Troops to teach?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2007
Troops to teach?
9
Sat, 10-18-2008 - 10:41pm
Did anyone hear on the final president debate, McCain talk about the Troops-to-Teach program? He stated that it was a program placing troops in teaching jobs, without having to go through the examinations and certifications.
WTF? Can this be right? I looked into the program a little bit online, and it looks like an alternative certification type process. So McCain was misinformed, (or misinforming us, maybe) about the fact that they don't have to go through certifications. But still. How does being a soldier qualify you to be a teacher? Does the reverse apply, so since I'm a teacher am I automatically qualified to be a member of the armed forces? How are the two really connected? What type of training, interning, student teaching, etc. would they have to go through, or not go through? I have nothing against members of the armed forces -- they represent our country heroically. But that does not qualify them to be a teacher, any more than it qualifies them to be a doctor, or a lawyer. Why teachers? Are teachers that expendable, that ANYONE can replace them as long as they're patriotic or can fire a weapon? I do not understand this at all, and as a public school teacher I am completely offended. As a mom, I'm worried about a war veteran who may have made a great soldier but that hasn't been trained to work with children, teaching my child as a "fall-back" job after he/she is out of the military. What do you think about this?
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2003
In reply to: amb2008
Sat, 10-18-2008 - 11:10pm

Yes, McCain did misspeak about the Troops to Teachers program.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2007
In reply to: amb2008
Sat, 10-18-2008 - 11:11pm
Okay, I'm new to this board and it took me awhile to read the 300 message thread about the debate, but I see now that this has already been discussed so I won't bring it up again. I do wonder if McCain is suggesting that HE doesn't think that troops should have to be certified, or if he just didn't research the program very well. Either way, um, score for Obama a bunch of teacher votes. Which is fine with me -- I am a mama for Obama! :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2008
In reply to: amb2008
Sat, 10-18-2008 - 11:58pm

Vetting seems a bit of a bugaboo for Sen. McCain.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-13-2006
In reply to: amb2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 12:04am

I truly think that McCain misspoke in this instance. From everything I've read about TTT, there's a clear path to certification and troops must meet certain eligibility requirements.


-Michelle


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Avatar for litlpixy
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2004
In reply to: amb2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 12:20am

sherilc is right. It's a wonderful program. What has been our experience is that many who opt to go in to Troops to Teachers are many times sent to schools that have a difficult time retaining teachers due to high

"It's time to put the election behind us and the country in front of us. Barack Obama wasn't my choice, but come January 20th, he will be MY President.... I will not seek to see all

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2008
In reply to: amb2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 1:26am
I think the program is wonderful.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2003
In reply to: amb2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 3:22am

How does being a soldier qualify you to be a teacher?


I was a member of the armed forces for twenty-five years and technically still serve in the Retired Reserve.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2007
In reply to: amb2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 2:58pm
Thanks for your clarification, everyone. TTT does sound like a commendable program, and to wila04, thanks for your point of view. I didn't think about how alot of armed forces positions would be teaching positions., and that makes alot of sense -- particularly about training young soldiers being even more difficult than teaching high school students. I'm sure that's exactly right. Like I said in my previous post -- I looked into it more and I like the program. My issue was the "skipping certification" comment McCain made. He did not represent this program well. Thanks again, everyone.
Avatar for litlpixy
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2004
In reply to: amb2008
Sun, 10-19-2008 - 7:10pm

Now, now.....LOL


I didn't catch what he said about Troops to Teachers? It really is good, you just need to WANT to teach in the rough schools.


Annette

Acorn - they're

"It's time to put the election behind us and the country in front of us. Barack Obama wasn't my choice, but come January 20th, he will be MY President.... I will not seek to see all