Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Quarters Vs. Semesters
So, I went to schools on the semester system. Now, I have a job at a school on the quarter system. To me, it seems like the quarter system is better. I mean, for one, I get to enjoy the best part of the summer by the pool, watching those poor people on the semester system cooped up in buildings with no A/C. Also, I get the joy of knowing that the town I work in will be almost empty come the beginning of May and that means a month and a half of very little traffic at the beginning of summer. But, I remember that the job search was always a little bit better on the semester system. Those bastard high-schoolers and college-aged people didn't have a chance at the choicest summer jobs! But, now that I have a decent paying job, I don't need the summer work, so I don't really care. Anyway, I just wanted to see if any others had any thoughts on this.
Mathsquatch out.
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I also went to school on the semester system and now teach for a quarter system. I hate it. Class is too rushed. Never enough time to spend on the important topics.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I like is that if I have a crummy student or class, I know it will be over soon (and I'm sure the students feel likewise).
Sorry man, but I think you are out to lunch on this one.
ReplyDeleteI went to school on the quarter system--undergrad and grad. I've had full-time jobs on both. I'd say that quarters are better for students and semesters are better for faculty.
For students quarters rule because there is no dead zone in the middle of the semester. You bust ass all the way through and then it is over and you can smoke a huge bowl and kick it until the next quarter starts.
For faculty what sucks about that is the start up costs. The first two weeks and the last two weeks of every class are always the hardest, and on quarters you have to do that three times a year instead of only twice. Plus on quarters you usually teach at least two extra weeks a year (most quarter schools have 30 weeks of instruction, while most semester schools only have 28), and the whole shebang lasts three weeks longer because of the extra break. So even though you get to enjoy September while everyone else is slogging through the early part of the semester, semester faculty have more time off as a whole. Plus, while I'm outta there on May first or second every year, you are sucking it until mid-June.
That is, unless you are one of the fortunate few who have 2-2-0 ft loads at a quarter school. Then, of course, you and your six months off a year rule. I taught 2-2-1 when I was on quarters, which is a more typical R1 quarter load. I'm on a 2-2 now, and I wouldn't go back to quarters unless it was for a 2-2-0 load or the offer was spec-fucking-tacular.
Having attended and taught in both systems, I would say that I preferred quarters for one major reason: the snowflakes were out of my class that much sooner.
ReplyDeleteI did my undergrad on a trimester. So, same schedule as the quarter system, without a summer session. My brother did his undergrad and grad work on the quarter system.
ReplyDeleteAnd now, I'm in the University of California system, which is (almost) entirely on the quarter schedule. I'm not too crazy about the way UC schedules the fall quarter: one of the best parts about the quarter calendar is being done at Thanksgiving. The UC's start really late, so we have the same silly "two days off for Thanksgiving, then come back for a bit of class and finals" deal as the semester schools, but then the winter quarter still starts right after New Year's. Definitely the worst combination of the two.
However, that aside, I'm a big proponent of the quarter system, both for students and teachers. It's more work to plot out a 10-week class, sure, and a couple wasted days (be they school holidays or mis-handled class sessions) do a lot more harm than if you had an extra six weeks. But, I really like the pace of the quarter system.
I do well with pressure, though, and it's the system under which I came of academic age, so I acknowledge that it ain't for everyone.
I like playing quarters. I've never played semesters.
ReplyDeleteI think quarters are worse for students and better for faculty (if and only if the load is 2-2-0 or whatever). Because students get the most dumbed down crap ever on quarters -- it's just impossible to do justice to most topics in 10 weeks. Maybe it would be different if they were 10-week seminars rather than bloated lecture classes.
ReplyDeleteI ain't never actually worked on or took classes on the quarter system...but when Godforsaken Nether Regions U. offered to hire me with a 3-3-3 load, I whipped out the ol' calculator and did me some figgerin'. I disremember the exact numbers, but the time in the classroom plus prep time worked out verrrrry similarly to a 4-4 load, and then on top of that would be tenure obligations. Thanks, but no thanks.
ReplyDeleteWell, Dr. Mindbender, I am at a CC and I love teaching so a 3-3-3 would be ideal. If I can only get the school to make this a full-time teaching position instead of a part-time lab position, I'll be set!
ReplyDelete@Compound Cash: Semesters is just like Quarters except you use a half-dollar and drink schnapps (You can use any flavor you like. I use Peppermint.). Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteMathsquatch out.
I teach at a semester institution but make my own version of quarters since I do the accelerated courses. I loved quarters as a grad student in my master's program. I could concentrate intensely on the subject I was taking, I had to take fewer classes to keep my fellowship, and it was over quickly if I hated the prof. It works the same for me now that I'm the instructor. I have to deal with fewer students at a time, I can really focus on the subject since I'm teaching fewer classes, and I take comfort in knowing the most flaky of the snowflakes will be gone in a few weeks.
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