Cloudy1′s Blog
Just another WordPress.com weblogD Schon’s “The Crisis of Confidence in Professional Knowledge”
Reflective comments on D Schon’s writing on “The Crisis of Confidence in Professional Knowledge”
The phrase “it’s not what you know it’s who you know” is the initial feeling I get from reading this chapter. Schon states that the professions are no longer about the knowledge that someone holds but their need for status and power but is this really the case?
Historically there was a clear social divide and therefore only the rich and affluent could access the educational system to join the professions. The less well educated needed to trust these professionals to help support them at times of need and due to lack of awareness the decisions made were accepted. So now that the class divide is proving to be hazy, the professionals are now being questioned, which didn’t occur in the past.
Does make you think about, why we as a society trust certain professions more than others. Does the word professional really have the same force behind it as it once historically did?
What does surprise me is that Schon states that “professionals themselves have shown signs recently of a loss of confidence in their claims to extraordinary knowledge” there appears to be no fact based comment. Surely the professionals are being detrimental to themselves by stating this and if it were so we would be hearing more about people leaving professions because of these reasons. Mostly we hear about people leaving professions is due to the fact that, the work they are knowledgeable about and dedicated to, the bureaucracy and form filling have taken over their ability to get on and do the job. Is this more about dissatisfaction of those “professionals” who have failed in their work or abused or even faked their status?
Changes in priorities within society, the way we live and work means that the knowledge to deal within this world needs to change, but are the older professions willing to change as quickly? The point made by James Gustafson re: the “clergy man’s dilemma” backs this comment. This particular profession is built upon static beliefs, regardless of societies changes.
Can society really blame the professionals for all that has gone wrong? Surely we as members of the society have a obligation to question others and be more aware of the influences upon the successes or failure of sections within the society?
Knowing everything would be impossible so the provision of regulatory committees as a means by which professions can be audited, but this should not be to the detriment of the provision given.
Schon also states that politicians are professionals, however I disagree with this due to the fact that the reason they are MP’s is not, initially due to their knowledge but due to them having similar values and ethics to the voters.
Society is all about status – you just have to look at the numerous TV reality shows that fill our screens.
Monetary gain is also prevalent and although today’s students of professional sectors state they are in the profession due to values etc I can’t help but feel that if the money wasn’t so good neither would the uptake. Historically and currently professional careers are definitely the “most coveted and remunerative” and these are the main reasons for current students pursuing certain careers, with Schon stating that these students are finding professionals are not in keeping with the values they are supposed to promote it comes across as a bit hypocritical.
In the current climate the power of the professionals has been abused, no more so than with the recent global financial crisis. This epitomises what Schon mentions and seems to be coming to fruition re: the government now looking at regulatory options for such professions/ sectors of employment but who will we trust to carry out this role. Will we forever be checking the checkers and where will it stop?
It’s interesting, I just heard again the other day that there were always bursaries for sons of poor families to study for the ministry – but I think this was quite an exception, and traditionally you did have to come from a rich and privileged family to have any hope of entering the professions.
The very word is so elitist!!! We are all so human, and we all covet the status! But, it’s true, I wonder how enticing even that would be without the remuneration?!