-> I just had a stint with a school system.  Hired as a TC, I ran into a
-> phenominal
-> attitude that since I had a degree in Computer Science then I should
-> be expert on all software, all platforms, on the internet, all
-> software including Novell Networking, and should be able to teach the
-> school system anything at any time.
-> I was also directed to write grants, support all AV, purchase
-> computers, generate budgets, and to work for two different principals
-> in two buildings.
-> Now that I have found a teaching position, with more than a 25% pay
-> cut, in different school system, I watch the TC as he goes though a
-> very similar gauntlet.  In his case, he is more experienced and is
-> earning much more than I was.  I still see teachers and
-> administration expecting a panacea to work technology into their
-> teaching schemes, to be saved by the internet, and when the idea
-> fails, blame it on the TC.
Hi Steve,
I hate to say it, but I think (from what I've seen in my school) that
that type of attitude is fairly prevelant. Not to mention that last
year, when I was teaching AP Computer Science, I participated in an
e-mail mailing list (sponsored by the College Board) for AP CS teachers,
and this topic was mentioned on the list a couple of times. In general,
it seems to me that many schools take this attitude towards their tech
support personel.
Why do they do that?
Well, for one I don't think that most administrators understand
computers at all (including what a lot of work it is to maintain even a
few computers, nor the time required to learn new software, which
includes different operating systems, nor the time required to diagnose
trouble and fix problems). Computers can really eat up your time, when
it comes to maintaining a working system, lab, network, whatever. (Of
course, why a I telling you this?)
Besides that, in general, persons in the education profession are
expected to do too much. Teachers are expected to teach several
different courses, offer tutorial after school, moderate/sponsor clubs,
coach athletics, chaperone after-hours events, attend workshops to keep
themselves current in their profession, implement new curriculum that
incorporates these latest trends, attend staff meetings,
etc...etc...etc..
When you combine both of these attitudes above, it does add up to one
deadly job description for the computer tech at most schools. I was
offered (end of last school year) a computer tech position that would
have included part time teaching. I turned it down flat. I also
understand that this happens in lots of schools as well. My
understanding (from discussing this topics with teachers in other
electronic forums) is that most schools don't keep their tech support
personel on staff very long. Turnover and Burnout in that position is
very high.
Hope this helped,
Sheila King
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