David Hendley on wed 25 jan 12
I received a letter from a high school student. The chemistry teacher
obviously assigned the students to write to someone who is involved
with some "career" they are interested in.
The student obviously has no clue, and wants answers to these questions:
1. What do you have to study, and for how long, to "get this job"?
2. What is an annual salary for this career?
3. What is a typical day on the job like?
4. How does the career influence the world of chemistry and what new
discoveries are there stemming form it?
Does anyone care to discuss how they might respond to such a letter?
(This is the downside of having a website that shows up in search
engines. The school is a thousand miles from me).
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
http://www.thewahooligans.com
Snail Scott on wed 25 jan 12
On Jan 25, 2012, at 11:45 AM, David Hendley wrote:
> I received a letter from a high school student. The chemistry teacher
> obviously assigned the students to write to someone who is involved
> with some "career" they are interested in...
> The student obviously has no clue, and wants answers to these questions:
> 1. What do you have to study, and for how long, to "get this job"?
> 2. What is an annual salary for this career?
> 3. What is a typical day on the job like?
> 4. How does the career influence the world of chemistry and what new
> discoveries are there stemming form it?
Sounds like a boilerplate list of 'guiding' questions from the
teacher. Obviously, you are under no obligation to answer,
but if you do, I'd suggest not feeling obligated to follow the
same format. Cover the categories as you see fit, or just offer
a narrative that suits you. It may seem like the kid is asking
you to do their work, but it's hard for kids to deviate from an
assignment to really make it their own. The kid shows some
imagination in even thinking of pottery as a chemistry-related
profession, so I think I'd cut them some slack.
As I'd redact the list:
1.What training do you have (either formal or otherwise),
and what knowledge helps you do your work?
2.How much money, or other rewards to do gain?
3. If there is no typical day, describe several - show the
variety instead?
4. Influence the 'world of chemistry'? Well, nearly every
ceramist is, at least at the minimum, an empirical chemist,
even if they never use a molecular formula. If 'chemistry'
is the way that materials affect one another, that's a lot of
what we do. Talk about how YOU make materials interact.
If the 'influence' is mainly on your local market, well, that's
real enough, and 'influences' a wide range of people. And
if you think that's not the 'influence' they're asking for, just
say so. 'Influence' doesn't have to change the world.
-Snail
Earl Krueger on wed 25 jan 12
David,
If you feel inclined to help this student out you might consider having
them call you and do an interview. Easier to convey thoughts verbally and
they have to think more when they put it in their own words.
Earl...
Finishing up studio at location A
So I can sell it
And start all over again at location B
ivor and olive lewis on thu 26 jan 12
Dear David Hendley,
Perhaps you should provide an honest and factual answer to each question,
then suggest that if he or she wishes to know how scientific progress has
been enhanced and benefited mankind that they should read the ACerS
publication by David W. Richardson, "The Magic of Ceramics". ISBN
1-57498-050-5.
To accomplish such tasks has required deep knowledge of, and high skills, i=
n
Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Engineering.
Then again, the original questions may just need rephrasing ! !.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis,
REDHILL,
South Australia
Gower on thu 26 jan 12
Hi David
Just a thought
Production Potter
studio potter
Ceramic artist
Educator
For love or for money
Suggestion for Question 4 - "While a production potter or a ceramic artist
may not have a significant influence in the world of chemistry perhaps you
might like to check out
http://www.ceramicindustry.com CI 's goal is "To serve as the exclusive
global voice of ceramic manufacturing, promoting the interests, growth and
progress of the ceramic, glass and brick industries by: offering practical,
real-world solutions to manufacturing problems; providing up-to-date
coverage of news, issues and trends; supplying a forum for information
exchange; presenting information on the latest technological advancements;
and providing our advertisers with access to an audited audience of
qualified buyers"
It has articles such as "A Gateway into Ceramics
Combining injection molding technologies helps create an introduction to
ceramic components"
If your interest is chemistry it help in your decision making process to
look at careers that focus more on this area and check out the CI career
centre
http://www.ceramicindustry.com/HTML/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_1000000000000042438=
7."
Anyway just a thought or two and I wish the student well with his future
choices.
good luck to you to David
-----Original Message-----
From: David Hendley
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 4:45 AM
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Career in Clay?
I received a letter from a high school student. The chemistry teacher
obviously assigned the students to write to someone who is involved
with some "career" they are interested in.
The student obviously has no clue, and wants answers to these questions:
1. What do you have to study, and for how long, to "get this job"?
2. What is an annual salary for this career?
3. What is a typical day on the job like?
4. How does the career influence the world of chemistry and what new
discoveries are there stemming form it?
Does anyone care to discuss how they might respond to such a letter?
(This is the downside of having a website that shows up in search
engines. The school is a thousand miles from me).
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
http://www.thewahooligans.com
Steve Mills on thu 26 jan 12
I agree; the poor little bugger has been handed an "off the shelf" Q&A shee=
t=3D
.=3D20
Like Logan I'd give them straight and simple answers.=3D20
The only change I'd make is to say that what I do is not a job, it's a way =
o=3D
f life, and what you get out of it is in direct relation to what you are pr=
e=3D
pared to put in.=3D20
Steve M
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
Sent from my iPod
On 25 Jan 2012, at 17:45, David Hendley wrote:
> I received a letter from a high school student. The chemistry teacher
> obviously assigned the students to write to someone who is involved
> with some "career" they are interested in.
>=3D20
> The student obviously has no clue, and wants answers to these questions:
> 1. What do you have to study, and for how long, to "get this job"?
> 2. What is an annual salary for this career?
> 3. What is a typical day on the job like?
> 4. How does the career influence the world of chemistry and what new
> discoveries are there stemming form it?
>=3D20
> Does anyone care to discuss how they might respond to such a letter?
> (This is the downside of having a website that shows up in search
> engines. The school is a thousand miles from me).
>=3D20
> David Hendley
> david@farmpots.com
> http://www.farmpots.com
> http://www.thewahooligans.com
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