Utne Reader Response #4

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In his article entitled "Breaking the Job Lock," Andrew Kimbrell, president of the International Center for Technology Assessment in Washington, D.C., proposes we search for meaningful work in order to reduce the stress that endangers our mental, physical, and spiritual health. He contends that technology has not freed us "from the toil of work" (47), but rather has brought about an increase in the pace or speed with which our tasks at work need to be completed. Kimbrell further states that we must re-envision work so that it nurtures the family, connects us to our community, and allows us to better protect our natural environment.

The remainder of the article outlines the path we would need to follow to achieve this transformation of our wage work from an insignificant job to a meaningful profession. He first examines the hisorical and sociological concepts and terminology concerning our physical and/or mental labors for wages. Although the information in this section is not new to me, I feel he effectively explains for his readers the differing attitudes, associations, and meanings for the wage-work words: job, occupation, career, vocation, and profession. These explanations support his claim that the first step in re-envisioning how we earn our livelihood is to examine what words we now use and what words we would like to use to describe our wage work. This establishes where we are in our attitudes and how far we have to go to create a new vision of our wage work.

The second feature in Kimbrell's new vision of wage work is that our society needs to replace the workplace values of speed, productivity, and efficiency with the personal life values of caring and empathy. He states that "we are still seen as replacable spare parts for the great machines of production" and that "we are all expected to work faster, waste less time, and produce more" (48). But we are not machines and extending understanding and compassion towards workers, in his opinion, would reduce their anxiety, stress, and depression.

Next, Kimbrell writes that labor unions should push for any components in a contract that give workers a sense of purpose and accomplishment, an outlet for creativity, and an opportunity for flexibility and better co-worker relationships. In addition, more people should consider pursuing self-employment as a way to find more fulfilling work and lives.

Kimbrell then asserts that "a new vision of good work involves pressuring corporations to make a firm commitment to the places where they do business and working to end the game of global economic pinball where jobs are endlesssly bumped from location to location. It also requires that we begin to value family concerns, community connections, and ties to the places we live above the financial gains of job mobility" (49).

Finally, the author urges his readers to examine what their wages really buy. Do we purchase things we don't really need to compensate and comfort us for the little meaning our jobs give us?

Kimbrell states that in order to find a profession that truly meets our values, we may need to be willing to earn less in order to have more time to spend with our families. In addition, we need to pressure political leaders to create national health insurance which would free many wage-earners to pursue part-time work or entrepreneurial inclinations. Also, teachers, counselors, and clergy need to be "mentoring young people to seek vocations rather than settling for jobs. Raising children, nurturing families, and volunteering in your community are wonderful vocations in their own right, deserving at least as much respect and support as wage employment" (49). Moreover, our educational system needs to instruct the next generation of workers and bosses about socially responsible business behavior.

This article made me wonder what makes a person today decide on teaching as a career. What advantages does he or she expect from the job? What does teaching offer that no other profession can give? In my various teaching experiences, there has been a diverse range of reasons. My colleagues and I have said we went into the field because of: status, family pressure, love of children, the fun in teaching, helping to build a better world, reliving childhood patterns, or desire for affection.

A large number of men and women enjoy working with youngsters. This experience can also be highly revealing. Many children, who are less inhibited than adults, make a teacher aware of the kind of person he or she is. One of the most positive aspects of teaching is that while helping others to grow, the teacher also grows,

Teaching also offers constant diversity and opportunity to experiment. Helping people learn is an exciting job that will utilize one's inventiveness, sympathy, and understanding of the social world and the particular problems of the children taught. What is more, the teaching profession provides for periodic leaves of absence for further professional study or for travel.

In addition, for the most part, teachers are part of the most respected members of their communities. They are looked up to as community leaders. Many times teachers lead intellectual discussions at town meetings and help in various city programs. An individual gets prestige in being a teacher--prestige that is not measured in dollars and cents. While there are exceptions and some communtiies neglect their teachers, most teachers are considered persons in the community who can be counted upon at all times to serve their fellow citizens when such help is needed. This is an intangible compensation that makes teaching worthwhile.

