tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post114289947092366725..comments2023-11-15T09:24:10.316-08:00Comments on The 25 Year Plan: Back to School ~ Back to BasicsMichael K. Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726807939923761538noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1143409062662140912006-03-26T13:37:00.000-08:002006-03-26T13:37:00.000-08:00Good "cause and effect" distinction here (as my fa...Good "cause and effect" distinction here (as my fav ENL Prof would've said)<BR/><BR/>Half of my coursework was regular academics. The other were art-related, (mental+physical), long-term semester projects (design, fine arts, also video direct, rec, edit, computer animation, presentations, gallery displays, ect) requiring constant eye-hand, time-consuming reworking of intensive physical manifestation of recent original ideas, which took about 30 hours in courses at the University, but all free time outside to accomplish high-honors- all were on end of semester deadlines.<BR/>On top of that I was a single parent... <BR/>Now if I could just get paid for what I learned...Snaggle Toothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07197042129309670471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1143046529981108722006-03-22T08:55:00.000-08:002006-03-22T08:55:00.000-08:00Another excellent post, and very realistic, too. ...Another excellent post, and very realistic, too. I never liked Spring Break because the profs hurried you up, and dumped a whole load of work on you beforehand, so that you could GET that entire week off. Therefore, by the time you got that week off, you had worked so hard you got burned out and really, really, really sick. I think my ex husband and I spent every Spring Break puking. After 5 straight years of puking every Spring Break, it lost it's glamour for me.Saur♥Krauthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01160101729455178399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1143023399878685602006-03-22T02:29:00.000-08:002006-03-22T02:29:00.000-08:00Somehow my comments got posted twice, and I have n...Somehow my comments got posted twice, and I have no idea how!!!But the second one covers a bit more about grades and marks..I would have deleted the first one but you don't have that option on here...<BR/>Sorry about posting twice Mike...OY!OldLady Of The Hillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02458879772193114892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1143022871630666642006-03-22T02:21:00.000-08:002006-03-22T02:21:00.000-08:00Indeed, Indeed! And quickly too, given the educat...Indeed, Indeed! And quickly too, given the education cuts in Our Presidents Budget, this time round...OY!<BR/>It's odd about school and education in my life because I never liked school...I'm not sure exactly why, but I think I had a hard time with the competitive part of it...the striving for High Marks, etc..plus, I was never happy in school, ever, till I went to Drama School and there, I was loving every class because they were all things I loved and was deeply interested in...and I think too, creative people...people who work in the arts--whatever there involvement--music, theatre, films, painting, sculpture, etc. seem to never tire of our work...age has nothing to do with it and the hours and even the pay..(which can be miniscule to none, depending on many things) doesn't stop any of us from continuing on in our 'chosen profession'. And I don't think you get that from school...I mean, the need or want is there somehow from a very early age, usually...<BR/><BR/>And usually all these things require very hard hard work, but it never feels like "hard hard" work...there is a joy to the process itself...to 'the work' itself..and there is a payoff there that is sort of unexolainable, you know? <BR/>Discovery is such an important part of the pricess of knowing what you love and want to do in life, don't you think? Being inspired by other Artists, (staying with the Creative Process here) is a huge part of the learning process that I don't think you can get in school, unless your school requires you to (in the case of theatre..) go to many many shows whenever you can...see as many plays with great actors by brilliant writers...<BR/><BR/>I';m going to stop because I could go on here forever...and I'm not even sure I'm 'On Topi' here??? But it does have to do with education and possibly not the formal kind that you are talking about....<BR/><BR/>Anyway...it's all interesting stuff to contemplate , you know? You always provoke much thought in me Mike, and I thank you for that...<BR/><BR/>Oh one last little bit here...I was not a good student after my parents seperated...and subsequently divorced...my grades dropped to below average and they never recovere, nor did I in feeling likeI was no good at school...But in reality, Ithink I am a bright person and hopefully those lousy marks didn't mean a whole helleva lot in the long run...So, I think there is too much emphasis on Good Marks...and this can often do more harm than good.OldLady Of The Hillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02458879772193114892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1143022680888442982006-03-22T02:18:00.000-08:002006-03-22T02:18:00.000-08:00Indeed, Indeed! And quickly too, given the educat...Indeed, Indeed! And quickly too, given the education cuts in Our Presidents Budget, this time round...OY!