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From: ee4011ab@ariel.unm.edu (Mark P. Martin)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng,misc.jobs.misc
Subject: Re: American Programmer (What's a Ph.D. worth?)
Message-ID: <2769@charon.unm.edu>
Date: 8 Apr 88 03:29:10 GMT
References: <555@psu-cs.UUCP> <1434@ur-tut.UUCP> <3415@bunker.UUCP> <2705@charon.unm.edu> <121@edson.UUCP>
Sender: news@charon.unm.edu
Reply-To: ee4011ab@ariel.unm.edu.UUCP (Mark P. Martin)
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Lines: 36

In article <121@edson.UUCP> doug@edson.UUCP (Doug Konrad) writes:
>In article <2705@charon.unm.edu>, ee4011ab@ariel.unm.edu (Mark P. Martin) writes:
>> In article <8295@agate.BERKELEY.EDU> jmm@thoth20.berkeley.edu.UUCP () writes:
>> >I always thought that universities were supposed to teach theory more than
>> >practice.  

	... deleted ...
>> engineering is more ability to apply knowledge than the straightforward use
>> of tools and techniques.  The word "engineer" derives from "engenious man"
>> (no sexism flames please, I have a reference).
>
>Here you come around and agree with me. (How can we have a good argument if
>you insist on agreeing with me?) However, this wasn't what you said in your
>first paragraph.

My original intention was in saying that there should be practical
application to accompany the teaching of theory, otherwise the theory will
have only academic value.  My earlier statements probably reflect my
somewhat jaded view if the neanderthal nature of our national job getting
system.  I have been scanning the ads searching for languages, systems and
other acronyms which match my background.  This is to say that what
employers appear to be looking for is not always the same as what they
need, and not even the same as what they will get.  And now I find at least one
individual who holds dear the same values I do which make engineering
valuable as a profession -- the desire and ability to solve problems.  I
thank you for bringing to light my ineffective presentation of our
profession.  Perhaps the lacking of this understanding in the universities
and job places indicates a vacancy which either one of us could somehow
correct, or at least use to advantage in seeking employment.

*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------*
|  "People can be divided into three categories: |   Mark P. Martin           |
|  Those who make things happen,                 |   B.S.Comp.E - UNM         |
|  Those who watch things happen...              |   ee4011ab@ariel.unm.edu   |
|  and those who wonder what happened."          |                            |
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