Re: New Curriculum

[Guest guest]

Interestingly, I heard a commercial on the radio for plumbers today... it regarded licensing. It stressed that people needed to demand licensed plumbers, and ask to see their licenses as licensed plumbers had more education, more training and because of that could perform better, do more by doing less, and be more efficient. Anyone else heard this radio spot?

Mike

-----Original Message-----From: BARBER Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2000 3:30 PMTo: egroupsSubject: [texasems-L] Re: New CurriculumGene and others, Having attended the meeting and others, I felt a need to comment. It may have appeared because of my statements that I have aligned with the educators and vote blindly on this issue. Of course that is not true. Having been in EMS a few years, I feel that this profession must move forward. Education is the key. I also have when serving on the EMS Subcommittee voiced my concerns that non college based programs must continue to exist. Provided they have quality programs. No finger pointing here! I at the present time do not know who has and does not have a quality program. I wanted to make sure that these organizations could exist for as long as they had the ability to put their programs on. I also could see Leons point about the cost and the problems that stem from that cost. I do think that Leon and other administrators when pressed to the mat can and do overcome the cost issue when the quality of their systems need to be maintained. Further I believe that if cost is the issue, a compromise could be reached that would allow the folks that could not send their folks to the college program that was utilizing the 1200 hour DOT course, could then begin their own program and teach the new DOT course with the minimum hours of 650. My point is this: We cannot expect (dictate that) the colleges to teach minimum hours courses. If we don't like what they teach, we should be allowed to have our own program. Are we prepared to do that? What would the cost be then? Years ago, we turned the ECA, EMT, EMT-I and Paramedic training over to our local college. We did so because it allowed us to obtain more courses for our area than we could do ourselves. We were able to do so because the college was willing to work with us. Of course it took compromise on everyone's part. I for one had to stop bitching at the college every time one of my employees came whining to me about the college being unfair. (Usually I found my employee was not giving 100%) Will I continue to use the college? As long as they meet me half way and teach quality courses. I don't expect them to teach minimum level courses. I don't want minimum level paramedics. We have an opportunity to work towards a compromise in the near future. I do think that Leon and others would be willing to meet and work towards a compromise. I for one would be willing to do so. Henry Barber WEGandy@... wrote: For those who think I have been too blunt and too critical, thanks for your input. You're probably right. I offer no apologies, however, because my comments reflect my view of life from my perspective. There are, I am sure, other perspectives. For the record, I have often been the one to offer compromises in the past and negotiate settlements. I have put many miles on my horse travelling to meetings where people would not give an inch to compromise. I am always willing to compromise within reason. For the record, I attempted to speak with Mr. Leon Charpentier Monday afternoon to see if we could fashion a workable solution and he refused to talk to me. Also for the record, I will go anywhere, meet with him or anyone else at any reasonable time, and do everything within my power to negotiate a settlement that will work. There may be shortages of paramedics in some areas, but overall there are people wanting to go towork. There may be a lack of programs in some areas, but the obvious answer is to hire already certified firefighters and paramedics. There are alternatives to training people while on the payroll. Again, I know I offend some with the sharpness of my comments. Nobody listens to Rush Limbaugh or Don Imus because they are soothing and bland. At least I get people stirred up, and that's what I want to do. Now that I've done it, there will be a period of blessed silence whilst the ball is taken over by others. I will be listening and watching. I would be most happy to act as a mediator; yes, I can put my positions aside and work with others to obtain compromise. It's not my way or the highway. But there has to be actual dialog. I suggest that all parties make the following list before the next effort at compromise: 1. Positions you absolutely cannot give up. In other words, things you can't under any circumstances live without. 2. Things you'd like to have but could give and take on. 3. Things you can give up and still live with yourself. 4. Go back to Item 1 and see how much of it you can move to Item 2. 5. Forget your rankings for at least 3 days during which you don't address the issues. Then go back and work on your rankings and see if you can make any changes. Be reasonable with Item 1. Remember, it is not things you WANT, but things you absolutely cannot under any circumstances function without. There had better be good reasons for all items listed under Item 1. That's the work that needs to be done by all parties before any meaningful negotiation can take place. Now going to sleep for awhile on this subject. Gene Gandy, JD, LP ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Accurate impartial advice on everything from laptops to tablesaws. http://click./1/664/3/_/4981/_/949006679/ -- Check out your group's private Chat room -- /ChatPage?listName= & m=1

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