Why is TFA Institute smack in the middle of the world cup?

The kids did well with their lesson today, factoring sum and differences of two cubes, so I was proud, especially when Tuesday was a bit rough in terms of material. I also handed out a classroom culture survey, which I was required to do, where I was pleased to find that none of my students despised me or my teaching style... praise the Lord. Let's pause here though, are the kids really going to write how they feel? I'm not saying that I am a mean teacher and deserve some negative reviews, but if I were a student and I was given a survey asking if my teacher was a good teacher, and although I don't have to put my name on it I'm thinking that a) when I turn the survey in obviously the teacher knows it's my thoughts and b) this teacher has been reading a lot of my writing of late meaning he can decipher whos handwriting is whos. Seems a bit risky when this is the same teacher that is holding basically your high school diploma in his hand. But whatever I do as told.

I had a bit of a moral conflict today, Germany vs. Spain, semi final of the world cup at 1:30, which just so happened to fall in between one of my teaching workshops after my teaching period. Now this was nothing new for me. Institute, which is Teach for America's training program, started around June 13th and ends July 10th. Do these dates sound familiar?? Why yes they do! That's around the same dates as the world cup! Ah yes that little tournament that happens once every four years or so right? Needless to say I've been a little on edge here at institute but not because of the hardships of learning the ropes of becoming a teacher, but for the fact that I have been missing world cup matches. Now in the group stage it was tolerable, I would simply have updates sent to my phone and catch the replays after the work day. But the semi-finals? Now that's just ridiculous. I bet if this was Teach for Brazil we would have postponed institute. They gave me no choice... but to find some illegal stream on my computer and watch during session.

Was this the moral conflict? No, not at all. I believe the 11th commandment sounds something like thou shalt watch the world cup, even if you are American and don't understand the impact and meaning of this beautiful game. So that choice was easy. It was when I had an interesting convo with a student in first period:

Student: "Mr. Harrison who you think is going to win?"

Me: "Germany of course. Too much talent, and they are playing great soccer at the moment"

(I won't even go into the details of this game and why Germany should have won and why FIFA should fire every single official that participated in this tournament... at least in this post)

Student: "Nah Mr. Harrison, Spain's gonna win. I'm leaving 3rd period to go watch it."

Good Teacher Response: "Now you know leaving school is against the rules and furthermore you don't want an absence. I'll be checking in with your 3rd period teacher to make sure your present."

My Response: "Well... you know the rules, but I don't blame you. Shoot, I'm trying to figure a way to get to watch the game too! You tryin' to put some money on it?"

Now I know that was wrong. And you can judge me. But I'm tryin to make money anway I can. Okay just kidding about the betting part, but I feel no remorse about a) watching the game during my session or b) indirectly encouraging a student to watch the game. The way I see it, me and Alberto were forced into making that decision. I wanted to learn more effective teaching methods and he wanted to learn what a metaphor was in 3rd period, but we were backed into a corner and thus we chose soccer.

So for those TFAers out there past and present who know that we constantly fill out surveys about our experiences, I want the TFA institute team to know that it is a crime to schedule during world cup matches! And a sin to schedule during post group play! You force people like me to decide between the beautiful game of soccer and equipping myself to help the youth of America.