To all: I've read this thread and agreed with some of the writers, and rolled my eyes at others. There has been a lot of apparent arrogance, and a lot of apparent misunderstanding. I certainly didn't know about an EdD, or what it meant, much less the distinction between an EdD and PhD. I think the point that gets missed is we all have our own distinct reasons for choosing our paths, some relating to passion, some to circumstances. I, for example, started as a nursing student, then went pre-pharmacy, which led to botany courses and ecology. That led to a dual MS in forest ecology and (industrial) forest products. Now a botanist, I was an ecologist in Great Basin rangeland riparian systems. Who knew? In spite of the bureaucratic obesity, working for an agency was something I wanted to do, thought I might have something to offer. My former boss, a PhD, encouraged me to go the Doctoral route, but at my age, and with nothing in particular calling to me to justify that level of focus, there was no good reason to pursue that. I could work hard enough, and I certainly am intelligent enough, to pursue a PhD, if I chose.
Others like to teach. They like to help people learn, and to develop new methods for enhancing that process. Perhaps they like a teaching institution, or a junior college, as their chosen environment. Perhaps they know what they want to do, know they don't necessarily want a career in research, yet have to remain competitive in a glutted market. We don't all feel the calling or 'passion' to add some incremental piece of knowledge to the trophic relationships of some obscure nematode in a remote highland of Borneo. Or to condescend to teach in order to hold the research position that gives us self-value. Agencies do hire more PhDs, because the market is tight, more people who might have wanted NR jobs feel the need to become competitive, and take it to the next level. Some are pretty good. Some with an MSc are pretty good. Some with a BSc are pretty good. Most of them have been very smart. Most of them have worked very hard, regardless of the paths they chose. regards, david David Baker, Botanist Tiller Ranger District Umpqua National Forest Tiller, OR 97484 541-825-3149
