Whether you call it retesting, recertifying, or continuing education, the question is not if it can be done, but what effect this will have on our membership. ASE rectification and continuing education is needed, as are CPA's, Nurses,etc, not only for government requirements, but also because employers look for members who are recertified and have the continuing. These employers recognize the importance of having certified people do the work. But in our industry, for the most part, it doesn't seem to make any difference. Because of PTG marketing efforts, there is a small up tick in the number of new RPT's, but the primary reason most Associates upgrade is still for personal satisfaction, not because they think they will get a better job, or they will get more customers. And the main reason why more colleges and universities are not asking, much less requiring, RPT's, is a lack of knowledge. As we have just seen, the music department of a major university, which is an all Steinway school with over 140 pianos, is not requiring the applicants to be an RPT. Before we go to the trouble of recertifying, which in itself should not be that difficult to do, we want to make sure the RPT's are willing to do the work. One way they will do that is when universities, schools, churches, dealers, and the general public, starts asking for their credentials. But these institutions won't start asking until they understand it is in their best interest to do so. And the only way they will do that is for the PTG to educate them. In other words, the PTG needs to do a much better job of promoting who we are, along with developing a better continuing education program for it's members, which shows we do care about advancing the art of piano technology. Just my 3 cents worth.( Cost of living is higher in Hawaii). Wim -----O riginal Message----- From: Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu> To: caut <caut at ptg.org> Sent: Mon, Jul 26, 2010 1:11 pm Subject: Re: [CAUT] Re Retesting Hi John, (To all, I'm also thinking about CAUT Curriculum in this thread.) like your thoughts below, and if we were in a perfect world where nobody heated, nor grew old, nor had a bad day, it would probably work. But when you dd a pass/fail you add pressure, then the soap operas begin... What happens when someone fails? Do you offer retakes? If a person fails does hat person lose RPT status? What is the appeal/grievance system? Etc. etc. The evil is certainly in the details, and if everyone passed every time that would lso indicate a bogus system. If it is just an "attendance required" what if they sleep through it, but ttend? I saw a tenured High School teacher in a "required certification eeting" where attendance was mandatory and he and a friend played chess the ntire two hours, yet he got the required "whatever-it-was" because he was here... rankly, I wonder if all RPTs could pass the tests again. For fun I frequently est myself against the SAT, just to keep on my toes. My score is NOT 100% every ime <G> but it is usually pretty good. Some days are better than others. Once ot long ago I got less than the 80%! (FAILED!!!) It ticked me off so I mmediately retested myself and got in the 90s. But isn't that like cheating at olitaire? I wonder how I'll do at age 95? Keep thinking. It keeps us all on our toes. est, im Busby If not retesting, why not a class at conventions with a test. he classes could be more involved than the original tests. Covering ifferent areas each year. t would increase the attendance at conventions. ttendees would be advancing there knowledge. There could be a book that ould be stamped each time. The book having been issued when the RPT status as reached. his would prove to all, that progress was being made, and the person was ot stagnating, content with the initial pass. ohn Ross indsor, Nova Scotia, Canada rpiano at win.eastlink.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20100726/2c6085b7/attachment-0001.htm>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC