Was I the only one who was questioning the choice of music for the little Hillary montage they had before her speech at the DNC?
While her speech was fine (despite her reoccurring references to “fighting” and “trenches” and the tangerine pantsuit that makes her leader of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits–that DOES keep me up at night, as the Kinks so suggest), the music at the DNC has been cracking me up.
We have the Kinks suggesting that Clinton’s “got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’, now.” We also have Tom Petty (poor man) suggesting that she, as an American Girl, “should make it last all night.”
And then… yesterday. Clinton calls for support of Obama:
Madam secretary, on behalf of the great state of New York, with appreciation for the spirit and dedication of all who are gathered here. With eyes firmly fixed on the future in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let’s declare together in one voice right here, right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president.
The music of choice for this event, you gotta listen to it yourself:
Will you form a love train with me?
My parents were good Catholics…. well, until the whole divorce thing. But, anyway, the point is that I’m the youngest of six (not including step-siblings). All of my siblings have children (for a total of 13, with one on the way). The middle sister has three little girls she has adopted from Guatemala.
Her three girls are the cutest, sweetest, most well behaved children I’ve ever known in my life. A large portion of the credit for that goes to my sister, who is an incredible mother. She, being decidedly White, however, has become an interesting portal into glimpsing how other individuals view her and her children. While there are several interesting things that happen (the assumption that the three girls are genetic sisters… although they do not look much alike — besides all being Guatemalan — runs rampant; the questioning glances she gets when she’s with them; and more) I am just going to write about one now. The fact that strangers feel perfectly justified in taking pictures of her children.
That’s right. Strangers see these three girls, and take photos of them. Now they are really adorable, as a lot of little girls are, but still. I have to admit that there was one time that I did walk up to a woman with a toddler and talked to her about how unbelievably goregous her daughter is (seriously, only one time, and you would have too, she was so beautiful). But, I can’t post a picture of that little girl because umm… Hello? Do I even need to explain why I don’t have a picture to post?
What makes it okay to take pictures of her daughters? Would strangers do so of three little girls who were White? I don’t have children, but I do have my share of adorable nieces and nephews (and two grand-nephews), and none of my other siblings have ever had this problem with their offspring.
Are they exotic? It’s okay because they are abnormal? Different? It’s not “stalkerish” or just horribly rude because they are a curiosity? And, does that mean that they are seen as less than human?
And, what the HELL do they do with those pictures?
Filed under: teaching
Well, school starts here tomorrow. TOMORROW.
What happened to the days when we couldn’t get ready for school to begin? Got so excited, went out and bought new clothes and arranged our pencil cases in our backpacks. Picked out the perfect first thing to wear?
But then again, I remember following around another kid so I could catch chickenpox and wouldn’t have to go back to kindergarten. I was successful… and glad of it. How odd that I would make my life centered around continuing education.
Blue is still pretty damn excited. His facebook status reads “Blue is pumped for the year to start. School’s back, fall’s coming, and this is going to be the best year ever.” He makes me sick. SICK I tells ya.
I think I’m ready. My syllabus is written. I have conquered the WebCT enemy. I’ve written some interesting assignments — well, I think they are interesting. I’ve gone from incredibly nervous to indifferent (How do you spell blaise, or blahsay? That’s the word I wanted, google’s giving me nothing… Columbus, where are you when I need you!?!). I’m sure I’ll go back to nervous.
Yeah, this post is meaningless, but there you go.
From Radio Free Newport — a discussion on what it really means to be in an R1. Great info!
CJ asked, in an earlier post,
How much work is it to apply to each place on your spreadsheet?
Short answer: A LOT!
Long answer: Umm… well, let’s look at an example position.
George State University is running the following ad:
Anticipated TT asst or assoc professor with a teaching specialty in graduate classical or contemporary sociological theory and additional substantive research interests in one of the three following concentrations: family, health and life course, gender and sexuality, or race and urban. We enthusiastically encourage applications from minority candidates. An offer of employment will be conditional on background verification. Candidates should submit: 1)letter outlining their qualifications; 2)curriculum vitae; 3)sample of scholarly work; 4)evidence of teaching effectiveness (i.e., course syllabi, student evaluations, and statement of teaching philosophy); and 5)three letters of recommendation. PhD in sociology is required at time of appointment.
So, let’s assume you’ve done your job searches and know the places you are going to apply (of course, this is an ungoing process of checking and rechecking the job boards, talking to people, looking at websites to see if anything has opened, etc.). Now you have to start fullfilling those requirements.*
- Letter outlining your qualifications: Cover letter. Blick. Okay, so you should have about 4 or 5 stock letters that you will write — one for different areas of teaching and a different version depending on if it’s a teaching or research job. These can be used across universities. Meaning, if I am applying to two jobs that are theory positions that are teaching schools, I use the same letter. But, you still have to change the letter to bring in specific details of that department (show them that you are familiar with their department). Of course, if you REALLY REALLY REALLY want the job, you should write a special letter just for that school. Really research it and address how you fit into their department — how you are congruent, how you will bring something new that is missing.
