Jump to content
Objectivism Online Forum

Is it Wrong to Work for a Public College?

Rate this topic


Nacirema

Recommended Posts

There's a question that I've been trying to find the answer for in my personal life, so first, quick background introduction.

The college I attend is essentially an off-shoot of another college which has a need for a student worker, and because someone who worked there had recommended based off of my past work, they asked for a resume. I submitted one, and I got a call a few days ago that they want me to come on board as a student worker.

I was thrilled, but then I realized/remembered something: the college is a public college. So, I'm now trying to sift through an ethical dilemma. If I take the job after all, am I being immoral? Or does this fall under the same idea as scholarships and attending public universities in the first place?

Basically, as long as I don't plan on heading up a government branch and making that my permanent place of employment/compromise my ideals, does that make the action non-evil?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is immoral to advocate initiation of force to subsidize education, medicine, development of pharmaceuticals or consumer electronics, manufacture of cars, and the list goes on. It is not immoral to work for the government, unless the job is itself to initiate force against innocents. The fact that the government has insinuated its tentacles everywhere does not mean that you must stop living.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am interested in other's thoughts about this topic.

In the next year I will start work on my master's in education, my undergrad is in nuclear engineering. I aspire to found a private school, but from my analysis the best job in association with my values is teaching secondary high school (physics) for a number of years.

I had an unrefined/casual conclusion similar to Odden's, that as long as I wasn't the police or lawmaker forcing the school attendance, I could teach at that school and still live in accordance with morality. Am I in denial?

Edited by dhthomps
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think either is an "immoral" option.

Nor would I think it would be evil for someone to work for a public school (K-12, for example). I agree with David's reasoning on this. In neither case are you trying to force others to pay for your education, or you working at the school.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think either is an "immoral" option.

Nor would I think it would be evil for someone to work for a public school (K-12, for example).

However, you should consider supporting private schools by choosing it over a government school. I'm sure there are other benefits to not working in a socialist industry.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

However, you should consider supporting private schools by choosing it over a government school. I'm sure there are other benefits to not working in a socialist industry.

The moral advantages of working at a private school are outweighed (in my opinion) by the average pay being significantly less at private schools. As a side there are some private schools that pay well more than a public school, and it is my eventual goal to find employment at such an institution.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...