RE: tutor perks

[Stephen Newmann <newmann@msmary.edu>]

Katie,
	What a significant observation!  Not only were you sensitive 
enough to have considered what to call your "associate" but you were 
observant enough to determine that the effect you sought actually 
accrued.  Of course, there is no way to be sure the "respect" afforded 
your associate was due to the terminology (although that is highly 
likely) but you had both the forsight and the sensitivity to carefully 
consider how you refered to her.  I think recognition as an equal is far 
more valuable to most people than is some token of appreciation.  But 
then, if it had been me, I might well have taken the pizza and run. ;)
			--stephen
 *====================================================================*
 |   Stephen Newmann                                                  |
 |   Department of Rhetoric & Writing     VOICE: (301) 447-5006       |
 |   Mount Saint Mary's College           E-MAIL: NEWMANN@MSMARY.EDU  |
 |   Emmitsburg, Maryland USA 21727-7799                              |
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On Thu, 22 Feb 1996, Latisha LaRue wrote:

> 	I hope I'm not taking this thread out of warp, but I wonder if "perks" 
> aren't also achieved in other ways.  Yesterday we had our first ever 
> outback/outpost writing lab out at the John Deere plant (yes, if you must 
> know, I DID wear the tractor pin) for employees who are taking college 
> course on-site from Clarke through a special new arrangment.  Anyway, 
> one of the goddesses (tutors) accompanied me and just as I was about to 
> introduce her to the "Academic Director of Industrial Services" who heads 
> up this special liason and to clients, it hit me to be very careful about 
> the terminology I use.  I introduced her as "my associate."  She perked up 
> and our Deere writing clients accorded her with the same respect for her 
> writing advice as they did me (and as they well should).  If I had 
> introduced her as "a student tutor" or as "someone who works for me" or 
> something like that, I don't think the effect would have been the same.  
> After nearly three very interesting yet exhausting hours, the goddess and 
> I chatted all the way back to Clarke about how it had gone.  She had 
> excellent insights about the writing needs of this special population and 
> when we arrived back on campus, she commented about how she couldn't wait 
> to get back to Deere next Wednesday.  I think this little bit of care in 
> language in introducing her did more as  a "perk" than anything we have 
> done as far as pizza parties, special computer privileges, or any honors, 
> and awards we've bestowed on the goddesses over the years.  I learned a 
> lot from subtlety yesterday.
> 	And on another note, I did ask them for backhoes for y'all, but 
> they said "not this year."  Shucks! After years of having seen the 
> Harleys lined up on the interstate between Dubuque and Milwaukee each 
> summer on their way to THE Harley convention, I thought it would be so swell 
> to see the backhoes lined up along the freeway.  In December when the 
> snow stopped local highway construction here, three such machines 
> appeared alongside the roadways with huge signs on them, each saying "Ho."
> 					Katie-Tishie
> *************************##################################*******************
> Katherine M. Fischer      Box 1569               319-588-8115
> English Department        Clarke College         319-588-6445
> Writing Center            Dubuque IA 52001       kfischer@keller.clarke.edu
> ##############################################################################
> On Thu, 22 Feb 1996 writingctr@kean.ucs.mun.ca wrote:
> 
> > Hey, Kate. This isn't really a perk, as such -- but it sure is cheap!
> > (I mean inexpensive. ;) ) How about little notes from time ot time
> > letting your staffmembers know you appreciate something in particular
> > about their work. You can keep track of who got a note, when, so that
> > everyone gets one by the end of term. 
> > 
> > Cheers,
> > 
> > Jacqueline Howse
> > Coordinator, Writing Centre
> > Memorial University of Newfoundland
> > St. John's, NF
> > writingctr@kean.ucs.mun.ca
> > 
>