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

[Sherri]

What kind of teacher do you have in mind? I am studying for my MA in TEFL now and I would definately prefer for my teachers to have the PhD.

[Lucy Snow]

Back on the old board there used to be a poster who always claimed that none of his university classes were any good. His teachers sucked, the classes sucked--he would've learned more on his own.

What I always find interesting about those who feel they don't need a uni degree or a CELTA is that we are all, ostensibly, in the education business. If they value formal education so little, why are they teachers?

[I know, I know, working in an eikawa or hogwan may not qualify as "teaching" but you all know what I mean.]

[scot47]

GED ? A new one on me so I went scurrying to an American dictionary. I see in Websters that GED is "General Equivalency Diploma" but I am no further forward. From the context I assume this is a High School Diploma.

And I can definiteley say that if you can't spell "DEFINITELY" you won't get a PhD

[Linda L.]

Scot I have re-read the rules of this forum and am unable to locate any typing or spelling proficiency requirement.

Being rude does nothing to bolster your position but rather detracts from your message.

People post here without good typing skills and without precise spelling, knowing that this is a fun thing and we are not taking a GDF spelling or typing test.

Please stop acting like a dildo head.

Since I have a GED this is the single area I will claim a semblence of knowledge. It is awarded to high school dropouts who complete an alternative education program and take a test. For some completion of high school was impossible. There is the GED alternative.

[scot47]

So a teacher of English does not have to be able to spell ?
You weaken your case by using obscenities. (a d****head")

[PanamaTeacher]

The issue is--could we do a better job of reaching our students with the simpler approach that that the inherent limitations of a GED impose? Are we maybe floating above their heads with useless chatter about gerunds, split infinitives, alliteration, contrary-to-fact statements, Chomsky, Sapir-Whorf? After all I learned english by reading "Look Sally, see D-ick run? Run, D-ick, run or Jane will catch you!" Who needs Shakespeare or Dic-kens, when we have Dr. Suess(sp?). And if some of us have success with only a GED doesn't that show how ridiculous it is to want higher education for a job that basically can be done by any kid working at a Taco Bell in Waco? I am open to all opinions on this one.

[Sherri]

Luckily for my students I am not teaching now as I am about 1 week away from having a baby, a condition which defanately is causing my brain to operate at less than normal capacity. And I difinatily use spell-check when I turn in my assignments!

[C76]

Cheez whiz. Er...I mean gee-whiz.