Another important advantage to the teaching profession is that today every state has a retirement plan. The existence of a retirement plan in an occupation gives the worker peace of mind and a sense of security for the future. When a person reaches the age of sixty or sixty-five or seventy and can no longer teach, he or she is not left without resources. The school system, through its retirement program, will take care of the teacher.

Teaching offers another important compensation--a majority of the nation's teachers now have tenure. Under tenure, a person cannot be fired unless involved in something illegal or found incompetent. It is another area of great security for teachers.

In addition to the long vacations, teachers have a pleasant arrangement for their classroom teaching. The average teacher is in class six hours a day, five days a week. Of course, the day doesn't end there; but with experience and good organizational and time management skills, a teacher's day can become "8 to 3." Teaching's "8 to 3" day with weekends off is an enviable aspect of the job. In addition, the various holiday breaks and summer vacation also compensates for the after-class work.

On the other hand, teaching does not have the highest rate of pay when compared to other professions, and there are often out-of-class work responsibilities. However, these conditions that may be considered disadvantages may or may not be such, depending on one's personality. What you are as a person will determine your happiness and success in teaching. If you are a mature, emotioanlly healthy person, you will expect certain irritations that are a part of living itself, and that exist in all human relations--whether you are a teacher, a nurse, a computer programmer, or any other kind of worker. These irritations may be considered disadvantages by certain individuals who cannot overcome them and are then frustrated by them.

For instance, a person's ability to become an integral part of the life of his or her school and to live in harmony with fellow teachers is important. Maintaining this quality is not always easy. Certain teachers may be unfriendly; some may act superior; the principal, department head, or other school administrator may do things or issue orders which are disagreeable. All of these things require stability on the teacher's part and the ability to adapt to such conditions.

Furthermore, some teachers feel saddled with an unusual amount of clerical detail that is not really their job. Others may feel defeated and fear that their talents are not appreciated. But here again a healthy outlook and broad viewpoint will help a teacher adjust to temporary situations and inconveniences. For example, there are days when I have a headache or am just not in the mood to cope with thirty different young peoiple every hour. When I have to face problems or when I feel the least bit of resentment toward my job or classroom duties, I can usually view things in their proper perspective.

Realistically, there are both advantages and disadvantages to teaching. Teachers do not make much money, but their jobs are usually stable and secure. Teachers spend long hours outside the classroom making preparations, supervising clubs or sports, working with faculty committees, and helping with community projects; but these undertakings contribute to the teachers' effectiveness in the classroom and help them become valued and responsible citizens of the community. Teachers live in a goldfish bowl of community attention and gossip, but they have many pleasant social contacts. Some teachers become bossy when they spend so much time with younger people, but most teachers delight in the success of their pupils. Teaching is monotonous work for some; but for others, it is highly individual, creative, and responsible. Teaching is hard work, but it is work that makes an difference in the lives of boys and girls and ultimately in the future of the nation. Other disadvantages of the profession include stagnation, children getting out of hand, and isolation. Yet I believe teachers in general find their work interesting, challenging, and creative, affording them an opportunity to earn a living in a subject field of special interest to them and giving them the immense satisfaction of being an important factor in the physical, moral, and intellectual development of young people. Good teachers receive great professional satisfacrtion from working with their students, their colleagues, and the public to advance the objectives of democracy and American education. I believe I have found good work, a job that matters, and a world where pursuing my passion pays the bills.

-- Sue Hendrickson (shendri2@d.umn.edu), June 15, 1999.



-- Anonymous, June 15, 1999

Answers

Hi Sue! I just wanted to tell you again that I feel you have written the best commentary on this article that I have read. Keep up the excellent work! Best wishes for a great summer! John

-- Anonymous, July 06, 1999

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