Gina’s Blog

I had an interesting conversation today with a friend who works at another university. The dean of his department expressed the belief that teaching assistants can’t handle higher education.

Lordy me what planet is he on?? He must have his head so far up the sleeve of his jumper that he can’t see anything that is right in front of him. He ought to come and see some of the work we are doing. In fact I asked my friend to invite him. I may go and see him myself (with a mallet).

Ultraversity cohorts at the moment are largely made up of teaching assistants. Our external assessor recently expressed admiration at the standard of their work. And we are making sure we are extra rigorous in our moderation procedures because we are going to have to justify a large proportion of highly graded degrees because these ‘incapable teaching assistants’ are gaining too many high marks and ruining the nice bell shaped curve we are all supposed to conform to.

Sigh. I’m new enough to this country to feel shock and sadness and anger at attitudes such as this. Is it getting better? Is he a dinosaur on the way out or are attitudes like this rife?