PROS

The Kaplan School

Offers online courses toward a masters degree in education. All you do is pay for the online classes and complete the online work. After you pass, you are awarded a teaching certificate and can apply for a job in whichever state your license is valid in.

Teach for America

 A non-profit organization that places ind ividuals in schools with lower socio-economic students in an attempt to ensure all students receive the education they deserve. Teach for America teachers are recent college graduates asked to spend two years in a school within a low-income community. They are assisted in receiving a teaching license and the simple skills needed to teach. They receive regular teacher salaries and are also eligible for programs that pay off student loans and other benefits.

Troops-To-Teachers

This program was established in 1994 by the Department of Education to alleviate the unemployment of recently retired service people as well as to fill empty American classrooms. Similar to Teach for America , the teachers are often placed in classrooms in low-income communities. Those eligible receive up to $10,000 to assist them in receiving a teaching certification. They are then required to teach for three years.

CONS

• Trained teachers don't prepare themselves with very many education classes; their knowledge is based on observation.
• Just becuase you pass the test, doesn't mean you know what you're doing.
• F/A teachers are usually hired where there are teacher shortages; many times this is at schools more prevelent to minorities or urban settings.
• The new requirements for F/A teachers are that they should take more courses in education while they are teaching; this might destract them from thier job
• F/A teachers are more prone to be hired for core subjects like math and science; these courses are difficult enough without adding a teacher who doesn't know what he/she is doing.
• F/A teachers are a threat to traditional trained teachers becuase they have to compete with them for jobs.  This isn't fair because traditional teachers work hard and spend 4-5 years recieving schooling; it almost seems like a waste of time.
• F/A teachers are setting the example to their students that it's ok to go the easy route.