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Re: Re[2]: ABHP Degree Requirement - Background and Perspective
I want to thank Les Aldrich for his articulate and reasoned response to the
emotional attack on a RADSAFE member who advanced the concept that a ABHP
candidate should have a college degree. Les expressed so well what I have been
thinking about but failed to put into words.
This debate reminds me of an article in the "Wall Street Journal", which
appeared approximately 1 year, ago. Although it was not about health physics,
the ideas are becomming all too applicable to our profession.
The article showed how we have changed from a society of achievers to a
society of victims. Although I admit that this is a gross generalization, it
seems that, in the past, when your efforts did not succeed, you looked to
yourself, figured out what the problem was, and worked (sometimes, extremely
hard) to fix it. If the problem was a lack of education, you went to night
school. If the problem was a lack of experience, you often accepted an
apparently lower level job to gain that experience. Now, it seems that the
road to success is not to achieve, but, rather, to demonstrate that you're a
victim; i.e., that your problem is someone else's fault, and that you either
deserve compensation, such as special preference, or that it's ok to ignore
your problem.
I maintain that this attitude is as unhealthy for the health physics
profession as it is for society as a whole.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
Here's to a risk free world, and other fantasies.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@detroitedison.com
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Its nice, every once in a while, to see a totally emotional message.
It reminds me to remember to write my emotional response, read it,
delete it, and then respond to the issue.
At first, I thought perhaps Mr. Fenner was reflecting the modern
educational policy of "It doesn't matter if you know anything when you
graduate, as long as you feel good about yourself." But he has been
in the field for 17 years, so that can't be right.
Since there was no factual or rational information in the message,
what is it that we are supposed to do about certification?
How about this: A sixth grade education, followed by a high school
GED qualifies you to take the examination. The examination will
consist of writing "Health Physicist" on the blackboard 10 times
without misspelling more than 40% of the words. If that's still too
elitist, we could drop the GED and spelling requirements!
Personally, I flunked the Part I exam twice, and the only one I got
mad at was myself for not studying hard enough.
Don't blame anyone else for the message above, I did it by myself.
Les Aldrich
e-mail: l_k_ii_les_aldrich@rl.gov
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Subject: Re: ABHP Degree Requirement - Background and Perspective
Author: Roger Fenner <rfenner@voyageronline.net> at -MailLink
Date: 9/15/97 11:28 PM
I have just read with disgust George Vargo's comments concerning the
background for the degree requirement. Sure as hell makes me wish I had
chosen a different profession 17 years ago. Or excuse me "trade." I
wonder how Mr. Vargo's ignorant grandfather made it to retirement.
Seems he should have been replaced by a degreed "professional" many
years before he retired. Why didn't they do that Mr. Vargo? Could it
be because he learned through experience rather than classroom education
how a power plant should be run and was able to do a "professional" job
doing it?
Everyone who is Certified without a degree must surely be asked to turn
their certification in to the Elitists. Times have changed and more is
expected from society than you degreeless people have to offer. You
surely don't want to lower the "status of the profession" by your
membership.
We should all strive to be like IH's. Give them a certification, teach
them how to spell a few words (like radiation safety) and they are an
instant expert. Just look at the trends taking place on college
campuses in the "Environmental" safety offices around the country.
One final thought. Mr. Vargo, next time you go looking for a snob in
your midsts, just look in a mirror.
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Subject: Re: ABHP Degree Requirement - Background and Perspective
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