I was moved by Tammie Bob’s article on part-time college teachers (“Will Teach for Food,” July 12) and sympathize with the quote attributed to David Campbell that “there’s a strong anti-intellectual disease in this country.”
This disease is caused by the public’s natural discomfort with the unknown. The disease waxes and wanes. America is now at the height of anti-intellectualism because we’re a country now preoccupied with consensus and team building, whereas intellectualism is an individual sport.
– Dan Batzel, Glenview
As a former part-time art instructor in the emeritus program at Oakton Community College, I found your story to be very sad but true. What troubled me about the article was that some of the teachers were quoted as saying that they accepted the minimum pay and poor working conditions because they loved to teach. This is ridiculous! If we go on that premise, then if you really hate your work, you should be paid millions.
I am truly sorry to read about the plight of these teachers, but if enough of them feel that they don’t want to organize and speak up for their rights as important people who can have a great influence on our future generations, I am afraid that these conditions will continue for a long time. Everyone will lose–the student, the teacher and the whole society.
– Beverly Ellstrand, Park Ridge
I’m a sophomore in college who has heard many part-time teachers complain about the low wages and zero benefits they receive for their hard work. The vast majority are good at what they do and clearly love it. I applaud those good part-time teachers who try to get full-time appointments. They shouldn’t give up.
– Elizabeth Medina, North Chicago
Colleges and universities for many years have used and abused part-timers to balance their budgets. Adjunct instructors have become the “battered wives” of the system, coming back again and again. It certainly is no surprise that education professionals discourage their own children from pursuing careers in academia.
– Phil Hofreiter, Sterling
SUPERFLUOUS FASHION
Leah Eskin’s story on Nadya (“A World Apart,” July 12) was intriguing, but would have been made much more compelling by more photos of her fashions. The irony is that the very next article in the Magazine included your typical layout on clothes most of us would never wear–totally superfluous (as usual).
What were the editors thinking?
– Robyn Michaels, Chicago
INTEREST IN KINGS
It has been intriguing to watch the interest stirred by your May 24 “Midwest Portrait” photo of the Revolutionary War cemetery near Kings, Ill.
I grew up in the countryside near Kings and Rochelle, and my mother is currently the secretary at Kings’ small K-8 grade school. I wanted to let your readers know that this “Monument to Freedom” has not been neglected by the good people of this small farming community.
The cemetery stands on the edge of a field owned by a local farmer, who does not wish to have his name mentioned, but takes the time to keep the cemetery neat and free of weeds. This act speaks to me not only of the patriotism that remains alive in our nation, but of the kindness and thoughtfulness of the people of this community.
– Hannah R. Ruehlman, Chicago
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