Week of September 17

What kind of work might be out there for these women today? You will note that one of these three women is computer savvy, and, indeed, has education beyond the high school level. Two internet sources where she (or, for that matter, the other two women) might look are Craig’s List and Monster.com. Craig's List is organized by community, and not every community is listed. Cleveland Ohio is, however. and so is Akron/Canton Browse through the list of full and part time jobs for which Debra might qualify, and check out the wages offered. Akron Ohio is represented on Monster.com. To find the posts there, go to the home page and click on the select job category and select location drop-down lists and then the search button. What kind of jobs are available and at what salary level? Look at both full and part time jobs and at permanent and temporary ones. Make a list of those for which they might apply, and consider how many hours per week they’d have to work to meet their expenses.

If you have time (I hope you do) check out your own community. Is there work available for these women? International students might check out any Rhode Island community.

The headnote to this chapter is also the title of the documentary Harvest of Shame. perhaps the most famous documentary ever made. Watch it before you read the shapter. Allow yourself at least an hour, you may want to watch parts of it more than once. If anyone could claim the title of father of the documentary it would probably be Edward R. Murrow. Some of you may have seen George Clooney's film biography of him, Good Night and Good Luck, nominated for a slew of Academy Awards. Shipler has chosen to title his chapter about migrant workers in honor of Murrow, beginning it with a quote from Murrow’s most famous documentary. Now that you've seen it, read what life was like for migrant workers about 50 years later. What progress has been made since 1960? What remains to be done? Lest one think the problems of migratory workers is something present in other parts of the country only, numbers of them visit Rhode Island every fall to pick apples.

This chapter and the one which follows may be the two saddest chapters in Shipler’s book, yet even here, there are moments where people might dare to hope. As you read chapter 5, I’d like to have you think a little about how you felt when you first applied for a job? I’m going to ask people about this. I’m curious, for one thing, how many of you found your first employment by “networking”...working for a friend of parents, or perhaps for your parents themselves. I’m also wondering if that made a difference in the application process or in your first experiences on the worksite. I’m hoping volunteers will tell us a little about their experiences.

What happens when there is a gulf between classes? What kinds of misconceptions do employers and employees have about each other when they sit on opposite sides of the class divide? You’ll find a number of different narratives in this chapter. You’ll also encounter employers who approach the problem in very different ways. Which, in your estimation is the best, and has the best insight into how to work creatively with the working poor–not only for their benefit, but for the benefit of the business, as well. Which is most captive of his own stereotypes? Why can the workplace be an especially daunting (scary) place for those in poverty?

Bosses versus workers

When I take a long time, I am slow.

When my boss takes a long time, he is thorough.

When I don't do it, I am lazy.

When my boss doesn't do it, he's too busy.

When I do it without being told, I'm trying to be smart.

When my boss does the same, that is initiative.

When I please my boss, that's brown-nosing.

When my boss pleases his boss, that's co-operating.

When I do good, my boss never remembers.

When I do wrong, he never forgets.