The Official Site of Louie Centanni
  • home
  • bio
  • shows
  • Booking
  • video
  • contact

What I'm Reading Wednesday / Adjunct Walkout Day!

2/25/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
The mixture of my readings today include:

- "The Travels of Fa Hien" (Chinese Buddhist monk from the 1st century CE)
- Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (for a class I teach on satire)
- "Why Did Human History Unfold How It Did Over the Past 13,000 Years?" by Jared Diamond (a speech summarizing his main arguments from his groundbreaking book Guns, Germs and Steel)
- Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
- Any article related to the plight of adjuncts, since today is National Adjunct Walkout Day

It's true, adjunct professors have it tough in a lot of ways. I know, because I am one. We tend to have heavier teaching schedules than our full-time and tenure-track colleagues. We often have to travel to many campuses in a single day, and we make significantly less money to do so. Out here in California, we have it good -- I can actually pay my bills with the money I earn. However, in other parts of the country, people are making $1,500 a class (or less). Do the math. Teaching a full 5-5 load, an adjunct would make $15,000/year on that sum. I'm not exaggerating.

My Fall Semester entailed traveling to San Diego State University from 2 pm - 10 pm each Monday, then teaching an 8:00 am course the following day at SDSU. After meeting with students in my office hours, I would drive to a second campus for a 12:30 pm course at Mesa (15 minutes north), followed by more office hours before a 6:00 pm course at UCSD (15 more minutes north). I would get home between 8:30 and 9:00 pm -- just enough time to get my materials ready for the following day. 

Rinse, repeat every Tuesday/Thursday. 

I worked roughly 50 hours a week before factoring in grading. Giving a conservative 20 minutes to each student's paper (because, after all, my job is to make them better students), multiplying that by the 120 students I have, three to four papers per class in the semester… I won't bore you. We work a lot.


It's a double-edged sword, though, because for many of us, our passion is teaching bright young minds on college campuses. I don't want to find another job -- not because I'm lazy, but because I truly love spending my days on a college campus. Being surrounded by people who truly feel that the next phase in their life will be better than the current phase is a unique and beautiful privilege. It brings me great joy to meet, work with, and get to know my students academically and personally. I cherish those connections.

But the only way things will get better for adjuncts is if we do not make it so easy for administrators. I wish I had muscle, clout, whatever. I don't. I just have a small voice that is good at inspiring students to think. Unfortunately, in a capitalistic society, thinking is worth $0.00. 


Until we can convince the leaders of our government, of our educational institutions, and of our world that education simply is more valuable than the profit margin, this industry will be stuck between a rock and a hard place. And make no mistake -- education is more important than money.

I have a feeling that things will crash before my time is up. Student loans will continue to default. Colleges will close. The job market will become so overcrowded that they will be able to hire professors on food stamp salaries. Or close. But the point is that anyone out there reading this who has a say -- say something. Work to help some of the most dedicated, big hearted folks in our nation get their recognition.

And maybe -- just maybe -- a livable wage.

2 Comments
Marilyn Harmaning
2/27/2015 09:00:57 am

I applaud your Walkout Words of Wisdom, Professor C. Here in Western North Carolina, high school teachers can rarely live on their wages, so many good teachers are basically forced to move to nearby states to be able tp pay back education loans and support a family. Sad. Glad to hear you are investing your time and energy in education. I've moved to a different challenge -- adult ESL and I love it. Blessings to you and your family!

Reply
Louie Centanni
3/2/2015 02:07:10 am

Thanks, Mrs. Harmaning! Naturally, any words of wisdom from me stem somewhere in my past, shaped by those far wiser. I can't take full credit for any of those ideas without giving due to some of the great teachers from my past like you :) It is a tough climate to be a teacher right now, but it's necessary. Adult ESL sounds like it's every bit as important as high school. After all, learning isn't supposed to stop at 18. :) Be well!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Follow me on  Instagram, Twitter 
    (@louiecentanni). 

    Lastly, "Like" me on Facebook: Louie Centanni Author. Keep up with the latest publications!

    Archives

    May 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    May 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    June 2013
    August 2012
    February 2012
    September 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    July 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • home
  • bio
  • shows
  • Booking
  • video
  • contact