Things that piss you off?

[midwestyankee]

I think things have been moving in that direction for some time. When I was hired in 1998, the English department was down two full-timers. They've never been replaced.

One adjunct is teaching seven comp/reading/writing classes this semester.

But then there was also talk of cutting back on adjuncts to save money. I don't see how they can do that, because all the reading/writing classes are filled to capacity as it is. And I find it tough to believe that the whopping $1200 that they pay adjuncts to teach a class is breaking them.

Eilan, I'm amazed by this. I've always known that adjuncts were poorly paid. After all, working as an adjunct was the only job I had when our first child was born. But even then, 23 years ago, I made $1600 per class. Now in our area, adjuncts make about $3400 per class. It's still barely enough to cover reasonable rent, much less provide for a family. But $1200? That truly is slave wages.

Literate slavery, that's what the adjunct system is.

 

[Eilan]

Eilan, I'm amazed by this. I've always known that adjuncts were poorly paid. After all, working as an adjunct was the only job I had when our first child was born. But even then, 23 years ago, I made $1600 per class. Now in our area, adjuncts make about $3400 per class. It's still barely enough to cover reasonable rent, much less provide for a family. But $1200? That truly is slave wages.

Literate slavery, that's what the adjunct system is.

It's $400 per load hour (the full-time faculty overload rate), so for a three-hour Comp class, that's $1200, paid out over three months.

In the fall of 2001, I taught five classes: two math, one Comp, two reading. I cleared $1500 a month, and I ran myself ragged in the process because I taught at a branch campus two counties away. I don't how I got by, because I had a rent, a car payment, a student loan payment, and various household bills.

I used to call myself a Course Whore because I was willing to pick up a section of whatever I was qualified to teach. Yeah, I was being exploited, but I allowed it to happen because I needed the chump change I was getting, and there were plenty of warm bodies willing to take my place.

And then there's this wonderful thing called pro-rating. The last term I taught, three years ago, I picked up two evening classes so my husband and I wouldn't have to worry about child care. Nine is the magic number for a "full" class--I ended up with six students in one class and three students in another, so I got 2/3 of $1200 for one class and 1/3 of $1200 for the other class. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to do 1/3 or 2/3 of the work. Basically, I got paid for teaching one class, but I did the work of two classes.

If it weren't for the fact that I didn't get a contract to sign until 2 weeks into the semester (too late for students to switch sections), I would have refused to teach the classes. If I ever teach again, I won't do pro-rated classes. Fuck 'em.

 

[midwestyankee]

It's $400 per load hour (the full-time faculty overload rate), so for a three-hour Comp class, that's $1200, paid out over three months.

In the fall of 2001, I taught five classes: two math, one Comp, two reading. I cleared $1500 a month, and I ran myself ragged in the process because I taught at a branch campus two counties away. I don't how I got by, because I had a rent, a car payment, a student loan payment, and various household bills.

I used to call myself a Course Whore because I was willing to pick up a section of whatever I was qualified to teach. Yeah, I was being exploited, but I allowed it to happen because I needed the chump change I was getting, and there were plenty of warm bodies willing to take my place.

And then there's this wonderful thing called pro-rating. The last term I taught, three years ago, I picked up two evening classes so my husband and I wouldn't have to worry about child care. Nine is the magic number for a "full" class--I ended up with six students in one class and three students in another, so I got 2/3 of $1200 for one class and 1/3 of $1200 for the other class. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to do 1/3 or 2/3 of the work. Basically, I got paid for teaching one class, but I did the work of two classes.

If it weren't for the fact that I didn't get a contract to sign until 2 weeks into the semester (too late for students to switch sections), I would have refused to teach the classes. If I ever teach again, I won't do pro-rated classes. Fuck 'em.

I haven't run into the pro-rating tactic but that's the most exploitative thing I've heard of in a long time. Yikes!

 

[Sarojaede]

I don't know if they have a pro-rating thing where I teach but I do know that the part-time pay for an adjunct/lecturer is $600.00 per credit hour per course per semester. So one 3 credit hour course is $1800.00 per semester.

Some places it's as low as $350.oo per credit hour per course per sememster.

 

[midwestyankee]

I don't know if they have a pro-rating thing where I teach but I do know that the part-time pay for an adjunct/lecturer is $600.00 per credit hour per course per semester. So one 3 credit hour course is $1800.00 per semester.

Some places it's as low as $350.oo per credit hour per course per sememster.

So I guess that any adjunct who wants to get rich will have to come to Chicagoland - and try to buy a $300,000 starter home on $10,200 per semester.

 

[bobsgirl]

It happened again. Foster parents reported their son missing a week ago. Today these two were arrested for involuntary manslaughter.

Here.

"Pissed off" trivializes it, of course. I just have very little hope sometimes.

 

[Sarojaede]

So I guess that any adjunct who wants to get rich will have to come to Chicagoland - and try to buy a $300,000 starter home on $10,200 per semester.

Yeah....sure...

Truthfully, most full-time adjuncts/lecturers get paid pretty crappy here where I work. And tenure-track isn't all that much better. [sighs]

As much as I love teaching, I'm contemplating a job change.

 

[Quoll]

ie, 'nuff said.
The stupid telco that has one of the worst websites I have ever seen and it wont recognise opera.

 

[Quoll]

ie, 'nuff said.
The stupid telco that has one of the worst websites I have ever seen and it wont recognise opera.

Seriously, piles of shit both of them.

 

[Eilan]

It happened again. Foster parents reported their son missing a week ago. Today these two were arrested for involuntary manslaughter.

