this is very well written, and i completely agree with you. however there are many out there who are will do the job for not much money hence the status quo.
i wish you luck with your search.
>From: Lori Allen <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: FW: Summer staffing dilemma
>Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 12:58:24 -0500
>
>Hello Listers,
>
>Thank you for this thread. I am interested in the summer staffing dilemma
>topic, however, I am interested from the opposite point of view. I am
>seeking a part time job in a museum, but for the wages you (and MANY others)
>are offering, I would be paying to work. I am getting discouraged and
>disgusted (again, see below).
>
>As an undergraduate student, I was self-supporting and often worked multiple
>part-time jobs to compensate for the low wage I earned at my gallery job I
>needed to gain experience. After college, I left the field completely
>because I couldn't find a job that would pay the rent even though it was
>full -time employment. I am now returning to grad school this August after
>9 years to pursue my MA in History with a Graduate Certificate in Museum
>Studies. I have a fellowship that covers most of tuition and I am married
>with a child, but I need a part time job to offset the cost of child care
>and communing and other miscellaneous expenses. I need $9 / hour just to
>break even for child care, taxes, gas, etc. I can easily make that at
>Starbucks, but I am consistently offered $5-$6 / hour at museums, even
>though I have run my own business for the last 6 years. Obviously, I am
>over-qualified and a mature, dedicated worker, who is willing to take a pay
>cut, but the $6 / hour wages are ridiculous. I couldn't even afford to work
>for that 10 years ago.
>
>When is the museum community going to realize they can't continue to depend
>on people who don't really need to support themselves (independently wealthy
>/ bored housewives / retirees) for their employee base. More and more
>college students are self-supporting and if we are truly trying to be
>community oriented and introduce the museum world to non-traditional
>audiences, then we need to be prepared for when those new museum visitors
>(and their children) want to pursue careers in museums. We need to have
>something besides "it's a cool place to work" to offer. The internet
>companies offer that AND high wages and you don't need a masters or PhD. I
>love art and history and want to spend the rest of my life working in the
>museum field, but if things don't change soon, you'll find me in a green
>apron relishing my free coffee, health benefits and stock options (all
>offered to those working at lease 20 hours a wk). My family does come first
>and I will not sacrifice my daughter's needs because my job doesn't pay the
>bills.
>
>Lori Allen
>Graduate Student,
>University of Missouri - St. Louis
>
>=========================================================
>Important Subscriber Information:
>
>The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
>If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).