Re: cert discussion

[dengland@alarismed.com (Dave England)]

 > Here are some questions of interest about certification:
 > 
 > 	0) Which of the following best describes your attitude towards 
 > certification?
 > 		a) It's the best idea since sliced bread.
 > 		b) Sure, why not?
 > 		c) It's an OK idea, but there are more important things SAGE
 > 		could be doing.
 > 		d) It's fundamentally meaningless and silly.
 > 		e) It's actively harmful to the profession.
 > 		f) It's morally wrong.
 > 
 > 	If you answered E or F, please justify your answer. If you answered
 > anything else, SAGE might as well go on working on certification.
 
I would answer C but I'm sorry but I can't agree with your conclusion. Here's
why I do not think SAGE should go ahead and work on certification at this time.
1) It's a big undertaking, I'm not sure we have the resources in place
   to pull it off.
2) Why not learn how to gather and apply our resources on a simpler project
   first, like training and knowledge databases. Like I said previously we
   only get to send our SAs to one class/conference a year.  This means most
   learning is on the job.  I would love an on-line learning/training system
   that included a test that I could grade for my SAs or pay to have it
   graded for me.
3) It seems to me like we would be putting the cart before the horse.  My issue
   is there is a lack of skilled SAs out there and a lack of good sources for
   learning.  Rob and Evi's Usenix classes are good but we need more from
   other sources. 

I wonder how much of this whole certificate issue is driven by a feeling
of a lack of respect for SAs or by SAs who desire more pay and believe a
certificate is the way to get it.  Wouldn't we serve ourselves and our
customers/employeers/SAGE members better by initially ensuring that the
learning and training methods are in place before we get caught up in a
paper chase?

On the other side, I wonder how much of the anti-certification issue is
driven by senior SA's fearing that junior less knowledgeable SAs with a
handful of certificates would suddenly become more valuable then they are.
As a member of the senior group, I think "training first" would be more
acceptable to those of us that have a lot of knowledge but not a lot of time
or inclination for classes.

This would put more SAs on an even footing. Then we could figure out how
to certify everyone.  Hopefully certification then would be done by passing
a test that I could take remotely. 

I am flatly opposed to a certification process that only entails completion
of courses to earn certicates.  I would then say that certification is
"morally wrong" as it would damage my ability to earn a living for my family
Could you imagine what my employeer would say if I had to take a course in
sendmail to get a certification, even though I'm already supposed to be
knowledgeable in this area and have maintained email for years.

dave