<p>I think it may be a myth to believe that tenure track professors have necessarily leaned how to teach. In most cases, it is not something they learn or focus on in grad school - in grad school they focus far more on their chosen discipline. I agree with the others that it is wise to suggest your kids check the various publications students put out, where profs are ranked. But they too should be taken with a grain of salt. One disguntled student can exaggerate a problem…</p>
<p>My H, who has won teaching awards and is a prof who is popular with students, does have TAs who assist in large classes. Generally they assist with grading and they may sub for him if he misses a class - which perhaps happens once a year if that. </p>
<p>But while there may be a course like Teaching in the XXX for grad students, there is generally very little effort made towards making sure that young profs know how to teach, in terms of what they learn in grad school and the guidance they get in their new teaching jobs. We frequently see younger faculty who have trouble figuring out how much work is too much work, how to select the best reading assignments for a particular topic, etc. It can take them a term or two to figure it out. And then I guess some never do!</p>