[CAUT] Differences?

[Alan McCoy]

Folks,

I have enjoyed this thread. Although when I think about it, I can't think of
a way that it would be useful in teaching the profession. Think about it.
You have this person who is attempting to learn. They bring their particular
skill set, strengths, mind set, weaknesses, goals, preconceptions, etc to
the task. To teach them effectively you try to assess these as you shape and
guide them. Even if there were definitive studies of gender differences,
which there are none that I am aware of, would these guide your teaching?
No, because the person in front of you is a particular individual, not a
gender type. I think there is more variation among individuals than there is
between genders. I think of our chapter. Otto Keyes is a giant of a guy -
what 6'5" Otto? I am 5'6". I stand up to tune even spinets, if I am tired or
in a hurry, because it is ergonomically more powerful, faster and less
tiring. There are as many examples of physical and mental differences as
there are technicians. There are gender differences, no doubt. But I just
don't see the relevance with regard to actually teaching the trade to a
person. If I see poor body mechanics - slumping, arm tweaked in an awkward
manner, leaning, tension in shoulders and all that, I am going to point it
out and show them a more relaxed way to hold the hammer. If someone is not
paying enough attention to detail while pinning conters, or rebushing keys,
or whatever, I will point that out too. Does gender enter in anywhere here?

As teachers we have to be aware of our own biases and habits. Dogmatism and
our own habits and preferences all get in the way of effective teaching. Jim
says "tedious shop work." Jim, do you somehow convey that this shop work is
"tedious" to the boy, but not to the girls? If you never thought to suggest
standing up to tune, might there be other subtle and unknown "suggestions"
that are being communicated? BTW, I don't mean to be picking on you on this
issue. But your words are right below, and are a convenient example. I hope
you don't take offense. I think we know each other well enough that you know
I have a lot of respect for you and what you are doing there at BYU.

It might be that tuning is, somehow, harder for women to do. I just don't
believe it. There are too many excellent women tuners, technicians, and
rebuilders for that to be the case. And I don't think, even were that true,
that it would have any bearing on teaching our profession to any individual,
with their peculiar (no, not that meaning of peculiar) set of traits.

BTW, this is not to say that there aren't obstacles in the way of a woman
wanting to make a career in this trade. Maybe more, or at least different
obstacles than faced by men.

Gotta go. Time for another manly tuning.

Alan






-- Alan McCoy, RPT
Eastern Washington University
amccoy@mail.ewu.edu
509-359-4627


> From: Jim Busby <jim_busby@byu.edu>
> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>" <caut@ptg.org>
> Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 15:54:16 -0700
> To: "College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>" <caut@ptg.org>
> Conversation: [CAUT] Differences?
> Subject: RE: [CAUT] Differences?
> 
> Michelle, Barbara,
> 
>  
> 
> A serious question here; I've got three daughters and a son who have
> learned to do quite a bit of piano work. The girls all love to do
> tedious shop work but HATE to tune. The boy loves to tune but doesn't
> like shop work all that much. I just thought it was their personalities
> until I started having students work here at BYU. Seems the same
> applies. I don't want to come across as sexist in any way, but I want to
> understand why. All the female students seem to excel more at the shop
> skills, but seem to dislike tuning. It seems harder for them than the
> guys. They seem to be less aggressive and more perfectionists and can
> hardly stand it if they don't get it right NOW. There are other teachers
> besides me so I don't think my teaching style is to be blamed. I guess
> the real question is, do women (physically, mentally...) have a harder
> time learning to tune?? I really want to encourage more women to take up
> the trade. (Help!)
> 
>  
> 
> Jim Busby BYU
> 
>  
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of
> Michelle Stranges
> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 12:15 PM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] disability insurance
> 
>  
> 
> Hey Barbara-
> 
>  
> 
> It's your female partner in crime..
> 
>  
> 
> I certainly feel that I have an advantage being a female tuner
> 
> (And I am the ony female in my Chapter here in Syracuse- *and* the
> youngest...)
> 
>  
> 
> So when I don't get my way I start crying and the guys give in.
> 
> They can't help it.
> 
>  
> 
> :D
> 
>  
> 
>  
>