[CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program?

[Jim Busby]

Fred,

But do you really think that another child swapped with Wolfgang at
birth would have achieved the same heightened accomplishments? 

Jim


-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Fred S Sturm
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 1:35 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program?

On Thu, 8 Nov 2007 12:07:55 -0700
  Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu> wrote:
>Fred, Jeff,
> Here's a theory that bears repeating;
> Stephen King, the author, claims (I'm paraphrasing) 
>"There are about 5
> levels in any art or craft. Level one is someone who 
>can't do it well
> and never will, no matter how much training. Level Five 
>is a genius
> level that one is basically born with. The 
>Michelangelo's, Mozart's,
> etc. No matter how much you strive, work, etc. most can 
>never achieve
> this level and those born with it do it almost 
>naturally. All others
> fall in levels 2 - 4. (He considers himself a 4) One 
>with a certain
> amount of talent and a lot of hard work can progress 
>upwards in the 2-4,
> and that's' what we do". 

Hi Jim,

Fair enough as far as it goes. But, in fact, Mozart was 
not born knowing how to play the Klavier, nor how to 
compose. His father taught him. (Yes, he learned very 
young, and very rapidly, but HE LEARNED. It wasn't there 
at birth, and had he not been exposed to music, I think it 
is safe to say he would not have gone in that direction). 
Michelangelo was not born knowing how to use a hammer and 
chisel to sculpt, nor how to paint. He apprenticed for 
years. Regardless of innate talent, skill, "genius," or 
whatever you want to call it, a process of learning has to 
take place. I would say that those levels 1 to 5 are 
simply variations in capacity and "speed." It may take a 5 
less time to get there, but less time is never no time at 
all. Same for effort required. More or less effort, but 
definitely some effort.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico