what's your view on the number of uni places?
should they have increased them loads?

too many people going?

do you think I should have become a blacksmith instead of going to uni?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 15:21, 3 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

education is way more than about jobs
I say that as a liberal hand wringing lefty.

(also, as someone who just last week saw what 3 weeks education did for a group of NEETS teenagers)
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 15:23, Reply)

there are too many university places
I'm an admirer of how they do things in Germany- technical schools that are not viewed as a poor second option, but as a way to source hands on learning in important areas.

I'm aware of a class bias in the way university is viewed, and how people view a decrease in places as reactionary and snobbish, but it is needed. Genuine skills are being lost, and degrees devalued- which is to nobodies benefit. There's a reason BT's training scheme had so many applicants
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 15:24, Reply)

many of the newer uni places
are for more vocational subjects. It's these that people get snobby about, which is ridiculous
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 15:27, Reply)

Good luck with trying to become a blacksmith.
My son decided that was his calling and it took us 2 years to find a good course. Now that he's got a place Govt funding has been pulled and it will cost us about £10,000 to get him through what is basically an A level course. So much for traditional skills being encouraged. English heritage will only assist if you already have a job in the relevant area.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Mon 23 Aug 2010, 16:02, Reply)