Today I spent seven straight hours teaching four different topics, after getting up very early to finish preparing. At noon I had expected to have lunch and pick something up from Interlibrary Loan in the process. Scheduling was off for technical reasons, and there was no time. I was able to eat because a colleague donated me the second half of a large sandwich. All of the classes involved a significant amount of tooth pulling, and at the end of the day I wondered whether anything real had been accomplished. I certainly have little to show for it, and I have the feeling vampires have been siphoning off my blood.
I have not yet risen above it. I am thus reminded of a conversation I have had often, with variations. This is its very most recent version.
Whiteman: There are problems everywhere, and all universities are the same – especially now that we have the Internet and Interlibrary Loan.
PZ: Well, I see a great difference between beautiful places with books, where each person touches learning daily, and less beautiful places without books, where many days consist of tooth pulling. I am considering my options.
Whiteman: That is disrespectful to Prospero, whose sufferings, if smaller than yours, are far more important. It is cruel to Caliban – at least you are not locked inside a Cloven Pine!
You want greater power in your day. You want agency and creativity on tap. You do not believe in renunciation. These are problems you must excise. Accept! Be grateful! Resign thyself! Repent!
PZ (aside): This Whiteman has poor research skills and faulty logic. He has misunderstood key concepts like class, and entire fields of life including religion. His discourse is, furthermore, subjective and highly manipulative.
PZ (to Whiteman): Is it you I should renounce, Demon?
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
The term is almost over, and the next time your department tries to stiff you with an extra class, I hope it is possible to tell them to get stuffed.
They’re already trying it for Spring 2008 and I have told them to get stuffed three times. No response, which means they are telling me to get stuffed! On these matters, observe the activities of the G Bitch: http://g-bitch.com/?p=302
However, my focus with the Whiteman is not the university per se, at least not at this time. Perhaps it should be.
great post — and i wish for you tenure – may its magic create equality
Gracias azg and I’ve got it – and the thing is, it only solves *some* problems – that being a whole other topic! 🙂 But it does allow me to think and say things like, “Is it you I should renounce, Demon?” without having that mean I have to go on the market, change careers, etc. In this university one does not get to just say no to certain things in the way I’d like, but tenure does at least mean that you have the right to be in disagreement and they cannot retaliate at you for your ideas / the look in your eye! –Z
That is hot. I can’t stand that, “just be greatful” mind game for obvious reasons. So I am sending good energy your way.
And stuck with extra classes? Oh, my! I know that tug-of-war between the absentee landowner and the lowly professor. Good luck. At least you got a year in advance notice. One time I taught a sophmore level English class and found out about my extra classes on the day I started teaching with no money negotiated for my labour. That was an intense first day, not really for me, but for administration once I got to see the head of the department.