Hello, friends,

In talking with a few of you, I've been able to formulate my thoughts 
about some concerns with our program that I thought I would raise here. 
I'd love your feedback--do you have similar concerns? and what do you 
think we can do to make some good changes?

How do you all feel about teaching experience? Is it important to you? 
Do you feel like we have opportunities here to make ourselves marketable 
for tenure-track positions after graduation? Do you think we should be 
able to teach lower-level courses, like History 100? Or even courses 
that fit our specific interest areas?

I'm TAing for History 100 this semester, and the opportunity has given 
me an entirely different view of possibilities (I've been working at 
CHNM for the previous 3 years). While it's kind of a pain to grade, I 
appreciate the experience. Now, though, I want teaching experience. Is 
there a reason why we can't teach Western Civ? Or American survey 
courses? It seems like it would actually save the university money from 
hiring adjuncts, plus provide more support to PhD students, plus make us 
more marketable for tenure-track positions after graduation. I know some 
of you lead recitations, but aren't there only two of you (Steve & 
Nona)? Can more people do that? And is anybody (besides Jeremy with Clio 
2) teaching? Or can we only teach outside GMU?

What say you all?

Jenny