One Harlem school is so dangerous that Aeven the dedicated recruits are staying away:
Teach for America, known as the Peace Corps for struggling urban schools, has sent its teachers to the worst crime-ridden schools in the nation. But one Harlem school is too dangerous — even for them.The national group pulled about 10 of its teachers from Intermediate School 172 after one of them was threatened and others were assaulted last year, the Daily News has learned.
And Teach for America is refusing to send any corps members back to IS 172 until order is restored, sources said. It is believed to be the first time the organization has blacklisted a school anywhere in the nation in its 16-year history.
"The feeling was the administration hadn't addressed the questions of security with our teachers," said an official at Teach for America, who asked not to be identified.
The teachers at this school dodge hurled chairs and wear earplugs to block out the noise. One expressed concern at why the DOE wasn't doing anything. Short of enforcing martial law, I'm wondering what could be done when the students apparently care so little. I can see why TfA doesn't want to "lure" recruits in with high pay and then leave them, undefended, in war zones.
Posted by kswygert at March 6, 2006 05:11 PM