Thoughts on classes
As you might or might not know, I'm currently working full time and also taking classes. It's both easier and harder than being a full time student. Easier, because classes are sort of a sideline to what I mostly do, which makes it easier for me to deal with them. Harder, because it means I have that much more to do: on top of the usual classwork, I have my job.
This semester, I'm enrolled in two classes. The first, which I'm taking because it sounds interesting, is "Intro to Wood Science," which is taught by a guy named Bruce Hoadley, who, I'm told, literally wrote the book on wood identification. (Yes, that's an accurate statement: wood identification, not tree identification -- he's mostly interested in the wood after it's been cut and used, rather than while it's still growing.) The second, which I'm taking because I have to, is Lynn Margulis' "Environmental Evolution."
The issue, for me, is the balance of class-work and work-work. See, until this semester, I have taken my classes instead of lunch break, and worked extra hours to compensate for having to spend a lot of time in class. This semester, though, is a little bit different: my assigned (work) goals for the year include "advancing my academic progress." In other words, it's now part of my job to take classes.
Because of this, I'm finding myself feeling that, as long as my other work is done, I shouldn't have to skip lunch or work extra hours to go to class. Sure, if I have projects at work that have to be done, I'll stay late to finish them, but I'd do that anyway; it's part of being a salaried employee. But should I really have to put in extra hours, beyond what I need to complete my job and fulfil the 37.5 hour week (40 hours, less a half-hour lunch each day), simply because I'm trying to meet my job requirements? If so... what about the safety training course I just had to take? Should I have to make up the time spent in that? What about the program documentation that I have to do... that's in my goals as well. Should I have to work extra time to account for that?
I'm not sure, really... clearly, taking academic classes is different than a 2 hour safety class, or the completion of a programming project I did for work. But how different?
Anyone have any thoughts?
This semester, I'm enrolled in two classes. The first, which I'm taking because it sounds interesting, is "Intro to Wood Science," which is taught by a guy named Bruce Hoadley, who, I'm told, literally wrote the book on wood identification. (Yes, that's an accurate statement: wood identification, not tree identification -- he's mostly interested in the wood after it's been cut and used, rather than while it's still growing.) The second, which I'm taking because I have to, is Lynn Margulis' "Environmental Evolution."
The issue, for me, is the balance of class-work and work-work. See, until this semester, I have taken my classes instead of lunch break, and worked extra hours to compensate for having to spend a lot of time in class. This semester, though, is a little bit different: my assigned (work) goals for the year include "advancing my academic progress." In other words, it's now part of my job to take classes.
Because of this, I'm finding myself feeling that, as long as my other work is done, I shouldn't have to skip lunch or work extra hours to go to class. Sure, if I have projects at work that have to be done, I'll stay late to finish them, but I'd do that anyway; it's part of being a salaried employee. But should I really have to put in extra hours, beyond what I need to complete my job and fulfil the 37.5 hour week (40 hours, less a half-hour lunch each day), simply because I'm trying to meet my job requirements? If so... what about the safety training course I just had to take? Should I have to make up the time spent in that? What about the program documentation that I have to do... that's in my goals as well. Should I have to work extra time to account for that?
I'm not sure, really... clearly, taking academic classes is different than a 2 hour safety class, or the completion of a programming project I did for work. But how different?
Anyone have any thoughts?