Pegging The Bullshit Meter
Sep. 28th, 2010 12:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
davidschrothOn my way in to work, I was listening to MPR. Their show was about teaching, and the teacher's unions were coming under attack by callers.
The last caller I heard before I turned off the radio in disgust claimed that
they were an unemployed software engineer, laid off mumble-mumble months ago,
they had degrees in physics and astrophysics,
and they were African-American.
The first statement was ok (I know unemployed software engineers).
The second statement moved the needle slightly (I believe I know a software engineer with degrees in physics and astrophysics. It's an uncommon combination, in my experience).
The final statement really moved the needle - especially when the caller launched into a lament about how school districts, which have been laying off trained, experienced teachers, were not allowed by the teacher's union to give priority consideration for hiring him (totally untrained in teaching) over rehiring trained, experienced teacher.
The sense of privilege coming through the airwaves was palpable.
The last caller I heard before I turned off the radio in disgust claimed that
they were an unemployed software engineer, laid off mumble-mumble months ago,
they had degrees in physics and astrophysics,
and they were African-American.
The first statement was ok (I know unemployed software engineers).
The second statement moved the needle slightly (I believe I know a software engineer with degrees in physics and astrophysics. It's an uncommon combination, in my experience).
The final statement really moved the needle - especially when the caller launched into a lament about how school districts, which have been laying off trained, experienced teachers, were not allowed by the teacher's union to give priority consideration for hiring him (totally untrained in teaching) over rehiring trained, experienced teacher.
The sense of privilege coming through the airwaves was palpable.
