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<p>Cross your heart? Can we count on that? I am pretty sure I can make you break that solemn promise in the next future. All that is needed is another discussion about TAs to complement the hundreds that have appeared here. Or start a discussion Cal TAs really $%^& – which would be new territory! </p>
<p>And, fwiw, why does it appear to be so hard to notice that there are no contradiction in “I reconfirm that all my classes were taught by profs. TA’s led discussion groups and labs . Period.” and “The reality is that TAs will play a role in your education, and one that goes well beyond the “TA only lead sections” bull. Expect the TA to participate if not be responsible for the grading, and perhaps even design of the curriculum of a class.”</p>
<p>Perhaps, I should outsmart the “other side” by starting a thread about the prominence of TAs at Stanford, and let the non-furd-fans jump on the opportunity with filed claws and fangs. </p>
<p>Anyone who spent time at a research university knows what the responsibilities of TAs are, and in many cases, know exactly what the background of those TAs is. And to keep in line with the above paragraph, if anyone wants to pretend that all TAs who teach (oops, lead a section) at Stanford are PhD candidates, that would be quite a fib. The same for pretending that all TAs are … in graduate school, as that would also be untrue. And, then we could go on about who was responsible for grading papers and assignments. Would it surprise anyone that the person who is grading your papers and test might be your … own roommate and in the same graduating class? And YES, that is at Stanford and in a non-stem class! </p>
<p>The long of the short of all of this is that TAs will play a role in the education of undergraduates at a research university. In some cases, it can be very beneficial, and something the students actually might prefer over the lectures. However, in other cases, a TA can destroy a class by making changes to the advertised curriculum. And, if one truly values attending the class of a superb lecturer, not much can be done except put up with the horrible TA and hope the evaluation will save upcoming classes from the aggravation. </p>
<p>And that is NOT the last I’m going to say on this subject!</p>