My son was watching PBS Kids recently when a short message played between programs. Appearing on screen was a teacher telling viewers that he addresses his students as young, or future, doctors and lawyers. Apparently, doctoring and lawyering are the epitome of professional success. Now, don't get me wrong: I have nothing against doctors and lawyers. In fact, good lawyers and good doctors have been responsible for some very good events in my life. But I can't funnel my students into only two jobs. That would be ridiculous.
It would be ridiculous because - well - just imagine the world of the future where there are no fry cooks, auto mechanics, or even teachers, because everyone is either a doctor or a lawyer. Who cleans up after the surgery? Who guards convicted felons? Who raises the next generation of doctors and lawyers? It is preposterous to believe that all of my students should aspire to only two professions in the future.
It would be ridiculous because not every student is cut out for a medical or legal career. There are some who have no business prescribing medicine to people or plea bargain with a plaintiff. My students have a broad range of interests and strengths; perhaps they should pursue careers they will enjoy and succeed in rather than go for the gold in the go-to fields of medicine and law.
It would be ridiculous because all the gold is not in two professions. The medical and legal fields may be two ways to make money. After a huge investment for the education, a few may begin to line their pockets with Benjamins, but other professions exist that will still out-earn them. If cash on hand is the primary goal of a career, doctors and lawyers may wish they had pursued another route to earning theirs.
It would be ridiculous because it would be boring. What will we talk about all day outside of the examination room or the latest deposition meeting? Who would have anything new to say? Our diversity of careers is part of what makes us interesting to other people.
It would be ridiculous because it would bring the costs of medical care and legal advice down to a level that could not sustain the economy. If everybody is a doctor or a lawyer, then we wouldn't have to look far for those services. The unlimited supply would easily eclipse the demand, and prices would plummet. In doing so, these professions would soon become so low paying that the whole reason for pushing students in that direction will have been for naught.
It would be ridiculous because it would discourage students with no propensity toward those professions. What did the teacher imply? That anyone outside of the hospital and the courtroom is worthless? Then I must be of less value than they are.
There is as much such variety in career paths as there are personalities in the human race. Some people are prone to creative ventures, while others are good at assembling puzzles. Some lean toward numbers, while others are good with their hands. We all have our strengths and march to our own drummers, so we must be allowed to explore other avenues of interest.
Many of us are probably just as guilty as this PBS teacher, when we have referred to doctors and lawyers when eluding to professional success. I only hope we can break the habit and consider that others are successful, as well, that others are happy with their career choices, and that others can still hold their heads high after making their choices. While we certainly need good doctors and lawyers (and nurses and legal aides, etc.), we also must cultivate and fertilize the soil to make it receptive to an unending variety of career choices.
It would be ridiculous because not every student is cut out for a medical or legal career. There are some who have no business prescribing medicine to people or plea bargain with a plaintiff. My students have a broad range of interests and strengths; perhaps they should pursue careers they will enjoy and succeed in rather than go for the gold in the go-to fields of medicine and law.
It would be ridiculous because all the gold is not in two professions. The medical and legal fields may be two ways to make money. After a huge investment for the education, a few may begin to line their pockets with Benjamins, but other professions exist that will still out-earn them. If cash on hand is the primary goal of a career, doctors and lawyers may wish they had pursued another route to earning theirs.
It would be ridiculous because it would be boring. What will we talk about all day outside of the examination room or the latest deposition meeting? Who would have anything new to say? Our diversity of careers is part of what makes us interesting to other people.
It would be ridiculous because it would bring the costs of medical care and legal advice down to a level that could not sustain the economy. If everybody is a doctor or a lawyer, then we wouldn't have to look far for those services. The unlimited supply would easily eclipse the demand, and prices would plummet. In doing so, these professions would soon become so low paying that the whole reason for pushing students in that direction will have been for naught.
It would be ridiculous because it would discourage students with no propensity toward those professions. What did the teacher imply? That anyone outside of the hospital and the courtroom is worthless? Then I must be of less value than they are.
There is as much such variety in career paths as there are personalities in the human race. Some people are prone to creative ventures, while others are good at assembling puzzles. Some lean toward numbers, while others are good with their hands. We all have our strengths and march to our own drummers, so we must be allowed to explore other avenues of interest.
Many of us are probably just as guilty as this PBS teacher, when we have referred to doctors and lawyers when eluding to professional success. I only hope we can break the habit and consider that others are successful, as well, that others are happy with their career choices, and that others can still hold their heads high after making their choices. While we certainly need good doctors and lawyers (and nurses and legal aides, etc.), we also must cultivate and fertilize the soil to make it receptive to an unending variety of career choices.
