"Rafael Molina-Rodriguez (Rafael Molina-Rodriguez)" on wed 20 nov 96
Clayarters:
The following are some thoughts I have on the education thread. I feel I
have a little credibility on the subject as I've been in and around academia
for sixteen of the last twenty years as a high school student,
undergraduate, graduate, graduate teaching assistant, graduate teaching
fellow, university assistant professor, and college instructor.
I find it curious that in every academician's defense of criticism that not
one of them mentioned the assistance they receive. You can't possibly
believe you do it all by yourselves, I don't care how many hours you
work. What about the custodians, maintenance people, work study
(financial aid), "student volunteers", graduate assistant's' / fellow's, and
adjunct faculty. I, too, work hard but I try to give credit where credit is
due. The students, staff, and administration are vital to the succes of a
program
I believe art in society in general and art in education specifically is
important. I see how important it is in the lives of the people who take my
classes. Why else would they devote so much time and energy to their
craft if it didn't have significance in their lives. However, I try not to give
it the importance some of my colleagues do. It's not finding a cure for
cancer, solving poverty, or abolishing racism.
Numerous replies mentioned the hours that these instructors/professors
work at teaching. I don't believe their is a clause in your contract that
states you have to work that many hours. In fact, the contracts I've
signed only stipulate I meet my assigned classes and have office hours.
You voluntarily work the hours you do. Have you heard of the concept
of delegating work? I choose to work the long hours I do. Teaching and
working in clay is what engages me intellectually and emotionally.
Incidentally, I've just been nominated for the "Excellence in Teaching"
award.
I found it interesting that not one of the instructor/professors described
some of the benefits and perquisite's of teaching in higher education. In
addition to their salary they receive health insurance and retirement.
Some of the health insurance plans include optical and dental. The
retirement plans take a percentage of each months salary, around 8%,
and match it. What a deal.
Let me describe some of the perquisites. A studio space (heated and
air-conditioned), use of the equipment (kilns, et. al.), materials (clay,
glazes, etc.,..), utilities (water, gas. electricity). This not the case at
every school, but, a large number. It's an unlevel playing field. I think this
is a source of animosity between indepent studio potters and faculty
artists.
At the colleges where I teach they graciously allow me to do some work
but certainly not a large volume. I make a modest amount of work and
process it along with the students work. I appreciate this and I
acknowledge the support I receive.
Rafael Molina-Rodriguez
rmr3431@dcccd.edu
Vince Pitelka on thu 21 nov 96
Wow, Raphael, you got my blood boiling with two posts in a row!
Congratulations!
>I find it curious that in every academician's defense of criticism that not
>one of them mentioned the assistance they receive.
That's because we knew that anyone with an ounce of sense would never think
such a thing. Besides, it's irrelevant. It has absolutely nothing to do
with the amount of time that we individually put in, or the amount of
responsibility we individually might have.
>You can't possibly believe you do it all by yourselves, I don't care how
many hours you work.
I do not believe that any of us implied that we did. And it is often true
that the university custodians will not touch the ceramics studio. All they
do in our 10,000 sq. ft. studio is change the paper towels and toilet paper.
We have excellent maintenance people, but we know more about our kilns and
equipment than they do, so I usually do my own repairs. The same is true of
many clay academics. Besides, in many universities the physical plant
people charge such exorbitant hourly rates for repair work that poor art
departments cannot afford it. Some clay departments are lucky enough to
have a part-time or full-time technician. We do not. I have an artist in
residence that provides some valuable assistance, but we have no money for
student workers or work study. We do not have a graduate program.
>The students, staff, and administration are vital to the succes of a program.
Gee, I had no idea. Thanks for bringing us this remarkable insight.
>Numerous replies mentioned the hours that these instructors/professors
>work at teaching. I don't believe their is a clause in your contract that
>states you have to work that many hours. In fact, the contracts I've
>signed only stipulate I meet my assigned classes and have office hours.
>You voluntarily work the hours you do.
Your arrogance amazes me. We all mentioned the extra hours we work simply
to point out that we are completely devoted to work. Those like me that
responded to the original post work fifty to eighty hours per week because
we are completely committed to what we do, and we need to work these hours
to accomplish all that we feel we need to do. That's our choice. We NEVER
implied in any way that anyone else expects us to work these hours.
