Is It After 5pm in Australia, So I Can Drink?
I recently wrote a Monday Morning Memo®® on what I believe to be failures in the way we educate our youth, and why schools in the US are failing. I received the following from Australia this morning:
“Hi Alan
“After much thought and reflection I am unsubscribing from your Monday Memo because I’m dismayed at you recent attacks on education. Education is not a commodity to be bought and sold, it is not a business, it is a life skill. Attending school goes beyond learning how to read and write it teaches teamwork, social skills, interacting with a group and so on.
“I can only comment on my experience with the Australian education system and here we value education. The Federal Government is overhauling the funding model to ensure that all children receive a quality education and have the ability to undertake Tertiary education if that is what they wish. In addition to overhauling the funding model they are introducing a National Curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 12.
“Your recent assertions that a people should only have to do the relevant professional entrance exam is laughable. University equips the student with skills far beyond the scope of their Degree pattern, the ability to learn, research and problem solve. This is a fundamental cornerstone of producing quality graduates. I am very proud to display my education qualifications and professional associations as a post nominal on my email signature and on my business card. It shows that I am qualified in my chosen field and am committed to continual improvement.
“In closing I have enjoyed receiving your Monday Memos over the last few years and have shared them with many friends. Many of them in the education sector. Sadly this will no longer occur.
“Kindest Regards
(I’ve Withheld His Name) BSc ME Dip Man Dip SIS CEnvP MEIANZ MIECA ARLF”
Aside from the fact that 36 initials after one’s name reflects either a practical joke or someone so insecure that they present you with their fourth grade report card when they meet you (sort of what they do on Facebook), can you imagine anyone so “involved” in education and learning that their reaction is to unsubscribe from a free newsletter they’ve admittedly enjoyed for years over one, single disagreement in philosophy? Geeze, I thought that was how educated people learned—they discussed and debated.
But my friend, here, has his hands over his ears and is screaming like a child (probably reciting all those initials from memory) so that he doesn’t have to tolerate any ideas that aren’t consistent with his agenda (like those trolls on Twitter who insist on debating your Tweets because they can find one exception in ten thousand to your point).
Folks, don’t worry about the competition, because if you focus on new ideas, innovation, and provocation, you’ll be hired and pass these frightened people by. Although it may take a slight detour to get around all the initials.
© Alan Weiss 2013
Curtis M. Alexander
From ‘No Child Left Behind’ (which ironically leaves every child behind) to close friends and family who are teachers and administrators telling us horror stories of ‘the system’ we now homeschool our two sons.
Your former subscriber is propping up his argument with emotion – not facts. The system has been broken for some time. And this is coming from a guy with a doctorate and a few initials behind his name as well.
Alan Weiss
A doctorate does not imply intelligence, only the passing of certain tests, often arbitrarily conducted under quite differing standards.
Curtis M. Alexander
“A doctorate does not imply intelligence” … wow, you sound like my wife.
I’ve stopped mentioning my degree at all to potential clients. Seems to be more of a turn off.
I’d be curious to know if you ever experienced that with your PhD status?
Alan Weiss
I received my PhD in my 40s because I wanted a learning challenge. I used three of my Fortune 500 clients in my research, my dissertation was rejected, rewritten, and then I got into an argument at my oral defense! I use my PhD for dinner reservations and to get through to medical people quickly: “Dr. Weiss is on the line.” It is not on my business card. Some of my publishers like it, and that’s their choice.
Peter McLean
It is after 5 pm here. Actually, regarding his comments: speaking as a former Aussie & Canadian teacher (across all grades, having even done a little practicum school teaching in the US – the comment re: valuing education ‘here’ indicates parochialism), as a former University Faculty of Education member, as a former deputy principal, and as a researcher what’s more laughable (pitiable, I should say) is said federal government’s reforms which, among other things, have stripped University funding to pay school funding and by means of a National Curriculum risks more of the headlong pursuit of ideological mediocrity than ever.
I enjoy your Memos and other communiques, even when (and sometimes because) I disagree with them. I find that people so often dismiss without considering the source – if you were attacking education per se, why would you have bothered attaining the higher degrees you already have and why would you obviously continue to be very well read?
