I'm new to pen-making and for me, it's a hobby, not a calling.
That said, I have been involved with a traditional, hands-on, high-skill Trade for over 30 years.
Personally, I am in favour of skill levels and recognition of those levels, especially if the criteria for achieving those levels is well establish and never deviated from. But this has been tried before in many different fields. You should know that. And all too often what results is hurt feelings and resentments.
We are not a society that puts a great deal of emphasis on taking the time to refine skills (years, usually) nor do we give much thought to the "pursuit of excellence" and all that it entails. We pride ourselves in our "tolerance" and "democratic" sentiments way too much...and way too much to accommodate any form of hierarchy or "ranking." It smacks of elitism to a great many of us
Yet practically, the pursuit of excellence is, by definition, elitist. It is a search for "good, better, best." As an example, titanium gold is demonstrably more durable than 24 caret gold. But choosing one over the other is, again, a choice that reflects on the maker's dedication to excellence. It is also a recognition that TG is "better" than 24K gold. Once that is established, those who choose to use 24K gold or satin or chrome kits will feel compelled to justify their choices and be offended when logic refutes them.
Think about this...because this is just the tip of the iceberg. And at every level and at every turn a multiplicity of just such scenarios present themselves.
In the end there's no escaping such issues; nor any concievable way to re-define the issues to make them more palatable to the greater number of folks interested in this field. Even calling it "educational"--as valid as that may be...especially at first--is just another euphemism for rank.
All that can reasonably be done is to set up this hierarchy, *embrace* this elitism, and let the chips fall where they may.
I'm not speculating when I put forth this proposition...I've seen it in my own Trade and I've seen it in other Trades. As I say, personally, I think establishing a hierarchy is a good thing --good for the Trade, good for business, good for creating the incentive to transcend the mundane. [Of course, my thinking tends to be a bit romantic, if not medieval, and I am, by long habit, oriented towards traditional Guilds] But the likely results ought to be recognized and entered into with eyes wide open if it's to be done at all.
Tight Stitches
DWFII--Member HCC
frommer@bootmaker.com
http://www.bootmaker.com
"Little Jack Dandiprat, in a white petticoat,
The longer he lives the shorter he grows."