Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Master's In Blogging

I attended an informational meeting for UConn's administrative certification program, a two year intesive study. Unfortunately, I won't be applying because I don't have a Master's Degree. The intersting thing of it is that the Master's Degree can be in anything. Really. I could go out and earn a Master's in:
Divinity, European Law, City and Regional Planning, Design, or Enterprise.

It isn't that I am opposed to learning, but it just seems that a piece of paper shouldn't disqualify someone from entering Education Administration. If UConn's two year program is so good, and I have no doubt that it is, will a Master's in Health Science make me a better principal? No.

So, I have created an online university: The University of the Daily Grind. I offer one Master's Degree: A Master's of Blogging.

After posting today, I will have completed my learning and will confer upon myself the first ever Master's of Blogging. Then I will be ready to be an administrator.

Actually, I am taking votes. What would you want your principal to have a Master's Degree in?

14 Comments:

At 9:26 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Humility

 
At 1:07 PM , Blogger Mr. McNamar said...

Jen, I want to be an administrator, not a priest; therefore, humility would only serve in allowing me to be the fall guy should the school I administer at fail. We all know it's the teachers' fault.

 
At 4:28 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

You asked for an opinion and then argued against the answer... sounds like you're ready for administration.

Humility is of utmost importance in education... I only wish you knew why.

 
At 4:58 PM , Blogger Mr. McNamar said...

Cindy, forgive me. I didn't intend to argue against. Instead, I was using a bit of sarcasm as I pointed out that administrators often lack humility. But thank you for jumping in and telling me that I lack humility. I really do appreciate the candor.

 
At 11:11 PM , Blogger Ms. V. said...

blogging. really.

 
At 7:18 PM , Blogger Dan Edwards said...

So, IF i maled you a czech for tin dollars, you male me a diplooma that say i have a masters degre from yur Blogging Universiti ?????
And I can be a scull admin. prni principle !

Kuhl ! Were do i male u myy czech?>>????

 
At 1:30 PM , Blogger Mr. McNamar said...

10 dollars? Not in this economy. I'll give it to you for 7.50.

 
At 2:18 PM , Blogger Mr. B-G said...

One possible reason a master's degree is a prerequisite is because one learns to think critically and creatively in a master's program.

The master's content doesn't matter because it's the intellectual fortitude gained from the close and careful exploration of a topic that counts - not, so much, the choice of topic studied.

 
At 5:22 AM , Blogger Mr. McNamar said...

Mr. B-G makes an excellent point. The careful exploration of topics matters a great deal.
I just wonder whether the tradional education paths remain as relevant today as they once were. With so much information at our fingertips, do professionals with years of experience need more time in the classroom to learn how to think critically and creatively?
Even at the high school level, more schools are moving towards e-learning. Yet, I am not convinced an online master's is as respected as the traditional.

 
At 2:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Without a Master's degree, you seem awfully cavalier about what sort of work goes into getting one. All the ones you listed are perfectly appropriate displays of mastery. Me personally, I'd like my administrators to have Master's in Arts-related fields.

And in answer to your question, yes, the Master's in Health Science will, in fact, make you a better principal. Wouldn't THAT be handy when the parent who is mad that her daughter heard the word "vagina" in high-school health class is ranting and raving in your office!

-Mr. Cassidy, average educator

 
At 3:05 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would sure hope you don't need a Master's in Health Science to know what a vagina is, or why it's a perfectly acceptable word to use - especially in a health class.

I use "anus" in class all the time, and I teach Spanish. My principal might have to work a little harder to explain why I'm asking my students how many anuses they have...

I wish I had a Master's in Whoop@$$, with a minor in Opening Cans of. That would come in handy; it's a skill I sorely lack.

 
At 4:05 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

hahaha! awesome!

seriously though, our principal has banned our health teacher from talking about sex in any form, including anatomy. (this is high-school) Not only is birth-control, abstinence, and pregnancy all offenses, but so are rudimentary things like body parts, and their functions.

why? an angry parent years ago raised a ruckus. We've gone through a couple of health teachers as a result. it boggles the mind. I know I couldn't handle it. wowwy.

but yeah, a whoop@ss Master's would be a very popular course....

 
At 4:12 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah - you must teach in Texas (as do I).

So, what's wrong with our educational system? Parents.

 
At 6:01 PM , Blogger Mr. McNamar said...

wait, so the vagina, penis, breast, anus, semen, lactation, genital warts, masturbation, missionary, etc. are inappropriate to talk about in a jealth class?

 

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