Eductation vs. training

[eachus@dr_no.mitre.org (Robert I. Eachus)]

In article <1993Apr1.040250.6671@seas.gwu.edu> mfeldman@seas.gwu.edu (Michael Feldman) writes:

  > Oh - have you ever run into the same managers I have? They don't
  > want _education_, they say. Too "academic", they say. Give us
  > TRAINING, they say. Sigh...

     Why do many managers want training not education?  Well, a major
goal of education is to teach students to think for themselves.  On
the other hand most training strives to get students to do things "by
the book."  If a manager tells an educated employee to do the
impossible, he is likely to object and suggest alternatives, while the
well trained underling will bang his head against the wall until told
to stop.

     I wish this was an April Fool's joke, but it is not.  Managers
who are having trouble coping don't want problem employees, and define
problem employees as anyone who brings new problems to their
attention.  Even if the problem is a warning which can avert a major
disaster, the bearer of bad tidings is just not appreciated.  (Reminds
me of the time I told my brother, "Dave, the car you are following is
parked." {Swerve}  I don't think he talked to me for weeks...)

--

					Robert I. Eachus

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