The issue
This semester, Teach for America (TFA) has employed a set of aggressive recruiting tactics for Washington University seniors.

Students complain that they have received multiple emails from TFA after having indicated a lack of interest. Many of these emails are personalized, pointing to individual student achievements.

Mark Smith, director of the Career Center, said that the Career Center treats TFA as they would any other high-profile employer—Smith compares TFA to Deloitte, McKinsey and Goldman Sachs in its provision of interview spaces and recruitment postings on CareerLink. Smith said that the recruiting tactics are, for the organization, a result of the palpable need for high-caliber talent in American education.

“They like you guys,” Smith said. “Wash. U., Harvard, Yale—these are target schools for the organization. They want more of you.”

Nationally, TFA is an incredibly successful organization. In 20 years, it has grown rapidly to 28,000 teachers, or “corps members.” In the past three years, its operating budget has more than doubled, to a whopping $189 million.

While many praise the organization’s efforts to boost achievement, it also has a large number of fierce critics. School districts in large cities—notably Charlotte and Boston—have laid off experienced teachers in favor of TFA corps membes. The organization is criticized for its corps members—who, like us, often come from high-caliber universities and privileged backgrounds—and who often leave the teaching profession after their two-year service.

Our take
The aggressive emails from Teach for America are the organization’s doing and have nothing to do with a Washington University endorsement. We do not think that the University should do anything differently in its treatment of TFA.

However, we wonder if TFA’s recruiting practices, including the emails, unwisely target and attract students who are not sufficiently invested in the goal of eliminating educational inequality. Slogans such as “This could be the best career decision you make” portray TFA as a resume-builder and may attract students who are more interested in the truncated nature of the assignment than in the overarching goal.

Employees of the Career Center and Arts & Sciences advisors have referred to TFA as a “transitional program.” We feel that this label is problematic, and we urge our peers to be aware and analytical when considering applying to Teach for America.

TFA is not a Rhodes or a Marshall. It is a real, decided commitment to a classroom full of students. Yes, the program lasts two years. But we urge students to pursue it only if they have a genuine commitment to education and feel prepared for the challenges of teaching in an under-served school.

Moving forward
We would like to point out to TFA recruiters on campus that their aggressive tactics, when coupled with TFA marketing materials, can make the organization seem glossy and corporate. It can also make it seem like they are marketing it as a good stepping stone to a lucrative career at places like Goldman Sachs (which looks favorably upon the organization, and has partnered with TFA to allow recent graduates to defer their job offers to become corps members for two years).

We question whether nonstop emails and well-designed brochures are truly effective means of recruiting dedicated teachers. We also wonder if marketing itself as a transitional program is the message that an organization that aims to genuinely remedy the problems of educational inequality ought to be sending.

Editor’s note: Perry Stein is a member of the Student Life editorial board and a Teach for America undergraduate recruiter. She has recused herself from the discussion and writing of this editorial.