6th August 2007, 02:08 PM
Posted by Muddy:
Protecting the name is not about academic respectability - it is about professional respectability.
Any enforceable means of protecting the name would need to take account not only of academic qualifications but also of other criteria relating to experience and achievement. There is no reason why a relevant degree should be an absolutely necessary requirement. It could also incorporate CPD requirements and periodic review provisions, to ensure that skills are kept up to date. And it would have disciplinary provsions that would enable incompetents to be struck off, however well qualified academically - that is the whole point.
This is all about protecting the name for professional archaeologists. Effects on amateurs should be minimal - after all, they will mostly not want to call themselves 'Archaeologists'; they will define themselves by their main job. One of my hobbies astronomy, on which I spend a lot of time, effort and money, but I don't call myself an 'Astronomer'.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
Quote:quote:Archaeology has always been famous for providing opportunities for those without acdemic qualifications resulting in some outstanding archaeologists (our mr hosty for example, god bless him)! One has only to look at the IFA membership book to reealise this. Conversely, there are MIFAs, AIFAs etc qualified to the hilt with BA's MA's, PhD's whom really don't know a soil change from a clothes change... a munsell colour to a hair colour..... Is the profession really going so far backward up their #### in striving acdemic respectibility???
Protecting the name is not about academic respectability - it is about professional respectability.
Any enforceable means of protecting the name would need to take account not only of academic qualifications but also of other criteria relating to experience and achievement. There is no reason why a relevant degree should be an absolutely necessary requirement. It could also incorporate CPD requirements and periodic review provisions, to ensure that skills are kept up to date. And it would have disciplinary provsions that would enable incompetents to be struck off, however well qualified academically - that is the whole point.
This is all about protecting the name for professional archaeologists. Effects on amateurs should be minimal - after all, they will mostly not want to call themselves 'Archaeologists'; they will define themselves by their main job. One of my hobbies astronomy, on which I spend a lot of time, effort and money, but I don't call myself an 'Astronomer'.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished