Those who can't, teach... ***Time to Shop for that Tweed Jacket***

parallel

parallel

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... but what if those who can end up teaching as well as running a business?

I'm being courted by my former drafting and design professor to accept a position to teach the drafting course at my alma mater. She has been promoted and says she doesn't want to turn over her program to just anybody. Before I even entertained the thought I made it clear that I have a business with ongoing contracts and that I would need to be able to fulfill those contracts. The position is a full time position... so... I'm not sure that I want to be THAT busy again, although it would make for a nice hedge against the effects of the recession. I enjoy training the people that I have working for me... so it's something that I would like, but I could do without the BS that will inevitably come with it.

I have an intern that is attending classes there now and will be for a couple of more semesters. Apparently he told the staff that he had learned more in the first week of his internship than he did his entire time in the classroom AND backed it up by showing them what I have taught him. Anyway, I asked her to look into any issues such as conflict of interest or any other thing that might be a gray area and assuming that everything is on the level then I would meet with her tomorrow (technically later today). My wife is on board so long as I can handle both tasks and still spend a few hours a day with her and our boy.

So... the bottom line is this.... if I accept this position I will need to streamline my schedule and that means severely LIMITED forum time. I'll still pop in from time to time, but I'll try to avoid commenting when I know I won't have the time to follow up.

ETA: So... should I run out and buy a tweed jacket if I accept this position? :D
 
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ETA: So... should I run out and buy a tweed jacket if I accept this position? :D[/QUOTE]



Yes, and make sure it has those large patches on the elbows. You also may want to take up pipe smoking.
 
I don't understand how you can work it out based on this statement, "Before I even entertained the thought I made it clear that I have a business with ongoing contracts and that I would need to be able to fulfill those contracts. The position is a full time position..." Having spent 30+ years in education there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes: faculty meetings, planning sessions, student conferences, continuing education,and a thousand other things. It seems like one job or the other has to take priority.
 
n4zov said:
I don't understand how you can work it out based on this statement, "Before I even entertained the thought I made it clear that I have a business with ongoing contracts and that I would need to be able to fulfill those contracts. The position is a full time position..." Having spent 30+ years in education there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes: faculty meetings, planning sessions, student conferences, continuing education,and a thousand other things. It seems like one job or the other has to take priority.
Click to expand...
Well, today I talked with half of the members of the board that will be interviewing me and they said that the hours are 0700-1500 M-F. They also made it clear that, while it didn't matter to them if I ran a business or not, I would be required to maintain my skills and keep up with changes within the industry. They all seemed to think that my running a company as well was a good way to meet this requirement. They also assured me that all of the items I brought to their attention as possible gray areas and/or conflicts of interest were no problem and that my concerns and their approval would be made a part of my employment record. So... I'm in the process of writing a resume. It might take some time as I haven't needed one in quite some time as the owner of a business. I'm used to writing proposals and contracts, not resumes.

The best part of this whole thing is that (assuming I am offered the position by the board) I will have carte blanche to add to the curriculum. This means that I can infuse some real world information and tricks of the trade that were missing when I got my degree. I'm kind of excited about the opportunity to make an impact on the quality of the technical drawings that these future professionals will produce.
 
If education does not change to reflect the needs of business it is no longer meaningful education. What better way to get change for the better into the system than to bring someone who has actually had that real world experience. IMO, that is where many of our problems are in government today. Too many smart people making decisions based on book learning, not a lick of common sense or experience among any of them. I once had a general manager who was recruited to teach as an adjunct, ruffled a few feathers when he varied from the curriculum..
Consider the time involved. Can you handle both and have a home life? Good luck.
oldogy
 
No such thing as too much work. What with whats going on down here right now-you want as much as you can possibly handle.
 
If I understand correctly, this is for technical drawing, correct?
Please forgive me, as I am a layman tinkerer...

But, do they use pencils and pens anymore, or is it all computer generated? Just curious.
 
Andy Griffith said:
If I understand correctly, this is for technical drawing, correct?
Please forgive me, as I am a layman tinkerer...

But, do they use pencils and pens anymore, or is it all computer generated? Just curious.
Click to expand...
This is a true drafting course, meaning that you must first learn to draft on the board before you are allowed to move on to AutoCAD. The old school inking and blue-line process is no longer taught, but the students otherwise become true drafters. There is a design component within this course as well and it is within this area that I have a LOT of ideas to enhance the knowledge, accuracy and efficiency of graduates.
 
Took a drafting class in college-three hour class twice a week. Spent the first week learning to sharpen and hold a lead. God help you if you called it a pencil!!! :eek: Wouldn't trist us with ink until the second semester, but I had enough by then and didn't take the next class. Remember the "scum bag"???:D
 
Remember the "scum bag"???
Click to expand...

Believe it or not I have never actually used one, but I do know what it did.Do they still make them? If so, perhaps I'll bring them back as a required tool... I HATE "dirty" drawings.
 
Two Important questions:

1. Are you looking for a position with tenure and retirement, 9-5, etc?

2. Are you better off doing your own marketing, planning your own retirement, etc?

Those ideas, thoughts, real world experience that you might incorporate into your classes, once added, then become the property of the school.

I prefer to market my own ideas.

Edison tinkered with electricity, Gates tinkered with computers, Jobs started Apple......etc.

Gates, merely took an idea and ran with it. Jobs marketed his IDEAS.

Apple recently passed Microsoft, becoming the BIGGEST in the world.

I'd give some very serious thought to which way to go.

The world is ALWAYS looking for a better mousetrap.

Good Luck,
 
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]I went for an interview today and about two hours later was notified that I had been chosen as the new drafting and design instructor at my alma mater.[/FONT]
 
Airpark, good points. I'll have to mull it over and see if I can strike a balance between not giving away the farm and not shortchanging the students.
 
Congrat. Can you find someone to help with the business ? That may be something that would really work for you. Just oversee things a little while the hired help runs everything else ?

Good luck !
 
Congratulations. I spent a few years teaching after I got out of the Army, and it has paid off in every job I've had since then.


Okie John
 
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