I believe that the discussion is about the cost of an education and your
ability to repay that cost within the museum field.  After the cost of
undergrad, and grad school I have accumulated a lot of debt.  If you are
trying to pay off this debt the salaries that museums offer make them a
difficult choice.  No matter how much someone may love what they do, when
you have bills to pay there are practical considerations to be made.  After
I had received my MA in museum science I had about 50,000 in debt from 6
years of school.  I have friends with similar amounts who are trying to
start families.  We do love what we do, but what you are seeing is
frustration, especially when you see what similar education pays in other
fields, and you are seeing a call for guidance, support.
Your two cents are welcome, but only if it is cash.  Otherwise let people
vent.

Steven Bush

-----Original Message-----
From: heather macdonald [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 11:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: MUSEUM-L Digest - 16 Jun 2000 to 17 Jun 2000 (#2000-167)


I don't want to be rude here, but I just had to add my two cents.  If the
only reason you enter a profession is for the salary, then you won't make a
very good employee for that profession.  In order to make your mark and to
contribute anything worthwhile, you have to really believe in what you
do,and have a real love for the job.  The museum field is not high-paying,
but it has a really dynamic workforce, of people who are making a
difference.  Take a good look at anyone who is really successful in this
field or any field, and you will see someone who is not payed anything near
equivalent to the work they do, but also someone who is really passionate,
and devoted to the work they do.  Those are the people we need in our
museums, and not people who are in it just for the money.



>From: Steven Bush <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: MUSEUM-L Digest - 16 Jun 2000 to 17 Jun 2000 (#2000-167)
>Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 10:05:01 -0500
>
>I felt the same way and now I am law school. I am borrowing more money than
>those salaries a year with most going to tuition. I don't know that I was
>"depressed" enough to make me go to law school, but the low starting salary
>affected my decision.
>
>Steven Bush
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: lara anne taylor [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 9:56 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: MUSEUM-L Digest - 16 Jun 2000 to 17 Jun 2000 (#2000-167)
>
>
>I don't mean to sound rude, but didn't you realize the lack of currency
>that an art/art history degree has before you started your graduate
>program?
>
>I agree, it is depressing--enough to make anybody go to law school.
>
>On Sat, 17 Jun 2000, penelope kelly wrote:
>
> > "Salary in the mid to upper twenties."
> >
> > gosh these salary postings are depressing.  here i am, working my way
> > through college as a custodian at a high school.  now entering graduate
> > school,i read the job postings on this list only to find that after i
> > have finished my master's degree i will be able to get a job with the
> > *same salary* i am now earning as a janitor .. only i will owe thirty
> > thousand + in financial aid.  wow.  i am eager.
> >
> > penelope kelly
> >
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to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
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