Newsgroups: ut.general
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: PhDs vs. teaching
Message-ID: <1989Mar20.185626.22856@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <1989Mar16.215619.27824@utzoo.uucp> <1989Mar17.090858.18170@utfyzx.uucp>
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 89 18:56:26 GMT

In article <1989Mar17.090858.18170@utfyzx.uucp> harrison@utfyzx.UUCP (David Harrison) writes:
>... An integration of the
>knowledge occurs at the graduate-student level for most (although
>some able students achieve it as undergraduates)...  Before that...
>I think it unlikely that the person will be capable of effectively
>teaching at the first-year level, although (s)he may be quite good
>and second, third, or fourth year courses.

Okay, we'll have the PhDs teach the first-year courses, and hire
undergrads to teach the other years! :-) :-)

More seriously, although I wasn't aware of this situation in physics,
note that my original posting specifically suggested hiring the *best*
final-year undergrads as first-year teachers, not just any random bunch.
The selection process would not be trivial, but I think it could be done.
-- 
Welcome to Mars!  Your         |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
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