20150927.0636

The application materials demand
Evidence of successful teaching

They mean
Good student evaluations
Notes from pupils that things went well
That Professor So-and-so was nice
Was a help to them
By which
Of course
They mean
Was easy
Was fun
Gave good grades
Did not demand much

They mean
Good reviews from peers
As if peers are the ones
Who watch others' classes
And as if the act of watching
Changes nothing
Which
Of course
Is not the case

They mean
Something that can be sent along
An email attachment

The real evidence of successful teaching
Does not come in a form that packages well
And it is usually not recognized for years
By which time
It is already too late
One way or another