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General Discussion / Re: McSweeney musing on "woke" teaching
« Last post by ergative on Today at 01:46:45 AM »Brilliant. Thank you so much for sharing.
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General Discussion / Re: The Venting Thread
« Last post by Parasaurolophus on June 05, 2023, 10:54:33 PM »Second of the day: the non-faculty union is on the verge of striking. Apparently we (faculty) won't get paid for work already completed unless we "cross" a picket line every day, even though we aren't actually working at the moment.
This seems like a pretty shit deal. Had I known I'd be forgoing my prorated salary for the next month or two, I'd have liked not to complete the work I won't be paid for.
Wait, how is this legal? Withholding pay you've already earned sounds like wage theft.
That's my thinking as well.
Interesting addition: since my pay is prorated monthly, and since I'm between teaching semesters, I'm also having my future pay docked, even though if the strike is resolved before I teach again, then I'm presumably expected to do everything. Between that and not paying me my full parental leave, I have to say, it's a pretty shitty university to work at.
Our employer has refused to return to the bargaining table with the staff union for weeks, so they've just walked out (as of minutes ago). Since faculty are also re-negotiating our contracts, and since that's not been going well, I imagine we'll soon be walking out, too.
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General Discussion / Re: Cancelling Dr. Seuss
« Last post by Wahoo Redux on June 05, 2023, 10:38:36 PM »You expect the publishers to just donate the books in question to your local library? To all local libraries?
And, again, even if that be true, where's the space coming from? What gets edited out?
These are rhetorical, of course, but the answers are obvious. The library pays for the books. They use their budget and space allowance to buy what they feel is appropriate and serves the community. What gets edited out and edited in depends upon the librarians' judgment.
Sorry that does not always conform to your ideology. But then again, perhaps you should examine your ideology.
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General Discussion / Re: Cancelling Dr. Seuss
« Last post by Parasaurolophus on June 05, 2023, 09:15:39 PM »You expect the publishers to just donate the books in question to your local library? To all local libraries?
And, again, even if that be true, where's the space coming from? What gets edited out?
The books that don't get used much any more, or are in poor condition. I own a ton of books which libraries have purged, including some surprisingly recent titles.
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General Discussion / methotrexate
« Last post by kaysixteen on June 05, 2023, 09:11:55 PM »The new dermatologist I was able to see today suggests I use methotrexate, at a lower, once-weekly dosage, to treat the psoriasis and assorted lymphedema-exaggerated skin conditions from which I suffer, but he emphatically told me not to start doing so (he wrote a script) until and unless I clear this action with my PCP (who also happens to be a cardiologist), since said PCP knows my overall history, including any heart concerns, and will know whether this be safe. Anyone have any experience with this drug, esp with using it *not for cancer*, which the dermatologist emphatically notes that I do not have?
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General Discussion / Re: Cancelling Dr. Seuss
« Last post by kaysixteen on June 05, 2023, 09:08:32 PM »You expect the publishers to just donate the books in question to your local library? To all local libraries?
And, again, even if that be true, where's the space coming from? What gets edited out?
And, again, even if that be true, where's the space coming from? What gets edited out?
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General Discussion / Re: The Venting Thread
« Last post by Parasaurolophus on June 05, 2023, 08:27:41 PM »Second of the day: the non-faculty union is on the verge of striking. Apparently we (faculty) won't get paid for work already completed unless we "cross" a picket line every day, even though we aren't actually working at the moment.
This seems like a pretty shit deal. Had I known I'd be forgoing my prorated salary for the next month or two, I'd have liked not to complete the work I won't be paid for.
Wait, how is this legal? Withholding pay you've already earned sounds like wage theft.
That's my thinking as well.
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General Discussion / Re: Cancelling Dr. Seuss
« Last post by Wahoo Redux on June 05, 2023, 07:58:11 PM »Where are all these books coming from? Where's the money for all these ideologically-agenda-driven books, and where's the library space to house em all? And, what other titles will be sacrificed in order to do this?
They come from publishers for people who care.
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General Discussion / Re: Cancelling Dr. Seuss
« Last post by Wahoo Redux on June 05, 2023, 07:55:42 PM »Advocating for students includes not appeasing people who would deny students access to the wide range of books out there. Hell yes it’s ideological- I want gay, black, brown, immigrant, autistic, Jewish, Muslim etc kids to see themselves represented in books. I want sheltered kids to be stretched. I want abused kids to read about struggling with trauma. I want kids denied knowledge about their bodies to have access to it. The ideology isn’t a specific agenda but access to a wide range of experiences, some of them challenging.
Needing complete unanimity results in the most watered down pablum being fed our kids.
I wish The Fora had those "up vote" options.
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General Discussion / Re: Cancelling Dr. Seuss
« Last post by Wahoo Redux on June 05, 2023, 07:51:16 PM »As long as anyone feels the need to reinforce their own ideological platform, this tit-for-tat will continue.
Okay buddy, put your money where your mouth is. Drop your ideological flag.
The people you object to and their ideas are not going away.