Something that is curious to me
Recently this came to my attention as an alumni of California College of the Arts, I came across this job advertisment for an Assistant Professorship in Art History and Visual Studies:-
Minimum Qualifications
Successful candidates will be expected to have completed their Ph.D. at the time of appointment. Applicants should show evidence of effective teaching or equivalent professional experience, as well as a track record of publication and/or professional activity.
For further information about this job, please see www.cca.edu/about/jobs/view/1707
Right, so let me get this straight. All the research that takes towards writing doctoral thesis, and papers for publication, /and or professional activity.....and what happens to transmitting information. Lots of extremely erudite professors, have no idea how to teach. Why? Well it's just my theory, but there seems, in my experience, a complete inability on their part, to take anyone ( who is not a 'doctor') seriously. Especially, if their practice differs to yours.
As an interesting development, I know at least one person (mentioning no names) who for quite a few years has held a post as chair of one course along with vice chair of another. She has no PhD, and publications are limited. Is she qualified for her job? No. She once said to me in confidence, that she hoped that it would not become the next qualification for jobs in the field.
Her tardiness in saying this comment, made me retaliate with my usual sarcasm, saying
"I thought you were all about education". For that I apologise, I know what she means really. After all, there is the huge thorny question about how is this all to be paid for?
My mum thinks that people who apply for teaching jobs, should be trained to teach, so here seem to be the options so far.
1) Get extremely qualified, give the right information, and be an inspirational figure head , but a potential bore in the class room and the staff room.
2) Muck in with the job at hand and slowly do your area of expertise while learning by experience in the class room, always learning from the concerns of your peers and students who offer new and interesting perspectives.
3) Learn to teach, and hope it's the right formula.
But I digress, I said that first of all, I would consider what it meant to be 'educated'.
Minimum Qualifications
Successful candidates will be expected to have completed their Ph.D. at the time of appointment. Applicants should show evidence of effective teaching or equivalent professional experience, as well as a track record of publication and/or professional activity.
For further information about this job, please see www.cca.edu/about/jobs/view/1707
Right, so let me get this straight. All the research that takes towards writing doctoral thesis, and papers for publication, /and or professional activity.....and what happens to transmitting information. Lots of extremely erudite professors, have no idea how to teach. Why? Well it's just my theory, but there seems, in my experience, a complete inability on their part, to take anyone ( who is not a 'doctor') seriously. Especially, if their practice differs to yours.
As an interesting development, I know at least one person (mentioning no names) who for quite a few years has held a post as chair of one course along with vice chair of another. She has no PhD, and publications are limited. Is she qualified for her job? No. She once said to me in confidence, that she hoped that it would not become the next qualification for jobs in the field.
Her tardiness in saying this comment, made me retaliate with my usual sarcasm, saying
"I thought you were all about education". For that I apologise, I know what she means really. After all, there is the huge thorny question about how is this all to be paid for?
My mum thinks that people who apply for teaching jobs, should be trained to teach, so here seem to be the options so far.
1) Get extremely qualified, give the right information, and be an inspirational figure head , but a potential bore in the class room and the staff room.
2) Muck in with the job at hand and slowly do your area of expertise while learning by experience in the class room, always learning from the concerns of your peers and students who offer new and interesting perspectives.
3) Learn to teach, and hope it's the right formula.
But I digress, I said that first of all, I would consider what it meant to be 'educated'.
posted by m @ 1/13/2006 07:52:00 pm
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