [see http://www.edexcellence.net/gadfly/issue.cfm?issue=8#371 for more information]. An article in Sunday's Washington Post Magazine profiles Kaplowitz along with Nick Ehrmann, a second TFA teacher at the same troubled District of Columbia elementary school. While Kaplowitz struggled and ultimately failed to control the unruly children assigned to his class, Ehrmann managed to gain control of his classroom and earn the respect of his students. In a related article, Jay Mathews outlines the changes needed if inner city schools are to become places where teachers can be effective.
"Pass/Fail," by Marc Fisher, The Washington Post Magazine, April 6, 2003
"Finding a lifeline for teachers in trouble," by Jay Mathews, Washingtonpost.com, April 8, 2003