[AccessD] OT: the "Education" system

Drew Wutka DWUTKA at marlow.com
Thu Jun 12 11:11:01 CDT 2003


Interesting.

I have never really felt 'downhill' though.  In fact, many times I feel like
I am uphill from people with degrees, because I see the solution, and they
are flapping in the wind.  Oh well.

Drew

-----Original Message-----
From: Tina Norris Fields [mailto:tinanfields at torchlake.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 6:59 AM
To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: the "Education" system


Martin, you may have to go get that degree, just to shut them up.

After some 14 years of experience as an export manager, with a side 
interest in office automation and the stuff that supports it, I one day 
found myself needing a new job.  I had no degree, just knowledge.  I had 
come from the midwest, where "equivalent experience" was a qualifier for 
those without the academic credentials.  But, I was in New England 
(Boston, to be exact), and "equivalent experience" carried no weight 
whatsoever.  I actually got turned down for a position where the only 
other candidate was a recent graduate with a degree and no experience - 
degree NOT in international trade or business, by the way.  The 
interviewer said:  "I couldn't justify choosing you over a degreed 
person."  Wow!  I did go back to school at New Hampshire College (now 
Southern New Hampshire University) and got my degree in Business and 
Computer Science.  Now, I teach adults how to use computers - from the 
complete "newbie" who doesn't know where the ON switch is, to folks 
wanting to learn any of the Microsoft Office Suite programs.  I also 
develop Access database applications and stuff for private clients. 
 It's fun.

The thing that really surprised me was that after I had my degree, I 
felt different in those meetings with other staff.  I hadn't realized 
that I had felt "down hill" from everybody before the degree - but I did 
notice the change in my level of confidence once I was wearing my gold 
key (yes Summa Cum Laude - motivation is a wonderful thing).  So, in 
your "free" time, Martin, why not enroll in a college or university that 
offers a complete degree in your area of interest via the Internet? 
 When you get your gold key, those pompous jerks will have to shut up.

My local college hired me from time-to-time as adjunct faculty when they 
needed my knowledge and they couldn't get anyone with the academic 
credentials to teach the class (summers, especially).  I still work as a 
contract instructor for the Extended Education Services division of the 
college - teaching adults who really want to know the stuff.

Tina

Martin Reid wrote:

>I take a Degree class for the University and I made it a "real life" this
is
>how its done in work type of course. I have ran into the most unbelieveable
>arrogance from academic staff who have never earned a penny from computing
>and yet teach many of the core subjects. I am more interested in my
students
>being able to do it as opposed to telling me how it should be done but
>actually unable to do the work when faced with a keyboard.
>
>My students are required to have 6 mths programming experience before I get
>them. Of course as I use VBA and .NET the faculty teach them Java they will
>not permit me to take an intro course in either .NET or VBA to prepare them
>for the stuff I wil be doing with them.
>
>I have had more than one row with academic staff at Board of Examiners
>meetings. I am on the faculty board and I have no Degree myself, something
>they think should have restricted my participation in such things.
>
>Martin
>
>_______________________________________________
>AccessD mailing list
>AccessD at databaseadvisors.com
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>
>  
>


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