Job Discussion Forums

[PanamaTeacher]

In your opinion which degree is better for a teacher a GED or a PhD? I go with a GED because a PhD clutters up your mind with useless information that gets in the way of learning from the experience of teaching. Education has little real value, in fact that is why I teach.

[bnix]

An interesting question.In my opinion,it depends on what you do AFTER you get the GED or the doctorate.PT is right when he says a PhD may "clutter your mind" Phd?Piled higher and deeper.Well,at least some of the time.Unemployed PH.ds(in many fields) are a dime a dozen.On the other hand, there are doubtlessly people in this field and many others who have been helped by the PH.d.
I do not really know if I would go as far as to say that the GED is intrinsically worth more than a doctorate,although in certain circumstances,I agree a doctorate is worthless.The same can be said for a GED(or almost any degree,for that matter). In certain circumstances

In certain quarters,there is some stigma attached to a GED(oh,uh,one of THOSE)!!! I am not saying it is right to stigmatize people who have a GED,but some stigma exists.Stigma does not usually attach to a person with a doctorate.How many potatoes will that fact buy you in the supermarket?None....but..
PT,this is not a flame,but is your question serious,or not?
Generally,people may attach too much worth to degrees ,pieces of paper.On the other hand,we have certain people in this field who use that fact as carte blanche in their attempts to teach with NO qualifications.They use rationalizations like:!.Anyone can teach English:2.Qualifications are not as important as personality.looks,(fill in the blank).Unfortunately,this is true in some venues.

What would Noam say about all of this?I have a feeling he would be pro-PH.d.

[PanamaTeacher]

Bnix--you raise a good point about the unfair stigma attached to GEDs: people tend to think it is a degree for losers or people without academic ability. Still there are people in this forum who seem to seriously view too much education as an impediment. This surprises me, and I wonder if it is a widely held view or perhaps just the "sour grapes" view, i.e., "well, I ain't got none so it ain't no good." And from my one exposure to our Chomskian friend I wonder if there is some truth to the notion that maybe less is more at least in ESL in some countries.

Tu amigo in Panama

P.S. Where is John? Hiding?

[bnix]

You are right.Some people view "too much education" as an impediment because they do not want to take the time and spend the money to get the qualifications.This is not saying they are bad people or"worse" than those with qualifications.One thing it does say to me,though,is that many times they may not be really serious about teaching and find it convenient to teach with no qualifications,in the meantime denigrating all qualifications as "unnecsessary.". Note, I am NOT saying all of those without qualifications are not good teachers.However,if they are good teachers without any qualifications ,MAYBE they will become better with some qualifications?

And then there are those who really care very little about teaching,but are just doing a little casual farting around overseas.

Johnslat? Where is he? Maybe he became....disenchanted...so he is heading for New Mexico,The Land of Enchantment?

Buena suerte en Panama.BN

[bnix]

Lest someone have a coronary.

[Linda L.]

PT give me a second to remove your knive from between my ribs and I will respond.

I only have a GED, everyone here knows that. Go ahead, make fun of me. I answered an ad, was accepted, do my job to my employer's satisfaction and get paid. I enjoy my work. At least I can do this job standing up with all of my clothes on.

Would I like to have a Ph.D.? Would people in hell like some ice water? Is the Pope Catholic?

I am studying in my spare time. I am working on my A.A. degree by distance learning. I am trying as hard as I can to improve myself. I am also applying myself to my job and getting satisfaction and reasonable pay.

Would a Ph.D. hinder me in teaching? I think so. With a Ph.D. I probably would want something better than ESL in China. But I am happy for now and working to improve myself.

If that gives you an opportunity to ridicule me, then go ahead. He who laughs last, laughs best and I will have the last laugh!

[misterkodak]

Everyone needs a phd (post hole digger). We used to have one back home.It really did wonders when it was time to plant potatoes. Some folks may disagree with me; but I think its more useful than a GED. If you save up enough green stamps you may be able to get one of those too.
Education cluttering up the mind? Why didn't anyone tell me that when I was in highschool? I am not happy to know that I really don't need my BA or any of the advanced training I've had before and after it. Man, I didn't realize all the classes I took really aint wurth nuthin. I should have gone to truck drivin' school. If I knowd that then, I could have quit school and started selling Amway, Avon and Tupperware . I could be a millionaire now. Education is for losers.. its better to teach stupid. After all isn't ESL sort of like doing stand up or like Cheech teaching those chinese guys to be latino in "Born In East LA"?
After reading posts by some members here (No, not PT or Bnix), I think psychotherapy and a good dosage of anti depressants would make them better teachers than any piece of paper they could possibly possess.


"It takes a strong man to cry but it takes an even stronger man to laugh at that man.' -Jack Handey