16th November 2005, 01:00 AM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by troll
An educated and well informed workforce should lead to an evolving profession where ignorance of issues bigger than the day`s work is no longer excusable.
That ought to be the case, Troll. And I am guessing that now we no longer have the MSC/Job creation scheme that the archaeological workforce is (at least on paper) better educated and perhaps also better informed now than it has ever been.
That said though, I don't really see much evidence of the Great Leap Forward having even taken the first step on the road to storming the doors of Current Archaeology let alone the ivory towers of the IFA/EH/CBA.
I am not sure that 'professionalism' is all about degree qualifications. I think that archaeology might be on a surer track if at first it tried to achieve the level of professional respect (and salaries) accorded to managers in the building industry, stonemasons, master carpenters, plumbers and electricians rather than architects, estate agents and accountants. For that we may have to take one step backwards, before confidently striding two steps in the right direction.
(Any direct or indirect reference to discredited 60's politic in this mail just shows my age!!)