Many College graduate students recently have expressed concern about their salaries. Interdepartmental surveys show graduate instructors in the English department are earning less money and working longer hours than in past years. Another alarming statistic reveals that 43 percent of graduate students who have completed their fifth year do not plan to pursue their teaching because of such dire economic realities. The University's exemplary English department cannot maintain its tradition of excellence if economic factors force many of its promising young academics to make an early career change. Teaching assistants should merit far more appreciation than both students and legislators have been willing to give them in the past.
Many students try to load their course schedules with classes taught by renowned professors.
Those students overlook the fact that teaching assistants frequently are some of the best instructors in a given department. What graduate students lack in experience they often make up for in energy and enthusiasm. By no means should teaching assistants take precedence over senior faculty members who have years of experience and dedication. Teaching assistants, however, have much more in common with the undergraduate students they teach every day in class. While top-rated professors will build the reputation of academic departments and dazzle students with excellent lectures, teaching assistants are responsible for manning the educational trenches.