- CV: You should have different versions of this, one stressing research and one stressing teaching. I know I should do this, but I’m not sure I will. Mostly, because I don’t have much to include under teaching. I may have it just where I move subheadings around (put the teaching higher in the CV for teaching jobs).
- Sample of Scholarly Work: Now you have to consider what to send. Should be sole authored or first authored things, but sometimes you may want to send something where you are second author, if it’s to a great journal. Some places will make you send a dissertation chapter.
- Teaching effectiveness: E gads! Lots of work. You write the philosophy (how you approach classes). Then you have to include stats from teaching evaluations and comments. Which means you have to shift through them, do some data entry, and create tables and what not. Syllabi! I’ve been told only to include classes I have or am going to teach. Well, that means I now have to quickly write my Ethnic and Race Relations syllabus to include in these packets.
- Letters of recommendation: This takes more work than you would think. Of course your major writes all of them (or your chair, what ever you call the Master of your Universe). Then you should pick people based on the job type (if its teaching, do you have anyone who has seen you teach?). Also, pick people based on University (hey, if they know people there, and are liked there, and they say they like you… it’s a nice tidy Heider Triangle). Then you need to match based on area — social psych profs write for social psych, theory for theory, etc. Of course, you need to find out who is willing to write for you. Then, they may not be willing to write for you for all jobs (hey, if they are the major prof for someone else who is applying to the same school as you — they shouldn’t write for you, they’ll be writing for that other person, and that other person should get a stronger letter). Then, you need to create a Word document with mailing labels for each person. AND some of them ask you for “talking points” — things you would like them to stress.
Phew.
And, I’m sure I’m missing lots cause I’m just starting! And, different places ask for different things. Some want a seperate research goal. Some, evidently, want a statement of religion.
*See Anomie for some tips on some of these requirements.
I have some sort of faith. Probably not the kind of faith that a “clearly evangelical, genuinely ecumenical and distinctively Wesleyan” college wants who is seeking “applicants who are committed to its Christian mission.”
With the teaching philosophy, and the research philosophy, they also seem to want a faith philosophy. A “Faith Statement” of one page. What is that? “Jesus loves you! Yay God!”? I’ve kicked around the idea of having my sister write it (highly religious, probably have a problem keeping it to one page), but perhaps the moral of the story is Pitseleh is only applying to 39 schools. Too bad. I like the geographic area.
I have no problem teaching at a Christian, Catholic, Lutheran, etc. school … but I am nervous when they want me to write a statement. Most of the other religious schools have ads that say that they are in a particular religious area, but welcome applications of all faiths. I figure with those schools, you indicate your dedication to social justice. I’ve read the statements on a lot of these religious schools … about what sociology is, and I really think that my philosophy of what sociology can do in terms of equality and social justice is nicely dovetailed with their religious viewpoints.
I didn’t even know that religious statements were something that was done. Anyone have experience with these types of schools? Or the others that say they are open to a wide array of faiths? How does that appear during the job interview process?
Man, it’s crazy how much time this job market stuff takes. It’s a job in and of itself… and I haven’t even sent out my first ap yet!
I started making my excel spreadsheet that includes:
University, Due Date, Contact(s), Address, Area 1, Area 2, Area 3, Type, Job Description, 3rd Letter Writer, Website, and Notes.
The only one that needs explanation is probably 3rd Letter writer — that just means that I have the same two people writing all the letters, but I vary on the third depending on type of school and areas. Also depending on contacts to the university. I have four third letter writers. Or, four so far. The number may increase, depending on the job that comes up.
As of now, I’m applying for 40 jobs. FORTY. Is this normal? I don’t feel normal. Tell me if I’m normal! I mean as far as this job hunt goes. I know I’m not normal otherwise.
Oh, Gods of the Job Market! Please give me at least ONE great offer!
ONE ART The art of losing isn't hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. Lose something every day. Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. The art of losing isn't hard to master. Then practice losing farther, losing faster: places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel. None of these will bring disaster. I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or next-to-last, of three loved houses went. The art of losing isn't hard to master. I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster, some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent. I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster. ---Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident the art of losing's not too hard to master though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster. -- Elizabeth Bishop
Okay, so those of you who do not know about it, Kristina B. is doing research on blogs. I just finished answering her first round of questions. Really thought provoking ones — but I won’t steal her thunder. Instead, go here to find out more about the study, and then email her at the gmail provided and take part.
Help out your fellow bloggers people!
(Oh, and I’m still looking for people with memorial tattoos to interview… Damn, why can’t that be picked up by Scatterplot? or Belle? or Both. Dammit people, do my work for me!)
