29th June 2013, 08:45 PM
Quote:completion of certain qualificationssays Doug. --- and this qualification from the IfA ... how is this judged? the competance of a MIfA for example. as I say. I am a MIfA and I was given it because I was in teh Illustrators Association... not because I had proved myself competent to excavate? and the RO status. tell me just how often a company is checked. and ho many have been cautioned for bad practice... ?
To be honest - as it stands just now. the client is the one who actually wields a modicum of power over contractors. you cost them time and money and they will not hire you again. and the curatorial service is the one that decides whether the product is up to standard. their standard... ( unless someone can point me to the standard for a good report )
Quote:formally recognise the IfA as the setter and arbiter of archaeological standards..no trouble with that whatsoever. and the standard for a good report is...............................
Moving back from IfA bashing. as I believe they/we are the setter of standards. the question is down to one membership organisation being the ONLY club you can join to work in archaeology.
If I resign my MIfA and tender for a job in Wales. currently the answer is no you cannot work here. Now what has changed? are they saying I am not competent? are they saying that if I pay a membership fee. I could get work?
I will say it again. and say it loud. I would love people to want to join the IfA I would love the standards to be set and maintained by the IfA I want to see maverick nutters who call themselves archaeologists but are barely able to write a coherent sentence let alone a report be weeded out and barred BUT... and it is a big BUT. Don't force me to join to be allowed to work. IfA should be a badge of pride. not a button to be pinned on to get past the purity police.
I would recommend people join and be part of it. but those that don't should be thinking I should join because it is a benchmark of quality that clients will respect. rather than... feck... if I don't join I will not be able to work.
Quote: Representing some archaeologists, as David pointed outwhat he said
