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Letters

Humanities Undergrads May Make Capable TFs

By Jonathan F. Dresner, October 20, 1998

To the editors:

In "Hiring the Blind to Lead the Blind" (Column, Oct. 13), Daniel M. Suleiman acknowledges that in the natural sciences and computer science, advanced undergraduates are capable of teaching "peers" in their field of expertise.

If this does not also apply in the humanities, it seems that the "expertise" gained by humanities concentrators is lesser, somehow.

I share Suleiman's reservations about undergraduates teaching undergraduates for many reasons, but I also have reservations about "blanket" or "one size fits all" policies that fail to recognize the capabilities of students and the value of teaching experience.

JONATHAN F. DRESNER

Oct. 13, 1998

The writer is a Ph.D. candidate in Japanese History.