Thanks for the prods Alan.
By the way, one of my brothers – a Vice (Deputy) Principal with a number of degrees – was for a time using the letters ARNG on his business card; All Round Nice Guy.
Alan Weiss
Here’s a piece you might enjoy, courtesy of reader Rick Reid:
http://www.eagletribune.com/boston/x1307049946/TOP-HEAVY-U-As-tuition-soars-colleges-add-more-administrators-than-students-or-faculty
The original writer only needs two initials: PA, Pompous Ass.
Peter McLean
The UK’s Yes, (Prime) Minister comes to mind: here’s a bit about education departments marking the graveyards of education – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En4lu_1bcsI . But the article you referenced reminds me of the time in Yes, Minister when they complain that a hospital with over 500 administrative staff and no patients is seriously overworked – all that admin, research studies, facilities servicing and so on. The fictional absurdity occurs too often in real life.
Tim Wilson
Alan,
So this person is dismayed “over your attacks on education?” Did he miss the point that you’ve often said that you can voice an opinion but it doesn’t mean people have to agree with you? Heard you said that a number of times when folks in the audience want to push back on something you’ve said.
Regardless of this individual’s educational background and his feelings about education, not everyone sees things the same. I’m finding the trend this person is taking becoming more and more common. They seem to be saying if you don’t agree with me completely on this topic then I want nothing to do with you. They leave no room for negotiation or comprise. It’s the manifestation of taking my ball and going home. I recall that happening once, the kid went home, but without his ball.
To unsubscribe to something that is free and provides value, because he disagrees with a point of view on one of many topics, while it’s his right, is beyond childish, it’s laughable.
Lucien Canton
Alan –
I feel your pain. I once had a colleague (whom I thought was a friend) angrily demand to be removed from my newsletter list because he objected to an article. When I went to remove him (he obviously couldn’t figure out how to do it himself), I noticed that he hadn’t even opened the article.
Needless to say, he’s now off my Christmas card list!
Alan Weiss
There are several issues here, as you’ve all identified. One is an “agenda” so strong that a person can’t stand to even hear another viewpoint. Another is the hypocrisy of a person claiming a high degree of education who wants to defend the current, bureaucratic, non-student oriented system. A third is the truly bizarre nature of people who place three dozen initials after their name is some vague help it will provide the credibility that their thought processes cannot.
Peter McLean
It’s easier to feel safe and be indolent behind castle walls – until the enemy pours out through a hole they’ve tunnelled under the ground. They were intrepid, those behind the wall played it the same old way and were caught idle. Reading newsletters and so on does not mean you’ve taken action to drop the drawbridge and venture outside.
Gary McMahon
Wow, as an Australian environmental consultant, that works primarily with rural and remote areas. I can honestly testify that if I put all the qualifications/associations after my name in my business card or email, my clients would run a mile. I work with farming and community groups and they don’t care about qualifications or titles, they want to know if I can do the job they appoint me for (to be brutally honest they would label me with a name that we use here in the bush for people that are all front and big note themselves- your aussie readers would know that word!!!). I did have to laugh a little as I also belong to a lot the professional associations that your critic belongs to. It may be horses for courses, but in academic circles I might use my qualifications (I prefer not to though if I can help it) , but for work I don’t. In your critics circumstance it may be needed. That aside, I find the attitude of “taking my bat and ball and going home” disturbing from someone trained in the sciences, where debate, discussion and disagreement are normal and expected as part of the process. I actually like it when a colleague disagrees with me, it makes me refine and articulate my argument and position better, but at the end of the day if we disagree, then we disagree and go have a beer (only after 5 pm though!!!). I’m glad I work in the bush..
cheers
Peter McLean
So true Gary. And no, most likely the critic does not need that many initials for his work and in academia it should be taken as a given. However, some authorities (regulatory bodies, for instance) do want the letters to “prove” competence through certification and association. Hence a reason for their poor results … looking for validity in all the wrong places. Go bush!
Alan Weiss
Some people can’t be saved from themselves.