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The group this evening consisted of Simone, Jessica, Mae, and me. 

-We spoke about the need to get students in the classroom and have teachers who are engaging those students so that the students can graduate. 

-Then we spoke about how efforts to improve schools and education, even if these efforts cannot effect students in some areas, are still important and may have a positive effect on education as a whole.

-We questioned the effect of Teach for America and other fellowships that sent bright and energetic young people to schools to teach for short periods; we are agreed that there are pros and cons...pros include having good, young, well educated teachers teach...and cons included having many of those teachers fulfill the commitment and never teach again, or one-up teachers who have been in the system for a while

Consensus:  -Teachers should be held to higher standards, and part of that may involve teachers being perceived differently and more appreciated by society  

-We agreed that tests are not necessarily indicative of a student's knowledge