Over the past eight years I have had a number of part time tutoring and
lecturing positions. I have come to the conclusion that in Australia at
least, seeking full time employment on the strength of one's
qualifications, either in the academic arena, or the private sector can be
an unrewarding path. So called "networking" seems to me a major way in
which much employment is obtained in this neck of the woods.
While rules exist in most universities to prevent discrimination
nevertheless gender, ethnicity, class and political outlook can exclude or
enhance employment chances depending which side of the fence one is on.
Sadly these all contribute to an enclave mentality and worse still, peer
suspicion, petty jealousies and mediocrity. Even Indiana Jones would not
lower himself by a rope into some of these academic snake pits.
Historical research on just about any subject can be a joy. I personally
do it for fun, not for peer prestige. Passing on what I uncover to others is
fun too; usually via feature articles in newspapers. Generally these are
as carefully worked upon as any academic work, but are academically
unrespectible. Importantly I get paid for them. Occasionally too the
phone rings with a request to do some paid consultancy work.
I been told on numerous occasions by academics that the only publishing
which counts is in refereed journals. In something of a contradiction
one of these people, a professor, complained he could not understand why so
much of my material was published in newspapers while he could get nothing
accepted. Like so many others in the discipline he has never understood
history is a fun subject. I remember when I was a first year
undergraduate this same person saying to the history class that he had
looked over the list of students and not seen any important families. He
had colonial gentry in his background, I have an Irish convict.
So for people contemplating post graduate studies in history, clearly
there are more post graduate history students that there are plum jobs.
Whether or not it is worth busting one's gut to try and get one of these
is arguable. In my view there can be many obscure criteria besides
academic excellence applied in the selection process.
Equally clearly there is something to be said for being an independent
scholar. Provided there is enough income to provide adequate food and
comfortable shelter, one can set one's own pace and do what one likes. It
can be a very satisfying lifestyle, but those who seek a pathway to
monetary wealth should consider another route.
Paul Weaver.
(Ethnohistorian)