Question Time: Ask Anonymous Questions About Apprenticeship

A reminder that the anonymous questions form is still open and will be for the next week, please do ask any questions you have about apprenticeship.

PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTIONS HERE

Why is so much of Apprenticeship hidden from view? hard to know if you're gonna want to do something if you can't even see it

Sorry missed this question when I was going through.

There are some who would race to do as much as possible before they even get to apprenticeship, and we don't really want people to try and preempt any potential training master by searching through apprentice journals or guessing what they would be set.

There is also the consideration given to that fact that the relationship between training master and apprentice is a much closer one than knight to initiate/novice, and sometimes apprentices discuss things in journals that they may not wanted broadcasted across the whole website.

Apprenticeship isn't a super secret club with strange workings; apprentices get assignments given to them by their training masters based on what the TM thinks would help them, and what the TM might think is important for apprentices to learn. Some of the material set is in our library here. The process is not that different to the IP, you have an assignment which you complete and then you write it up.

If you're getting towards the time when you might finish the IP, I encourage you to speak to knights to see about the kinds of things they set, and their work programmes.

What are apprenticeships like in general? I'm guessing it varies by person, but is an apprenticeship something like a one-on-one version of the IP designed by those involved, or does it spin off in other directions altogether/is too variable to describe type of norm?

For the most part an apprenticeship is lot like you describe, a one on one type of IP. Each training master has their own way of teaching. Some knights prefer to have a more structured plan, with the same assignments set (at least initially) for every apprentice they train.

Some (like myself) are more casual, setting assignments they think are interesting and useful, and adding ones in where it looks like the apprentice might need help in that area. I have a kind of 'bank' of lessons that my apprentice is free to look through and pick from. Though time differences can make things harder, I myself have conversations with my apprentices which may bear out lessons if, for example, the apprentice has gone through a trying situation and needs more clarity.

There are other training masters who are a bit like mine was, leaving me mostly to my own devices to seek out assignments, then offering support and advice where I needed it.

I can think of one particular training master who is a fan of lessons borne from deep conversation, not just setting assignments.

Some training masters are a mix of one or more of the above.

We encourage potential apprentices to speak to knights about how they do things because some approaches will work for some but not for others.

Why is knighthood not required for becoming a councilor

There is only one person on the current roster of councillors I believe who is not a knight, that is due to his responsibilities as forum administrator. While not a knight, he is a very long standing member of this community.

Otherwise, councillors are appointed by the Council and it is usually expected that they be a knight. I cannot think of any previous exceptions off the top of my head (though I am happy to be corrected).

Is philosophy still a required to be a major part of training after the IP? Or is it possible to tailor one's training in a more hands-on direction?

There are no required topics, as I said in the previous answer. The syllabus set by a knight usually depends on their own background and apprenticeship experience, and what they think the apprentice would benefit from. That said, some knights are more inclined towards philosophy than others and you may end up studying it within assignments.

Apprentices obviously have input in what they learn, if my apprentice said that they wanted to do something I would probably say yes unless I couldn't see the purpose. If that assignment was more hands on, such as volunteering, then that would be fine. I think you are unlikely to have a wholly philosophical or a wholly hands on apprenticeship, it'll be a mix and when you come to reach apprenticeship it is something you would discuss with your teacher.

Just a reminder that the anonymous questionnaire form is still up and I am still taking questions.

What's the benefit of training up to Knighthood?

My personal opinion is that the benefits of training to knighthood are less about the assignments set as an apprentice, and more about having someone there during your apprenticeship who is invested in you and your journey, who can challenge your opinions and hold you to account. None of us lead the same lives and it's useful to have someone else with a different view to give their opinion on the things you write about, who learns about you and how you react to things so they can challenge you. We don't grow if we don't can't consider the validity of our opinions, and having someone walking metaphorically beside you while you are on your journey means that you always have someone who can say 'yes, but....'

The other benefits are that you can be set assignments on topics you never would have chosen yourself, opening you to new things and new ways of thinking. If your TM has experience or specialist knowledge in a certain area then you can explore it deeper with their help.

Temple wise, the benefit is that eventually you can walk alongside someone else on their journey, and support them in the same way your TM supported you. When you don't have a TM anymore, having an apprentice gives a knight a chance to have their view challenged and to be taught something new at a time when all learning is self directed.

For me, the best bit of knighthood is being able help others, to teach others, and to give something back to those who put themselves out for me. Knighthood, in a way, is service. Service to others, service to the Temple, and service to yourself.

Will I get a mentor?

I apologise for missing this question.

If you mean mentor as in a training master for your apprenticeship, we can't always promise that you will find one. As I've mentioned in previous answers finding a TM depends on availability of knights, whether you can find someone you can connect with, and who approaches apprenticeship in the way you would respond to.

We do what we can to support you finding someone, sometimes that means you have to wait until another apprentice has been knighted before the knight you get on with can take you on.

If you think you're at the point where you need a training master, I urge you to get in contact with a knight so we can see what we can do to help find someone for you.

Something I will say is that it's a two way street, don't expect knights to always come straight to you, they're busy and we have many members. Be proactive and reach out to the knights.

We have many people approaching the end of the IP so I thought I would resurrect this thread.

Go to THIS LINK HERE and ask your question, and I will post the answers to your questions here in this thread.

It's all anonymous.

How and when do you get chosen to be an apprentice

Once you've finished the IP and have become an initiate you'll qualify to become an apprentice. Sometimes knights will reach out to you, but I recommend that you do not wait and hope someone reaches out, but look into the knights on the forum and see if there are any you think you might like to work with and reach out to them. Discord is a good place for this btw as the knights are often on there more casually than the forum itself. You can start this before you get to the end of the IP if you want. The Teachers Who We Are thread is a good place to find out who the current active knights are.