ABSTRACT
In Chapter 7, the author envisions how Teach For China teaching fellows have the potential to expand public participation in local education through their work on the ground. The chapter describes aspects of teaching fellows’ interactions and relationships with local community members that hinder trust and collaboration. This is followed by an analysis of fellows’ beliefs about how they can impact local communities and a deep analysis of the autonomous projects carried out by fellows in local communities. The author identifies aspects of Teach For China’s organizational culture and program design that discourage fellows from pursuing projects that invite meaningful participation of community members.
