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Thanks Janet,for broadening my appreciation of the possibilities of an academic life as presented by an academic who is fulfilled in,in different ways,in her job. It would be helpful to learn how you have arrived at this level of achievement,possibly in an offlist discussion. Thanks Toyin On 8 December 2010 08:57, janet ifimust <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Answers interspersed..... > > On 8 December 2010 08:44, toyin adepoju <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > >> Thanks Morgan. >> >> If one does not play the game,how does one succeed as an academic in an >> academic system? >> > > One becomes important enough to influence it, I suppose. I'm not. :} > >> >> Its my view,extending your own,that the academic system is not organised >> in the best interests of academics. >> > > But - should it be? > > I don't think so. > > I think it should be organised in the best interests of knowledge (and the > dispersal of that knowledge). > >> >> Academics,particularly in the humanities, are trained as people >> whose skills are geared largely towards being employed >> and not towards being self employed or employers,if they so choose. >> > > I'm afraid I don't agree. Perhaps I have been very lucky, but my skills > have been trained toward doing my job properly - which allows me to both be > employed and to act in a self employed manner. Perhaps this is unique to > education, but I know many others in my position who are both (and others > who are much higher up the academic tree). (Yes, it's perfectly legal, which > seems odd to me but I am assured it is). > >> >> Academics are trained to always deal with the public through middlemen-the >> university and publishers being the two most prominent. >> > > Again - not sure I agree. Yes, of course, publishing is important (vital, > but then how else do we disseminate the knowledge that we uncover/create, > depending on your view?). Again, perhaps it is subject specific but I spend > a reasonable amount of time presenting at non-academic conferences and have > more than once or twice dealt directly with the press. Yes, there's > university back up for that but all things considered, I'm perfectly happy > with that because it's the press officer's job to know more about the media > situation than I do... > >> >> On account of these factors academics have little control over where they >> live and the consequent social implications of that because they must where >> they can find jobs. >> >> The positive side of this is that there seems to a significant degree of >> job security. >> > > I wish I could agree with this one - in the English climate at the moment, > however, I don't think anyone is sure about that... > > > >> Thanks >> Toyin >> >> >> >> > > -- > Dr. Janet Goodall > Research Fellow > Institute of Education > University of Warwick > http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wie/aboutus/ >