this post was submitted on 31 May 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] [email protected] 101 points 1 month ago (3 children)

What's the pay at those regional schools and community colleges? Is it enough to cover massive student debt?

What research opportunities are there at those colleges? Could it be that teaching was just a necessary evil required for the job they actually want to do?

[–] FinalRemix 61 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's fucking terrible. Sincerely, a community college department chair.

[–] Pencilnoob 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I have a lot of experience as a software engineer in the industry, and used to teach public middle school. I would love to teach a course or two a year because education is a passion of mine, but only have a BA of Education, do you think it's worth applying to teach at my local community college? I saw my local college had a requirement of a master's degree in CS, which I do not have.

[–] Flummoxed 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Doesn't hurt to try. I know people who have taught at community college with just a bachelor's degree in the subject. Hell, I only have a bachelor's in my subject area, my master's is in teaching, and I got a job before finishing my master's. College prep high school. The teaching profession needs all the enthusiasm it can get, because that is really what kids respond to. My high school students would ADORE an actual software engineer teaching them. So many of them want to be you. This why teachers should be paid waaay more, as those who are talented in that regard can't easily make ends meet.

Edit: excised a word that should not have been there.

[–] Flummoxed 2 points 1 month ago

Also also all your ACTUAL experience in the field is worth WAY more to a good school. The rec letters alone that you could provide to gifted students would pay for your salary, tho they won't tell you so. Sorry I didn't include that originally.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

It's easily enough to pay the massive student debt of people who went to those schools.

[–] NightAuthor 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I hate those “necessary evil” teachers.

[–] Flummoxed 1 points 1 month ago

They are worst! They have no care or concern for their students usually, and they make that known. Way to turn off a generation of aspiring biologists, Dr. Pham.

[–] [email protected] 88 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Welcome to the world of trying out individual solutions to systemic problems.

[–] Promethiel 9 points 1 month ago

It's nuts how much of all of 'it' (where 'it' is all fuckery) is simply down to that fact. Selfish altruism ought to be obvious.

[–] [email protected] 88 points 1 month ago

Silly academics and the limits to their tolerance for debt servitude.

[–] [email protected] 70 points 1 month ago

Because sessional teaching for $4000 a course is a great way to make a living. I mean a 5 course load could move you close to the poverty line!

[–] [email protected] 62 points 1 month ago

I'd assume they care more about feeding themselves and their families first.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I don't really think it's fair to get mad at someone for prioritizing meeting their own needs. It is however entirely fair to be furious about societal structures that place increased financial value on industrialization and privatization over community cohesion.

Your teeth are bared in the wrong direction. We do in fact have a common enemy here.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Hence the title. ;)

[–] Rolando 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I get what the meme is saying, but community colleges don't really need research scholars, they need great teachers with industry experience.

A viable option is to take the industry job, and then teach a class or two a year. Also, you can make connections at those community colleges and regional schools and advertise your internships and job postings.

[–] Flummoxed 5 points 1 month ago

Please, everyone listen to this person. I'm am so thankful to work at a school with NASA engineers and successful novelists/journalists who just want to share their passion. Kids know when you are phoning it in, and they respond by phoning it in themselves. Nothing good is accomplished. If you can afford it and handle it, please give your time to the next generation. They are awesome already, but could use as many mentors as they can get. Passion is hard to find these days.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

So long as there's privileged classes, I'd rather my boss be a lucky comrade than a racist reactionary.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago
[–] VeryImportantUser 1 points 1 month ago

It's always those rich white folks.

[–] Gakomi 1 points 1 month ago

Well benefit for minorities are a thing but no if you can't land a job it's your own fault!