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[ab_grp]

Math, in fact, is pretty immaterial in accounting.

What most people think of as math is, in fact, pretty immaterial in math.

Ain't that the truth!

Some of the debate on this thread made me think of a piece from August in Inside Higher Ed, "The Innumeracy of Intellectuals": http://insidehighered.com/views/2008/08/04/orzel.  It inspired a similar debate.

[wegie]

Math, in fact, is pretty immaterial in accounting.

What most people think of as math is, in fact, pretty immaterial in math.

True. Which is why I never trust an artithmetical statement made by my husband.

[jacaranda_]

In English, there is a need for bodies to teach the lower level composition classes, so the grad programs are kept fairly large to supply that demand

Something along the same lines (maybe) that has always puzzled me. When people do dissertations in English lit, do they really understand that they could possibly be teaching intro to Great Books or something similar to large classes of students who don't care?

I can't imagine having spent years studying Poe, or Waugh, etc. and being entirely wrapped up in that, and then realizing I'm teaching a bunch of snotty nosed Biffs and Ashleighs English Lit Survey 101 for the foreseeable future. Bless those forumites who do, and who do it with a smile, but is this really what you thought you'd be doing when you were struggling with your dissertation?

There may be a few sheltered geniuses at Yale whose advisors are all over 60 who don't pick up the realities of what teaching responsibilities are like, but the vast majority of us know what we're in for.  And honestly, the obligation to teach the broad surveys means that I have the opportunity to read or reread stuff outside of my field, which just means I'm more broadly educated in my field.  Teaching non-majors can also be refreshing.  The pre-meds who are taking 3 sciences classes with labs love being able to read a few books and write about them.  Too much specialization for any of us can be suffocating.  The one semester when I taught courses only in my specific subfield, I thought I would lose my mind.  So, I appreciate the props, but it's pretty easy to do with a smile!

[kedves]

There may be a few sheltered geniuses at Yale whose advisors are all over 60 who don't pick up the realities of what teaching responsibilities are like, but the vast majority of us know what we're in for. 
...

There is only one person at Yale whose work I know well, and although his syllabi are online, I hope he never teaches again so I can learn more from his incredible research and theory.  I thought he was emeritus because of his stature in my field, but I don't know if he's even 60 after seeing his photo.  Mmmm...what were we talking about?

[mathy]

I'm surprised that nobody has brought up the fact that in math and the sciences a large proportion of Ph.D.s are earned by foreign students.  I can only speak to the market in math, but if we have a search and aren't too specific about the area of research we tend to get between 200 and 300 applicants.  While some of these may already have tt-jobs, the vast majority don't and thus really need to find a job.  Since most people do not apply to this many jobs I would guess that about half of our applicants do not get jobs.
I would also guess that the foreigners are overrepresented in the bottom half since their cover letters often suggest they aren't fluent in english and that they do not understand what a SLAC is looking for.

While some of these people will then turn to jobs in industry, many of them will return to their home countries.  Much of the oversupply of mathematicians leave the country never to be seen on the US job market again.

[expatinuk]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this... but this quote from another thread is one of the major reasons why the Humanities are over supplied.

[snip]  I think as academics one of our few perks is that we have some give in scheduling.   [snip]Many of us went into academia in part because it is more family friendly and flexible.

The Humanities tend to attract more women than men, and as women have continued with their education to the Ph.D. level the 'value' of the degree has fallen because of the over supply of applicants for TT positions. Many women HAVE gone into academe with the thought that it would be easier to juggle career and family because of a flexible schedule.

[polly_mer]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this... but this quote from another thread is one of the major reasons why the Humanities are over supplied.

[snip]  I think as academics one of our few perks is that we have some give in scheduling.   [snip]Many of us went into academia in part because it is more family friendly and flexible.

The Humanities tend to attract more women than men, and as women have continued with their education to the Ph.D. level the 'value' of the degree has fallen because of the over supply of applicants for TT positions. Many women HAVE gone into academe with the thought that it would be easier to juggle career and family because of a flexible schedule.

Well, I won't flame you for this because I'm looking for an academic job in part because of the flexible schedule.  I'd much rather have the option of goofing around Thursday afternoon and spending Sunday morning writing.  I work much better under a schedule that isn't 9 to 5 five days a week with two off.  With the new baby, I am even more convinced that a flexible "work any fifty hours a week you like" schedule is in the best interests of my family.