<BR/>It's odd about school and education in my life because I never liked school...I'm not sure exactly why, but I think I had a hard time with the competitive part of it...the striving for High Marks, etc..plus, I was never happy in school, ever, till I went to Drama School and there, I was loving every class because they were all things I loved and was deeply interested in...and I think too, creative people...people who work in the arts--whatever there involvement--music, theatre, films, painting, sculpture, etc. seem to never tire of our work...age has nothing to do with it and the hours and even the pay..(which can be miniscule to none, depending on many things) doesn't stop any of us from continuing on in our 'chosen profession'. And I don't think you get that from school...I mean, the need or want is there somehow from a very early age, usually...<BR/><BR/>And usually all these things require very hard hard work, but it never feels like "hard hard" work...there is a joy to the process itself...to 'the work' itself..and there is a payoff there that is sort of unexolainable, you know? <BR/>Discovery is such an important part of the pricess of knowing what you love and want to do in life, don't you think? Being inspired by other Artists, (staying with the Creative Process here) is a huge part of the learning process that I don't think you can get in school, unless your school requires you to (in the case of theatre..) go to many many shows whenever you can...see as many plays with great actors by brilliant writers...<BR/><BR/>I';m going to stop because I could go on here forever...and I'm not even sure I'm 'On Topi' here??? But it does have to do with education and possibly not the formal kind that you are talking about....<BR/><BR/>Anyway...it's all interesting stuff to contemplate , you know? You always provoke much thought in me Mike, and I thank you for that...OldLady Of The Hillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02458879772193114892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1143013431168710792006-03-21T23:43:00.000-08:002006-03-21T23:43:00.000-08:00Mike - A full-time student would be required to be...Mike - A full-time student would be required to be in class around 15 hrs a week plus homework...but because I took a majority of broadcast classes....lots of editing was required....and the equipment was in school. Plus add to that TAing...and I lived there :)Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17632532461407526747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1143005124977878162006-03-21T21:25:00.000-08:002006-03-21T21:25:00.000-08:00bar bar a ~ I wish I could have too. Better late t...bar bar a ~ I wish I could have too. Better late than never, no regrets!<BR/><BR/>ellen ~ I'm not so sure that work can really ever not feel like work, but it can definitely not feel like a chore, like something that must be trudged through. Some jobs include a set amount of time off and teaching is one of them... but perhaps it shouldn't be. Lets pay them for 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year. Perhaps then we'll see a higher level of commitment not only from them, but also their students.<BR/><BR/>BTW: I did not notice any problems with Blogger myself, but I have heard many a grumbling about them over the past few days. That would also explain why my hit counter was so inactive.<BR/><BR/>oilf ~ Maybe it's different in Canada. In the CSUS system, a full-time student doesn't spend 40 hours per week on school. Sure, there are probably particularly heavy weeks when that much time is required, but they are the exception not the norm.<BR/><BR/>lacey ~ I agree that the system is in failure mode on many levels. I used spring break to illustrate just a very small piece of the dysfunction and to bring into the mix the deeper institutional and attitudinal status quo that is so entrenched right now.<BR/><BR/>kt did ~ True, but I'm looking at this retrospectively. It is true that I was an entitleist and took what I could get... and felt I deserved it. It is also true that in the long run, this attitude did me a disservice and I see more of "me" today than there were 25 years ago. I'm afraid that I may have been part of the beginning of a wave of apathy that I am currently trying to stem. That, I think, may be part of my calling.<BR/><BR/>lee ann ~ I whole-heartedly encourage you to pursue school if it is your desire. I don't know if you or I will find that dream job... I used that extreme example to illustrate the other side of the continuum - apathy. Hopefully the kind of attitude that allows one to feel fulfilled by his or her career role will return. It is becoming more and more scarce.Michael K. Althousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07726807939923761538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1142998241695720202006-03-21T19:30:00.000-08:002006-03-21T19:30:00.000-08:00I want to go back to school myself. I think I woul...I want to go back to school myself. I think I would do much better at my age now.<BR/><BR/>I think if I could just find that job that I love so much that I would never want a vacation or sick day...I would feel very lucky!Lee Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08981305686482468585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1142993887184835682006-03-21T18:18:00.000-08:002006-03-21T18:18:00.000-08:00Its in the 25 year plan for you. Regardless of th...Its in the 25 year plan for you. Regardless of the job thing...its what you wanted to do.