September 13, 2000
John Q. Architect

Shame on the NCARB... shame, shame, shame on the NCARB. Who or what agency and/or organization is paying these people off? And more importantly, why are they getting away with this? Let me tell you a little about architecture... more specifically, let me tell you a little bit about the NCARB's "IDP" program.

IDP. This acronym couldn't be more appropriate. What this stands for [and the reason I know this is that I looked it up on their web site] is "I'm Dumb & Powerless", alternately, it is often referred to professionally as the "Indecent Development of Professionals" program, and the "Insult to Democracy Program", and I've even read that some people refer to it as the "Illicit Drug Program".

OK, you're thinking I'm kidding; to make my point about IDP program, I'm going to mention the "real" name [and I'm only going to do this once because I really don't believe that it accurately reflects the results of the program]: it is NCARB's "Intern Development Program". I only mention this program, because I'm SUPPOSED to be enrolled in it to become a "good" architect. It has been forced upon me by a bureaucracy so shallow in its thinking, that it can't see beyond the happy smiles on its board members' faces when they were told that IDP would be required in ALL 50 STATES after a January 1999 "grandfather" date:

"Oh boy, they must really like us... all 50 states George... how wonderful!"

It's a set of "basic area requirements", which are recorded by the architectural "intern" their first +/- 3 years in the "real world", after exiting school [I'll get back to this one, that's a doozy too!]. Each requirement has a number of "hours" which must be completed; for example 80 hours of construction documents, 40 hours of client meetings, 40 hours of design, 40 hours of community service [I'm making the hours up, it's the categories that are important]. A VERY rigorous and ANAL RETENTIVE schedule, which couldn't be worse for an architect... I'll tell you why:

Its because, contrary to the acronyms I mentioned above, the IDP is actually the "Intern Defecation Program". Yes, that's right, you read right, no need to go back and look, it said DEFICATION back there. But its not what you think, its not really any S&M at all... its really quite simple and non-abusive. You DON'T get shit on, and your boss doesn't TREAT you like shit... its really much simpler than that. Its that during the intern IDP program, you have to ASK in order to TAKE a shit. Yes. Just like when you were 2 years old. You had to ask when you needed to poop. And then your mommy would hold your hand and sit you down and then you could poop... incidentally [and will offer the following NOT because I'm arguing for a complete restructuring of the academic architectural institution, but rather to show HOW it contributes to this type of juvenile deficiency] architecture schools, through their fraternity scare tactic "design studio" methods [which actually have some merit if you're from the "tough" love school of education] teach the same type of compete dependency on OTHER PEOPLE. now lets state it right here... lets get it out into the open, without further adieu. THIS IS BAD FOR PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTS, self-sufficiency and professional business tenacity cannot be learned in an environment which teaches that you CANNOT EVEN TAKE A SHIT WITHOUT PERMISSION. oh... I must be kidding. that's what you're thinking... well its true, I am.

You DON'T have to ask permission to take a shit... that would be absurd, now wouldn't it. You feel better now don't you... you can go back to your lives without feeling that schools could be so... insensitive. But now I must awaken you from that dream.

Don't get me wrong, I really don't want to write this. I don't want you to realize what the problem is. I'm afraid that I'll have to compete with other architects, if they realize that they DON'T have to get permission to take a shit [not that they did have to ask in school - remember, I said that would be ridiculous - or that the "IDP" program asks them to ask permission; but these "institutions" DO ask the equivalent. Or maybe ask isn't the right word: they perpetuate an atmosphere that encourages students to ALWAYS FOLLOW THE RULES, AND TO ALWAYS THINK THEY'RE WRONG - at least at first... but I digress] or the equivalent. But to "question yourself" is critical for the learning process, I agree. I couldn't agree MORE. But, this is an illogical extreme, and it hurts the profession that this is allowed to continue. And it hurts the profession that the beuracracy of NCARB would put top priority and perpetuating this atmosphere, knowing FULL WELL what schools have done to students minds (remember, these "board members" are graduates of architectural design programs... or at least we should hope they are].

So I've covered some ground. and I've strayed of track. Let me recap. IDP is the WORST thing you could do to the incoming "students" of this profession. But the problem is, that it is "good" for the profession. It allows architecture firms to continue to subordinate quality architects to treatment as second class citizens, while it continues to promote, up through its ranks, older, less productive, and often less qualified architects. Yes, this is happening; yes, this is probably happening to YOU, and YES, THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. STOP THE IDP. STOP THE NCARB, NOW! take control of YOUR OWN "professional requirements". and stop NCARB from imposing the same schoolyard crap that your educational system imposed on you. hey, its your life!