Excuse me, but why didn't I think of this? Oy.

[twfarlan]

In response to this blog post, well, let's just say that a couple of people feel that this person isn't quite in touch with the reality under which the majority of people live in this country. Consider this my annotated response to her list of suggestions for architects who have received the "gift" of a pink slip.

Comments

[acelightning]

The same sort of noble-sounding bullshit suggestions can, of course, be applied to former practitioners of other professions that require extensive education. So why is someone(*) with nearly fifty years' experience in various aspects of computer programming, and a Master's degree in computer science, driving an airport limo (12 hours a day, 6 days a week)? Why is someone(**) with a Master's in music education and state teaching licenses for both New York and New Jersey working (part-time) as a bookkeeper?

(*) My husband
(**) My daughter-in-law

[twfarlan]

Well, one reason for both is that this economy is fucked up beyond prior recognition. Profit margins, worship of the bottom line, and a willingness to attempt to do everything on a shoestring budget means that the lowest bidder wins every time, including in employment. You might have to pay someone with experience what he's worth, but someone fresh out of college... or less? You can pay them barrel-scraping wages and they'll gladly do whatever you say.

Expertise is expensive. Half-assed approaches that temporarily shore up the stock value is all anyone who has power cares about in Corporate America.

[acelightning]

It winds up cutting both ways. They won't hire an older, experienced worker both because they'd have to pay that worker more, and because that worker is very likely old enough to be the parent of the person doing the interview. They won't hire someone right out of college, who would accept minimal pay, because that person has no experience. (And they won't hire an older person who's trying to embark on a new career because that person is old enough to have changed the interviewer's diapers, is too old to accept a demeaningly low wage, and has no experience. The person trying to start a new career is simply fucked.)

[bronxelf_ag001]

Well you know, according to her, your Daughter In Law should just teach elementary school. It's just that simple, right? Right?

The irony is that your DIL is *already* licensed as a teacher. This woman is suggesting that Architects just up and do that.

[acelightning]

In most cases, all the teaching slots the municipality can afford to fill are already filled by teachers who've been there long enough to have tenure. They only hire a new teacher when someone retires or dies.