Sorry State of Academia

Academia is in a sorry state.

To get a PhD essentially takes a minimum of eight total years and for many people ten years.  To get a PhD in an academic subject like English  or History you have to be more than a good student you have to become a scholar. A scholar is one that understands complex theory in their subject. A person who is a masterly academic writer and even if you plan to concentrate on teaching it is nevertheless expected you will publish something in your field. How many people can do this? It’s akin to being a professional athlete. You not only have to have natural ability but also love of the work ethic. About 1% of the American population has a PhD. It’s a real accomplishment. In years past a person with a PhD would almost be assured of a full college teaching position. Not today.

Today, PhD’s are assured of nothing. In fact they have to scramble to get jobs. Under our current academia system, colleges hire a few full time professors but then have gobs of adjunct (part time) professors. We all know why the college has twice as many part-timers as full timers. (Money) Part timers get less pay per class and no benefits. Ever wonder why every college campus seems to be adding new athletic facilities, a new wing on the library and new performing arts center? I know I am biting the hand that hired me because I am an adjunct instructor but it’s still not fair to those that achieve the top level of academic success.

Even if I had had the candle power in my brain, I didn’t have the prep training or the time and patience to devote to reading all the theory and the sheer number of books needed to get a PhD. I was a ham-bone. I wanted to be in the classroom acting up Poe’s “The Raven”, or doing my melodramatic interpretation of Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. That was me but what about those who are devoted to becoming experts in their chosen field, becoming published authors, becoming  professors?

So there you go Doctor so and so, congratulations on ten years of devoted study now  see if you can get a job. Most, of you know, I have a carrot in the stew. My son has applied to the PhD program at the Graduate Center in downtown Manhattan and at Rutgers’s University across the river in Jersey. If accepted he is looking at more difficult classes, a long dissertation (mini book) and the prospect of having to get something published. This will take five more years. He’s a good scholar and very motivated, so it pisses me off (parently speaking) to think he could have a PhD someday but then have to hope and pray he can get a full time job somewhere. And how much will that job pay? PhD’s should be making way more than I did as a HS teacher (even with a Master’s) but he tells me a beginning full time position at a College or University might be 55K. Are you kidding me? What is going on here?

                Americans love to say having a good education system in this country is so important right?!  Every politician talks about how we have to make education a top priority but the fact is if education were even included  in the top ten of priorities in this country all levels of academics would be so much better  off.