I love my job....

I love my job, I love my job, I love my job......

And so goes my mantra which I chant every year at this time when the Sunshine List is published.

I might work at a college; I might be a respectable instructor in the fine world of academia. And yet, my partner and my combined income would never get us on that list. I will probably never make it halfway to the old boys' club - not even with this MA which I am working my tail off to acquire.

My head spins trying to fathom how people in my office that teach an extra class than I do, can make over twice what I do.....Those in question of course scored their positions at a time when Masters degrees were novelties and colleges were growing. Now, college job postings for permanent positions state that a PhD is  recommended, and colleges go out of the way to avoid hiring full time faculty. (The creation of the 10-month maximum at Ontario colleges is a direct response to the union's agreement that employees working 12 consecutive months must be offered a permanent position.)

It pains me and fills me with disappointment every year, that so many people out there can live such out-of-reach lifestyles, but also the shocking lack of balance in the system: college presidents make twice what our premiere does.

There isn't much else to say on the topic as change is out of the hands of the ones most affected.

For the moment, I'll just keep reminding myself how much I love my job, and I love my students, and I love my faculty......

JM