[CAUT] Re Retesting(OT)

[Susan Kline]

>I remember the "passport to Excellence" and while it was a good 
>idea, it had no authority to it.


And just as well that it didn't. Techs are independent cusses, who 
don't tolerate being forced to do something because some people in an 
organization have decided to order them around.

Before requiring ongoing education and retesting of the whole 
RPT-holding Guild roster, one must consider how firmly attached they 
are to the organization. Their dislike of being coerced (and of 
tolerating the implied condescension), and the stresses on their 
schedule and finances (which are often stretched to the breaking 
point already) could easily find many of them dumping the 
organization before submitting to ongoing new requirements which take 
time and money.

Remember that a large percentage of technicians are near retirement 
age. Their businesses are mature, and to the extent that they can be 
excellent at their work, many of them already are. The large number 
of people, many elderly, who attend meetings and conventions, and who 
like hands-on classes, is only possible, IMO, because they are 
voluntary, and because people enjoy seeing their friends and 
colleagues now and then. There is joy in lifelong learning, but that 
is because of the free  exploration involved. One is following a path 
of one's own devising, seeing where it leads. Re-education and 
retesting sounds like a one-size-fits-all situation, and among 
veteran piano tuners, one size probably fits almost no one.

Stepping away a few yards, and attempting to look at the problem 
objectively, some people are good at doing things on their own, and 
some are good at following directions and taking tests. The 
psychology of the credential assumes that these two groups hold 
exactly the same people, but is this really true? How much of the time?

(Conrad's latest flamesuit carefully buttoned ...)

Susan Kline