<BR/>Simple.Kathleen Jennettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17527996189920596997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1142993303182671152006-03-21T18:08:00.000-08:002006-03-21T18:08:00.000-08:00The school system really has failed in many ways.....The school system really has failed in many ways... beyond our ill-placed break (which I'd rather have than not).<BR/><BR/>I was thinking about failure at CSUS while we went over those Town Hall stories in class today. Really, who cares that the Pres is trying to spruce up campus? He's doing his job. The real story is that every single one of those administrators onstage think there is a fundamental problem with how funds are allocated, and that we have to meet enrollment quotas--not quality quotas, but enrollment quotas--to get state dough.<BR/><BR/>If "time is marked by the periods of time off, not by effort, dedication and motivation," then money is passed out based on a headcount, not true acheivement. It is a real problem and it results in --or is caused by? or both--education failure.<BR/><BR/>We've got to change the student outlook first, before we can yell loud enough for the politicians to hear. That is a losing battle, I think.<BR/><BR/>Good post... not short, but it puts to words so many issues of the academic world I find frustrating!Laceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13097438975071695936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1142968145529386812006-03-21T11:09:00.000-08:002006-03-21T11:09:00.000-08:00Spring break in college and university were two co...Spring break in college and university were two completely different times for me. (We have to do a two-year college program here before going to uni)<BR/><BR/>In college, everything was a joke. I didn;t study and I got an A average....so I had ample time to goof off. There was no worrying about deadlines, or staying up til midnight editing a documentry. That came in university.<BR/><BR/>In uni, I was so envious of my friends not in Journalism, jsut because they could enjoy their pring breaks. My three SBs were dedicated to editing audio or video, preparing course guidelines and audio editing cheat-sheets for my shudents (I was a TA) or writing features on local government or organizations.<BR/><BR/>As much as I liked work and my program, I think the extra week was needed in uni, just because of all the deadlines. In college, it was just needed to enjoy being young. :) I never was a Daytona beach person...the typical SB vacation up here. Maybe when I'm off to do my Masters I will try that :)Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17632532461407526747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1142940119597870642006-03-21T03:21:00.000-08:002006-03-21T03:21:00.000-08:00I used to be the class Mom for my son during his w...I used to be the class Mom for my son during his whole career of elementary school and remember one time I showed up for the "end of the school year" party. His teacher remarked to me that she couldn't believe more parents weren't there because, after all, these were their kids. My thought was that most people worked for a living, and could not willy-nilly just take time off for a school party. (At the time I was waitressing, and could shift my hours around... but that wasn't the case for everybody else). Just because she had a job that allowed for all this time off, didn't mean the general public did... and she didn't understand that.<BR/><BR/>I have to laugh at bar bar a's remark because my son went through a similar mind thought about having a job that doesn't feel like work. He contemplated becoming a Psychiatrist, because "all they do is sit around taking notes all day". I told him that is was about 11 more years of schooling to even get the shingle to hang out his front door. He would also have to work hard at "curing" people.<BR/>When he graduated from high school last year I gave him a lesson in economics they never teach at school... and now he has two jobs just to keep up with his expenses.<BR/>Car insurance alone is a buster!<BR/><BR/>Sometimes I wish I had gone into the education field just so that I could have all that time off. Not only do they have all these vacation weeks, but they also have teacher work days once a month.... and long summer vacation days.<BR/><BR/>BTW~ I finally made it into your site, yay!... it's been blocked since last friday.Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05767057478043796740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984125.post-1142915398015320822006-03-20T20:29:00.000-08:002006-03-20T20:29:00.000-08:00I think I'll have my son read this. He's in High ...I think I'll have my son read this. He's in High School and starting to wonder about his future. He's not sure what he wants to do and he's still exploring what his gifts might be. Yet one thing he knows for sure is that he wants a "job" that does not feel like "work". I wish I would have figured that one out.<BR/><BR/>Great post as always, Mike!Bar L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11100008292699584336noreply@blogger.com