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Editor:
In response to Kimberly Nalette's Sept. 25 letter: I believe Ms. Nalette has confused an instructor's authority in her subject with her ability to effectively teach that subject.
Students should not "question whether or not the person instructing their classes are qualified to teach them."
If a student was able to determine who is and who isn't authoritative in some subject, then he wouldn't be taking a class in that subject.
We do not leave the determination of the intellectual authority of teacher to students for very good reasons.
As to the importance of effective teaching, I agree with Ms. Nalette entirely.
Instructors should be expected to present the material clearly. They should, ideally be enthusiastic about their subject, and they should inspire their students to think carefully and critically for themselves.
However, having been subjected to three separate TA Orientation Programs at three different universities, I am thoroughly unconvinced that education experts can effectively teach how to effectively teach.
The assumption that such experts have something of value to say to every discipline regarding teaching is, in my opinion, unfounded.
Consider one thing I have been taught three times by these experts: we all have different learning styles, therefore as teachers, we should try to communicate our subject in as many different ways as possible. There is an important truth here, but I belie ve it runs about one-eighth-of-an-inch deep - we are all different. Indeed, let's take it further. We all learn different things at different times in different ways from different people for different reasons, and not only do we differ from each other, w e differ from ourselves. Sometimes I learn by listening, sometimes by doing.
What am I as a teacher supposed to do in response? I try to reach as many of my students as I can without compromising the integrity of my subject. I don't need a "theory" for this.
If the regents are serious about training the university's new teachers, which they should be, then I suggest we let those scholars who have the approval of both their intellectual peers and their students teach the future teachers in that subject.
Hal Thorsrud
philosophy teaching assistant
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