Reply to If you think it matters that your kid's classes be taught by a professor: Why?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
I'm a prof.  I definitely got better by my eighth or tenth class.  ... It also depends on ... .  
[/quote]

Yes, I'm also a professor.  Research university science departments get funded by grants, so they emphasize publications.   Business schools get funded by tuition, so they care more about teaching.  In all cases, experience tends to improve teaching.  If nothing else, the department learns to shift bad teachers to courses where they do less damage.  More generally, you want stability, not a new Ph.D. student or adjunct adapting to a new course.

Ultimately, you want to learn from someone is gets paid more, with more experience, qualifications, and connections.  I know the textbook authors and have worked in industry.  I am opinionated (and correct!) about the right way to think about my field.  When I write letters of recommendation to graduate school, other professors know me and my credibility.  Sometimes I still teach badly, but I'm certainly better and more consistent now.

Here is a comparison.  Some of my doctors have been young with limited experience and authority, and they overreact to random blood tests.  Older, experienced doctors just shrug their shoulders and rerun the tests.  I feel better in experienced hands.

[/quote]

Generalities…the fact remains that many tenured professors are in cruise control regarding undergrad teaching, or were never very good to begin with. Even at schools that use TAs, they will usually be at intro-level courses in which they will do just fine & your kid will have plenty of professors for other classes. This whole topic is being magnified by some people to appear more meaningful than it really is. [/quote]

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