>Have you heard of the concept of delegating work?
Delegating to whom?
>Incidentally, I've just been nominated for the "Excellence in Teaching"
I'm so very pleased for you.
>I found it interesting that not one of the instructor/professors described
>some of the benefits and perquisite's of teaching in higher education. In
>addition to their salary they receive health insurance and retirement.
>Some of the health insurance plans include optical and dental. The
>retirement plans take a percentage of each months salary, around 8%,
>and match it. What a deal.
The same kind of deal you get in any other professional position or any job
for a corporation, institution, school, municipality, government agency, and
most businesses. Surely you are aware of this. Any professional-level
position which did not offer such perks would never draw worthy candidates.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@Dekalb.Net
Phone - home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801
Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville TN 37166
Marcia Selsor & Matt Benacquista on fri 22 nov 96
Vince Pitelka wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Wow, Raphael, you got my blood boiling with two posts in a row!
> Congratulations!
>
> >I find it curious that in every academician's defense of criticism that not
> >one of them mentioned the assistance they receive.
>
> That's because we knew that anyone with an ounce of sense would never think
> such a thing. Besides, it's irrelevant. It has absolutely nothing to do
> with the amount of time that we individually put in, or the amount of
> responsibility we individually might have.
>
> >You can't possibly believe you do it all by yourselves, I don't care how
> many hours you work.
>
> I do not believe that any of us implied that we did. And it is often true
> that the university custodians will not touch the ceramics studio. All they
> do in our 10,000 sq. ft. studio is change the paper towels and toilet paper.
> We have excellent maintenance people, but we know more about our kilns and
> equipment than they do, so I usually do my own repairs. The same is true of
> many clay academics. Besides, in many universities the physical plant
> people charge such exorbitant hourly rates for repair work that poor art
> departments cannot afford it. Some clay departments are lucky enough to
> have a part-time or full-time technician. We do not. I have an artist in
> residence that provides some valuable assistance, but we have no money for
> student workers or work study. We do not have a graduate program.
>
> >The students, staff, and administration are vital to the succes of a program.
>
> Gee, I had no idea. Thanks for bringing us this remarkable insight.
>
> >Numerous replies mentioned the hours that these instructors/professors
> >work at teaching. I don't believe their is a clause in your contract that
> >states you have to work that many hours. In fact, the contracts I've
> >signed only stipulate I meet my assigned classes and have office hours.
> >You voluntarily work the hours you do.
>
> Your arrogance amazes me. We all mentioned the extra hours we work simply
> to point out that we are completely devoted to work. Those like me that
> responded to the original post work fifty to eighty hours per week because
> we are completely committed to what we do, and we need to work these hours
> to accomplish all that we feel we need to do. That's our choice. We NEVER
> implied in any way that anyone else expects us to work these hours.
>
> >Have you heard of the concept of delegating work?
>
> Delegating to whom?
>
> >Incidentally, I've just been nominated for the "Excellence in Teaching"
>
> I'm so very pleased for you.
>
> >I found it interesting that not one of the instructor/professors described
> >some of the benefits and perquisite's of teaching in higher education. In
> >addition to their salary they receive health insurance and retirement.
> >Some of the health insurance plans include optical and dental. The
> >retirement plans take a percentage of each months salary, around 8%,
> >and match it. What a deal.
>
> The same kind of deal you get in any other professional position or any job
> for a corporation, institution, school, municipality, government agency, and
> most businesses. Surely you are aware of this. Any professional-level
> position which did not offer such perks would never draw worthy candidates.
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@Dekalb.Net
> Phone - home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801
> Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville TN 37166
Gee, Vince, I had the same reaction to Raphael" post. On our campus we
are now filling out TRS forms to let the legislature know we are working
and doing exactly what? I asked the provost and union president how I
should list all the kiln firings, maintenance, repairs, etc. which I
have had to do since we lost the Technical assistant in 1986. They told
me it was service, same as free lectures, donating art to non-profits,
committees, etc. I took exception since it is not exactly "volunteered".
The TRS (teaching, research, and service accountability of our union
contract) report
will obviously reflect 60-80 hours/week. It will incorporate my
professional job and my assistant's job. And I am exhausted!
Marcia in Montana
--
Marci Selsor
Matt Benacquista
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/
mjbmls@imt.net
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