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From: lmebgo@eds.ericsson.se (Bengt G{llmo, L M Ericsson, Stockholm, Sweden)
Newsgroups: comp.edu,misc.education
Subject: Re: What is a professional?
Message-ID: <13701@eds.ericsson.se>
Date: 11 Sep 90 14:59:47 GMT
References: <1991@apctrc.UUCP>
Lines: 32

In article <1991@apctrc.UUCP>, zjrs10@gpss14.trc.amoco.com 
(J. Rusty Sandschaper) writes:

>   Companies and organizations have traditionally classified individuals
> as either professionals or non-professionals.  The measure of which has
> usually been based on a 4+ yr. degree. As non-professionals obtain
> experience and training in computer programming and usage the following
> questions arise. 
> 
>   Can these individuals at some point become professionals?
>   .....

As an aside, I wonder if it has occurred to you that people who have not 
grown up in that tradition, when they first run into it may find it 
strange and possibly insulting to 'non-professionals'. My secretary is a 
professional secretary, she certainly does not wish to be regarded as an 
amateur. If I cannot fix the plumbing in my house myself, I call upon a 
professional plumber, usually without a 4+ year degree. Also, a pro-
fessional athlete is one who knows what he is doing so well that he can 
make a living out of it, i.e. one of the best, with or without a degree.

I think this and similar, sharp classifications of employees in a company
(in Sweden we draw a very clear line between white collar and blue collar 
workers) are outdated anyway!

-----
Bengt Gallmo                        e-mail: lmebgo@eds.ericsson.se
Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson    phone:  +46 8 719 1940
S-126 25 STOCKHOLM                  fax:    +46 8 719 3988
SWEDEN

Sometimes a majority only means that all the fools are on the same side!