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Topic:
Re: Are Tenure Track Professors Better Teachers?
Replies:
7
Last Post:
Sep 16, 2013 10:54 AM
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Re: Are Tenure Track Professors Better Teachers?
Posted:
Sep 15, 2013 5:23 PM
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Hi Phil,
On Sun, Sep 15, 2013 at 11:00 AM, Phil Mahler <MAHLERP@middlesex.mass.edu> wrote: > I agree with Alain's statement below. > > If there is a conclusion to be drawn from the referenced article it is that when one is allowed to focus on teaching, one teaches better. I believe that is generally true. Of course this study refers to one selective university, but I think the statement is true. > > But the fact that 3/4 of math courses in community colleges are taught by non-full-time faculty is problematic in the areas outside of the classroom: advising, curriculum development, office hours ? . For which I absolutely do not blame these individuals, who, as I said, deliver quality instruction.
How can one possibly make such a general statement without any data to support it? If the last statement above is correct, then aren't you're essentially saying that no particular qualifications beyond possibly a thumbs-up/thumbs-down interview with a department member is necessary to teach at the community college level? None of us have a degree in "advising, curriculum development, office hours." Do you really agree that anyone with a degree remotely related to mathematics can teach math at the community college level as long as they can "pass" a thumbs-up/thumbs-down interview with the chair? That people who teach at a degree issuing institution like a community college don't need a degree in the field they are teaching in? Most other fields hire professionals with degrees and licenses. I believe we are professionals, and that it is essential that we hire folks with solid degrees in mathematics in order to get the job in the classroom done well. And I think the current state of math education at the community college level is a testimony to that. In my opinion, community college math departments ought to operate on no less that 90% tenured/tenure-track faculty, mainly filling in positions until a tenure track faculty can be hired. I wish that our professional organization AMATYC support a stand like this.
Sincerely Lars. **************************************************************************** * To post to the list: email mathedcc@mathforum.org * * To unsubscribe, email the message "unsubscribe mathedcc" to majordomo@mathforum.org * * Archives at http://mathforum.org/kb/forum.jspa?forumID=184 * ****************************************************************************
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