In the Academic Zoo, the animals lived in enclosures ranked by importance. The lions were at the top, their spacious lairs were filled with the warmth of sunlight. They enjoyed the comfort and the landscape and the feeling of superiority.
The hardworking beavers toiled in dark and damp corners, building bridges and dams that supported the whole zoo, yet their efforts were never acknowledged.
One day the beavers stopped working. The rivers dried up, and the lions roared in frustration. The Zookeepers realised the Zoo’s structure was broken and began rebuilding habitats so that they valued every contribution.
Moral – no academic system thrives by prioritising prestige over the labour that sustains it.
Where do you see yourself positioned in the academic system? What are your strategies to challenge the hierarchy of this system?
Christa & Anne-Wil