Here.

"Pissed off" trivializes it, of course. I just have very little hope sometimes.

Thanks for posting this. I saw the original story in the news last week and was wondering if there was any new info.

FWIW, I thought the foster parents' original story was a little bit unbelievable.

Truthfully, most full-time adjuncts/lecturers get paid pretty crappy here where I work. And tenure-track isn't all that much better.

The base salary of a state trooper fresh out of the Academy is about $35K a year, and that doesn't include overtime or holidays. nor does it require any type of college degree, though the powers-that-be would like to change that.

 

[Sarojaede]

WPMO:

My new bra--a convertible bra that can be convereted from racer-back to strapless to halter-style, etc., etc. Well, it has list lovely non-slip elastic strip along the top edges and dip of each cup (it's actually more rubbery in texture) that is apparently for extra support (so the cups don't fall down if you wear it strapless).

Of course I try the bra on and move around in it in the dressing room. No problems.

But apparently, after wearing it all day, I have discovered that I am allergic to the lovely little non-slip plastic strips along the edges. I have a nice lovely red whelt line along each breast that matches where that strip lay against my skin. And fuck it ITCHES!

 

[EJFan]

there's a god damned moth flitting around in here.

 

[Quoll]

WPMO:

My new bra--a convertible bra that can be convereted from racer-back to strapless to halter-style, etc., etc. Well, it has list lovely non-slip elastic strip along the top edges and dip of each cup (it's actually more rubbery in texture) that is apparently for extra support (so the cups don't fall down if you wear it strapless).

Of course I try the bra on and move around in it in the dressing room. No problems.

But apparently, after wearing it all day, I have discovered that I am allergic to the lovely little non-slip plastic strips along the edges. I have a nice lovely red whelt line along each breast that matches where that strip lay against my skin. And fuck it ITCHES!

Isn't this Silver's department, it could be sabotage. *nods*

 

[SweetErika]

WPMO:

My new bra--a convertible bra that can be convereted from racer-back to strapless to halter-style, etc., etc. Well, it has list lovely non-slip elastic strip along the top edges and dip of each cup (it's actually more rubbery in texture) that is apparently for extra support (so the cups don't fall down if you wear it strapless).

Of course I try the bra on and move around in it in the dressing room. No problems.

But apparently, after wearing it all day, I have discovered that I am allergic to the lovely little non-slip plastic strips along the edges. I have a nice lovely red whelt line along each breast that matches where that strip lay against my skin. And fuck it ITCHES!

I had a strapless bra with the same kind of strips, and it produced the same results even though I've never had a problem with latex, silicone or plastic compounds. I think it might have trapped a little moisture and proceeded to rub for a few hours, and that's what did me in. That was years ago and I've long since gotten rid of the bra, but I'm wondering if something like this that I've seen advertised would have helped, if it had been available back then.

 

[Quoll]

Damnit people, I'm trying to be a responsible parent here, I have housework to do













and absolutely no willpower.

 

[EJFan]

Damnit people, I'm trying to be a responsible parent here, I have housework to do


and absolutely no willpower.

i, for one, am glad you're here... but i'm a selfish prick.

 

[bobsgirl]

Damnit people, I'm trying to be a responsible parent here, I have housework to do













and absolutely no willpower.

quoll, honey, housework is evil and should be avoided at all cost.

 

[Quoll]

i, for one, am glad you're here... but i'm a selfish prick.

quoll, honey, housework is evil and should be avoided at all cost.

Well that's me convinced.

 

[silverwhisper]

SJ quoth
i am allergic to the lovely little non-slip plastic strips along the edges. i have a nice lovely red whelt line along each breast that matches where that strip lay against my skin. and fuck it itches!

SJ, you've mentioned that the temperature in your area is both hot and humid, correct? i think erika's got the right idea.

if you look at your bra, there's a care label identifying the fiber content, etc. incidentally, this is true for any piece of clothing for sale in most countries. anyway, that strip should have a separate section identifying its composition. if it's elastic of some form, that's obviously the issue right there: the material just doesn't breathe properly.

solution: keep the bra but wear only once it gets cooler/dryer.

ed

 

[Sarojaede]

WPMO...

It's freezing in my office and I have no way to adjust the temperature because the controls are in another office next door to mine and the professor to whom that office belongs is on sabbatical.

grrrrrrrr.....

 

[Sarojaede]

SJ, you've mentioned that the temperature in your area is both hot and humid, correct? i think erika's got the right idea.

if you look at your bra, there's a care label identifying the fiber content, etc. incidentally, this is true for any piece of clothing for sale in most countries. anyway, that strip should have a separate section identifying its composition. if it's elastic of some form, that's obviously the issue right there: the material just doesn't breathe properly.

solution: keep the bra but wear only once it gets cooler/dryer.

ed

I'll have to check the tag out when I get home. And thanks. I'm just mildly annoyed.

I should note that the lovely red line of whelts is somewhat diminished and the itching has subdued slightly.

 

[midwestyankee]

I'll have to check the tag out when I get home. And thanks. I'm just mildly annoyed.

I should note that the lovely red line of whelts is somewhat diminished and the itching has subdued slightly.

It's good that the itching has subdued. Welts, on the other hand, are sexy as hell.

 

[wicked woman]

It's good that the itching has subdued. Welts, on the other hand, are sexy as hell.

Yank!!!!

 

[bobsgirl]

WW, there you are! I was just thinking about you!

 

[EJFan]

WW, there you are! I was just thinking about you!

as evidenced by your AV.