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Why does this system even exist? Grad students shouldn't even really be students, but rather junior level employees who can switch employer at will if they get

Why does this system even exist? Grad students shouldn't even really be students, but rather junior level employees who can switch employer at will if they get better offers.

sgc 4y ago
I did my graduate work in Europe, and I think it is crazy how a bunch of unqualified/ semi-qualified students without their doctorates are teaching in US universities. We had exactly 0 doctoral candidates teaching classes, whereas it is widespread to have masters candidates teaching in US universities - many of which are not cheap at all. They should be students and researchers first and foremost, until they can complete their learning.
- Wyoming23 4y ago
  You're confusing "teaching assistants" with teaching a class. A typical setup would be to have a professor give 3 lectures a week, along with open office hours, and design the curriculum. Then to have an assistant or two who are graduate students (people who have a bachelor's degree or master's degree in the subject) who help grade homework, set up lab work, and answer student questions in a 1-hour recitation/discussion meeting.
  - sgc 4y ago
    That's not the case in many places (including prestigious universities - and due to their research orientation, perhaps it happens more, the more prestigious it is). It is virtually impossible to get into a teaching position post-doctorate in the US if you have not been teaching as a doctoral candidate. I have taught in Unis where there was an entire team of doctoral candidates (and a couple master's candidates) teaching a big chunk of the classes offered to undergrads - not as assistants, just as the listed "professor". I have also followed open courses online where the "Prof" gives two or three classes in the semester, and the "assistant" teaches the rest. As far as I know and have experienced, what you are describing is less true every year.

Why does this system even exist? Grad students shouldn't even really be students, but rather junior level employees who can switch employer at will if they get better offers.

sgc 4y ago

I did my graduate work in Europe, and I think it is crazy how a bunch of unqualified/ semi-qualified students without their doctorates are teaching in US universities. We had exactly 0 doctoral candidates teaching classes, whereas it is widespread to have masters candidates teaching in US universities - many of which are not cheap at all. They should be students and researchers first and foremost, until they can complete their learning.

Wyoming23 4y ago
You're confusing "teaching assistants" with teaching a class. A typical setup would be to have a professor give 3 lectures a week, along with open office hours, and design the curriculum. Then to have an assistant or two who are graduate students (people who have a bachelor's degree or master's degree in the subject) who help grade homework, set up lab work, and answer student questions in a 1-hour recitation/discussion meeting.
- sgc 4y ago
  That's not the case in many places (including prestigious universities - and due to their research orientation, perhaps it happens more, the more prestigious it is). It is virtually impossible to get into a teaching position post-doctorate in the US if you have not been teaching as a doctoral candidate. I have taught in Unis where there was an entire team of doctoral candidates (and a couple master's candidates) teaching a big chunk of the classes offered to undergrads - not as assistants, just as the listed "professor". I have also followed open courses online where the "Prof" gives two or three classes in the semester, and the "assistant" teaches the rest. As far as I know and have experienced, what you are describing is less true every year.