Subject: Eeek, one last post...a reply to Will. :-)
From: Andrew Kennis (kennis@math.grin.edu)
Date: Fri Mar 07 1997 - 19:30:01 GMT
On Fri, 7 Mar 1997, WILL HOCHMAN wrote:
> Andrew, I use the same approach to literature. There are many talented
> writers--and some never get published--but most of the best ones do get
> published. I know you can easily diagree (teaching lit IS teaching
> conflicts!), but who said life is supposed to be fair?
>
Who said life should be fair? I did. Those who shrug that off as being
too idealistic and unachievable, are *always* those who were dealt the
good hand.......wouldn't ya agree with that?
Now, as far as saying the best get published....I have to disagree. As
long as untalented authors like Grisham and Steele are getting published,
I cannot subscribe to the notion that our market is accurate in doling
out success to the talented, and misery to the untalented.
> I do hear your frustrations and just finished having lunch with some
> talentend grad students at colorado state u where where we talked about
> their job hopes
>
Thanks for understanding and noting the fact that being young with even a
degree under yout belt, these days, does not at all translate into job
security. It used to.....at the very least it used to more than it does
now. And that, that.....makes me sad. :-/
> ...I think being fair to oneself is the best of fairness we
> can expect and I do know how depts think when they do a search (I received
> two job offers last year and 4 oncampus interviews). If folks are going
> to pursue grad degrees I advise them to specialize in a few things and to
> individualize their skills according to both their strengths and what the
> market looks for...you can rage on all you want about all the folks who
> aren't getting what you think they deserve, but how do you really know
> what they are doing for themselves and what they really deserve?
>
Well, what I do believe is, if a society is not employing people with
graduate degrees, while at the same time throwing 1,000 plus lecture hall
classes at hords of cheated undergraduates at public institutions, is not
a wise in the ways of educational policy.
Even approaching this in strict free market terms, as you seem to be
doing, we can see why the situation is wrong. There is a *clear need* for
faculty at all public institutions. It is a accepted belief that small
discussion classes certainly present students with more opportunities
than large, rote learning type, non-communicative, non-writing oriented
lecture halls. There's not reason why we can't have smaller classes.
There are tons of unemployed PhD holders out there! There is a supply and
there is a demand! What's going on?
What's going on? As you should know, cut backs are going on. Corporate
welfare is going on. Inflated defense budgets are going on. Tax breaks on
the rich is going on. And all of this seeps into our resources that could
be used on hiring the teachers that we *need* and *have*.
This situation is frustrating. Not for the baby boomers who have jobs and
are secure with tenured status. But, for the youth of America. The burden
of this situation falls on their shoulders, the most. And yes, there are
those who are young and lucky, and are able to get the few openings there
are. But there are just as many who are young and talented, and
unemployed. And no, I do not think that them merely not specializing
enough or not choosing the perfect graduate path or whatever, justifies
not employing them when there is a *need* for them.
We need teachers. We have teachers. Let's employ them and give public
school undergraduates the small classes they deserve.....the kind of
classes that richer and more fortunate people are receiving right now.
Anyway, I'm not so sure you agre with all of my sentiments. But you seem
to understand most of them. And I figured you would, after all, this is a
salient issue to ya. Thanks for your support and honesty about this
stuff. I appreciate it. :-)
Ok, goodbye for reals, all. :-)
--AK
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