Adjuncting

Doonebury pretty much nails it:

 

deVry in Long Beach was actually civilized.  But I discovered that, here in Eastern Pa, we seem to be considered as interchangeable parts. Plus, the students are more 'problematic'.

I don't really miss it. Which I find sad, because it used to be the most fun I could have with my clothes on.

The Last Two Weeks in Job Hunt Land

I have been looking for adjunct or full time teaching gigs ever since I didn't get called back two years ago. Last year was pretty much a loss, because on the five months of down time due to my back and the surgery. During that two years, I'd also applied at the local post office to be an RCA - "Rural Carries Associate".  Applied, tested, interviewed, then nada. I found out that the openings were cancelled.

I re-applied for the RCS position when I saw a new posting. Got interviewed, and have actually received an offer. During the paperwork phase of the offer, and just for completeness, I checked the "Yes" box in answer to the question "Do you have any back issues?" I don't think I really do these days, but the idea of them finding out about my back *after* an on the job injury just seemed fraught.

So, I have an appointment to see my doctor Tuesday, to have him sign off on me or note any restrictions.

Whilst all of that was happening, I've had two interviews at locals schools to which I applied for adjunct positions. I believe that offers will happen. That belief is based on the transcript and background check requests from both schools - the official crossing of Ts and dotting of Is they need to do before they can make an offer.  Which are not requested if an offer is not on their agenda.

The more I think about it, the more I prefer teaching. Actually, I'll be driving just about as much. but  the pay is better, and the schools are quite nice. Much better than ITT. I am also assured that a 'large' class is 10 students.

Still being grateful, and prayerful, in my own odd way.

Maybe I'll have a roof and heating oil this winter!!

New Time Waster...

...Twitter.

I opened an account so I could Tweet when I put up a post.  Sadly, it got out of control in the last month, and I've spent a significant part of my time over there.

Which has to stop.  I stumbled into a potential money-making gig about a week and a half ago, and we met today to start getting our brains around it.  I walked away with a pretty good list of things I need to do.  In addition, I need to get some things sorted out at the office here at home in order to support what I'll be doing there.

Yes, I'm being deliberately vague about what it is.  I think we need to get the proverbial ducks lined up before I make a big to-do about it here.

But I'm optimistic about it.

And I'm saying the (Alan) Shepard's prayer, too.  A lot!

More as it develops.

What I've Been Doing Lately

...for the "extra" denero.

 

 

EducationPortal.com

The classes are all free.  Take as many as you want, whenever you want.

I'm currently writing the section on "Introduction to Programming".

If you have any feedback, I'd love to hear it!

Getting The Poverty

Sippican has a post up about splinters and poverty, which prompted me to comment.  As often happens, my comments are turned into posts...

I too have caught the poverty. Ten years ago, I was a well paid contractor at a Major Aerospace Company in Southern California.  Now, I'm trying to get along on Social (in)Security and what little pension I have from said Major Aerospace Company; renting my friend's house in SE Pennsylvania from her so she doesn't get foreclosed.

I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything, except, perhaps, to hear from my daughter on a more regular basis.

Updating a bit, from a second comment:

A further thought.  I infer from the comments here, that we all are relatively safe and dry (if not as warm as we might like).  I presume we have enough to eat, lights in the house, and (obviously) the interweb.

We are not impoverished, just broke.  Yes, the lack o' cash does focus the mind, as V-man says.  It seems to focus it on the more important things, like God, family, friends and country.
 

One Up, One Down...

Got into a bit of a snit about the contract job, and vented to the former co-worked who put me on to it.  She e-mailed back a detailed fisking of my e-mail, which filled in a number of gaps that I felt needed filling.  I hesitated to respond to it, because I wasn't sure she would get an accurate 'sense' of what I was trying to say.  (That is on me, not her, by the way.)  Anyhow, she e-mailed me this morning, saying that since she hadn't heard from me, she felt it necessary to hand my part off to someone else.  Sad, but not unreasonable on her part.

This was, however, offset by an offer to teach a class at another school, starting in October.  Which I will do.

And, the door is still open on the contracting gig, also starting in October.  I'll give her a call today.

Even Better!

The school had an adjunct disappear (sort of) and I've been asked to pick up a second class - this one is 3-D modeling w/ AutoCAD, as opposed to the original Engineering Drawing.

Twice the fun, twice the $$!!

Bonus - they're all on the same nights, so the relatively expensive trip from here to there and back again will be much more cost effective!!

Yay!

Trabajo

Interview today, for an adjunct position. Seemed to go well. Next step is the ref check, which should go OK.

I also have a contract gig coming up in a couple of weeks, so there's that.

Prayer in any denomination helps and is appreciated.

Closure

It seems that I'm correct in my assessment of what's happening at school. They are doing their best to thin the herd of full-time instructors, and replace them with part-timers (adjuncts), who work for much less $$.

I got fired about 2 months ago, and it was my own stupid fault. We were on a field trip to a computer vendor show in DC. It was light on content, I was bored, and there was a bar and grille next door, so I ducked out and had a beer. Like I had done at many a vendor conference before. Most expensive beer of my life. Drinking at any school function is verboten, and I was told that one of the students "complained", and there I went.

In a recent job interview, I was asked what I liked most about the job. My answer was "graduation". It is heartwarming and rewarding to see the students graduate. For many of the families there, this is the first person ever to receive a college degree. And it, temporarily, almost makes up for the chintzy wages.

The I was asked what the worst part of the job was - my answer was how instructors are evaluated on performance. Instructors are measured on two main things: retention, and student success. These are two things that no instructor ever really has any direct control over. In a theoretical environment where incoming students could demonstrate basic competency in the "Three Rs", this would be a sane and valid measure of instructor performance. Sadly, that often isn't the case here in the Baltimore area. Students get dropped, don't turn in any work, so retention and student success numbers are low.

The good news for me is, I'm more relaxed than I have been in about 6 years, my seemingly chronic gastrointestinal troubles have cleared up, and I'm sleeping much better.

I need to say this in fairness: it is quite possible to get a good, solid education there. As I've told my students many times, you need to show up, do the work, and turn the work in. It isn't rocket science - I worked around that for many years, and that ain't it.