General Discussion

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

72. Like others here, I have sympathy for this woman,

Sat Jan 10, 2015, 03:03 PM

Jan 2015

but she's made a choice, just not a very good one. The fact that there's not that many job openings in academia is not exactly breaking news. The trend to hiring mostly adjunct instructors started around thirty years ago. And just because she loved literature, devoured it as a child, and majored in something she loved -- well she should have been smart enough to see that assuming she'd have a steady job with adequate pay simply wasn't realistic.

And, as others have said, she ought to face reality and get a job that will pay more, or take classes to get a certificate in something that has a better future. The community colleges out there offer many such.

If more of those who currently settle for the appalling wages paid to adjuncts, then maybe there's be enough of a shortage that the schools would start paying more.

Plus, the boy's father needs to be a lot more responsible.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

133 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

This College Professor Has a Master's...And Is Living in Poverty [View all] xchrom Jan 2015 OP

K&R Starry Messenger Jan 2015 #1

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #2

you win the internets for Gross Thinking. nt xchrom Jan 2015 #3

Enjoy your stay. Katashi_itto Jan 2015 #4

Good God! Did I finally make in in before somebody got tombstoned? ladyVet Jan 2015 #6

i know, right? xchrom Jan 2015 #8

I got to do him in! WOOT! Katashi_itto Jan 2015 #12

Wecome back! eom MohRokTah Jan 2015 #7

Sometimes you have to put the dream aside madville Jan 2015 #5

Never put your dreams aside! meaculpa2011 Jan 2015 #9

I was referring to turning your dreams into a career madville Jan 2015 #78

That's my point. meaculpa2011 Jan 2015 #82

I always dreamed of being a pro golfer madville Jan 2015 #83

I still dream of breaking 80. meaculpa2011 Jan 2015 #84

LOL ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2015 #127

So no one should teach? daleanime Jan 2015 #66

Of course they should madville Jan 2015 #80

I'm trying to make a polite response.... daleanime Jan 2015 #88

If fewer people were trying to, adjuncts would make a lot more money (nt) Recursion Jan 2015 #98

Adjunct professors are among the poorest paid teachers out there Warpy Jan 2015 #102

I know a Dr. that lives in an RV ileus Jan 2015 #10

+1 Liberal_in_LA Jan 2015 #86

Well, at least she's still young... Blue_Tires Jan 2015 #95

Did make a passing mention about the father exboyfil Jan 2015 #11

Unless he's dead jberryhill Jan 2015 #21

Since the OP said the child's father is getting married... Ino Jan 2015 #59

Good to know he's feeling better now jberryhill Jan 2015 #65

LOL! (nt) Ino Jan 2015 #92

The father is a blacksmith. BubbaFett Jan 2015 #24

That's her father, believe the reference was about "her" child's father. Fla Dem Jan 2015 #27

No, I think the article is pretty clear dumbcat Jan 2015 #29

You are so right, but I do have a touch of vertigo Fla Dem Jan 2015 #33

Works for me dumbcat Jan 2015 #36

actually, smithing is more in demand and good money these days, thanks to NewDeal_Dem Jan 2015 #60

I know two smiths who make good money making stuff that hipsters buy Recursion Jan 2015 #99

self delete TransitJohn Jan 2015 #32

Horrible Depaysement Jan 2015 #13

yes it is exploitation marions ghost Jan 2015 #50

could not agree more.... mike_c Jan 2015 #75

Sadly there are winners and loser in the academy game. aikoaiko Jan 2015 #14

"mere" master's level. hahaha. RadiationTherapy Jan 2015 #16

On one hand it is an accomplisment, of course, but I work at a 3rd tier state university, aikoaiko Jan 2015 #19

Not in achedemics. You need a PHD and maybe yeoman6987 Jan 2015 #35

Even PhDs don't protect one from poverty. a la izquierda Jan 2015 #121

I've seen them defy the laws of supply and demand. RadiationTherapy Jan 2015 #126

In engineering it still is, not so much in other fields Recursion Jan 2015 #125

As a 13 year uni employee: Get used to it. Uni is a wealth generator for the campus 5%. RadiationTherapy Jan 2015 #15

Console yourself with the knowledge pscot Jan 2015 #23

Separate funding, but you knew that. yeoman6987 Jan 2015 #37

Athletics programs usually net profit. RadiationTherapy Jan 2015 #39

rarely net profit d_r Jan 2015 #57

Because of title nine joeglow3 Jan 2015 #101

Unless one lives in Iowa where Ferentz (the UI fb coach) is getting closer to $4 million per year... xocet Jan 2015 #97

Thank you. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #107

Now that this article is published, maybe she can do a kickstarter campaign oberliner Jan 2015 #17

Apparently no one told her she needs to earn money... Historic NY Jan 2015 #18

I know a music PhD working at the local Target Prism Jan 2015 #20

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #22

She studied avant-garde poetry. Shemp Howard Jan 2015 #25

I believe one of the reasons she hasn't gotten a "full time" position is because of child care. Fla Dem Jan 2015 #28

You're right. nt Shemp Howard Jan 2015 #31

Conservatives at this point leap in and say "get married if you have a child" Recursion Jan 2015 #100

If this country had health care, social safety services and child care like Europe- Sweden, Denmark, appalachiablue Jan 2015 #128

And "PRO LIFE" conservatives to boot. alp227 Jan 2015 #130

An adjunct, ad hoc teaching position is NOT a professorship. Jackpine Radical Jan 2015 #38

I like the way you said that marions ghost Jan 2015 #52

Amen.... daleanime Jan 2015 #89

"What do the Columbia elite say about that?" mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2015 #58

She's an adjunct. That's not a professorship. Iris Jan 2015 #111

MFA's can be professors in a lot of places Recursion Jan 2015 #124

You're right. Iris Jan 2015 #132

She needs to find a job. Adjuncting is not supposed to be a regular job. Vattel Jan 2015 #26

You make a point, however... Shemp Howard Jan 2015 #30

I agree that some universities have been hiring fewer fulltime professors Vattel Jan 2015 #43

The administrators whose jobs are often unnecessary usually get high salaries. JDPriestly Jan 2015 #109

Well said. Respect and support teachers if we want strong young people for the future society. appalachiablue Jan 2015 #129

A PhD is not required to be a full time college INSTRUCTOR MillennialDem Jan 2015 #54

This is true and not quite right at the same time. Igel Jan 2015 #74

I've been working part-time as an adjunct for years now The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2015 #34

I agree with you on the spending priorities exboyfil Jan 2015 #41

I wonder how much she'd be making if YarnAddict Jan 2015 #40

If she'd majored in accounting or engineering, The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2015 #42

exactly n/t librechik Jan 2015 #47

Bingo. Starry Messenger Jan 2015 #62

Not everyone PasadenaTrudy Jan 2015 #45

English major here. YarnAddict Jan 2015 #51

Yes, I read the article....n/t PasadenaTrudy Jan 2015 #68

I agree she could have made better choices Skittles Jan 2015 #96

Yes, it sucks YarnAddict Jan 2015 #114

OMG marions ghost Jan 2015 #55

That poster WAS an English major marle35 Jan 2015 #61

Preach! n/t PasadenaTrudy Jan 2015 #69

Yeah, YarnAddict Jan 2015 #70

"Every American thinks they're a temporarily embarrassed millionaire: I am no exception." n2doc Jan 2015 #44

*capitalists technically alp227 Jan 2015 #131

She has really nice Ratemyprofessors ratings and comments. aikoaiko Jan 2015 #46

Wonder what the football/basketball coaches make? Vinca Jan 2015 #48

pretty standard story these days. our adjuncts make half of what bolin makes Doctor_J Jan 2015 #49

"It wasn't supposed to be this way." Trillo Jan 2015 #53

Most of us never get to do what we want to do. nt valerief Jan 2015 #56

I really wish you were around to tell me this 15 years ago Blue_Tires Jan 2015 #94

Ah, you must be youngish, raised when everyone got a trophy and when everyone valerief Jan 2015 #118

Any job worth doing ought to pay a comfortable living wage... hunter Jan 2015 #63

Empathy's pretty hard to come by on DU these days. smokey nj Jan 2015 #77

Especially since so many think the economy is doing great Man from Pickens Jan 2015 #110

Income inequality is becoming the biggest issue of our time. Initech Jan 2015 #64

The problem is demographics more than YarnAddict Jan 2015 #71

Does she have an MFA or MA? Adrahil Jan 2015 #67

Like others here, I have sympathy for this woman, SheilaT Jan 2015 #72

Thank you for brining that up davidpdx Jan 2015 #104

While I sincerely believe the fathers need to be vastly more responsible than they are, SheilaT Jan 2015 #115

The Adjunct situation is Blatant Exploitation daredtowork Jan 2015 #73

She got a highly academic degree from a nowhere university and chose to make it her profession. Dreamer Tatum Jan 2015 #76

This is what stood out to me... sundevil2000 Jan 2015 #79

You've never been poor marions ghost Jan 2015 #85

Um, that was my point. sundevil2000 Jan 2015 #108

A Masters in English is what it is. MineralMan Jan 2015 #81

It used to allow you to walk into middle management Warpy Jan 2015 #103

Long, long gone. Hekate Jan 2015 #113

It's all part of the devaluation of language. MineralMan Jan 2015 #117

you dont get to have a career in academics with a master drray23 Jan 2015 #87

That's why I asked if she is an MFA... Adrahil Jan 2015 #93

Chicago public school teachers starting salary is more than $50k riderinthestorm Jan 2015 #90

Re: There aren't jobs, etc. bloom Jan 2015 #91

I have heard academia is tough in the United States davidpdx Jan 2015 #105

That's terrible Kalidurga Jan 2015 #106

Getting that management position is a lot about personal politics Fumesucker Jan 2015 #133

I've heard of lecturers patching together a living at 3 or more colleges; "freeway flyers" Hekate Jan 2015 #112

I usually try to avoid reading comments after stories like this My Good Babushka Jan 2015 #116

K & R !!! WillyT Jan 2015 #119

I forwarded this article for my son to read steve2470 Jan 2015 #120

If you really wanna live in poverty, go for a PhD oberliner Jan 2015 #122

After Marta got her Masters she was asked to do the adjunct thing Omaha Steve Jan 2015 #123