Loudmouth,


It seems that you are deliberately misconstruing pelly's last point - one on which I happen to agree with her.

As I read it, she's not saying that people should be sidelined because of varying factors. She's pointing out that a university education is not always "first prize"...and that opportunity and fulfillment in life can be derived from professions that exist outside "higher learning".

Many young people are now forced to stay on at highschool pursuing subjects that they will have no use for, instead of being given the opportunity to not only learn a trade, but also to begin clawing their way way back into meaningful interaction with a society that has excluded them by chaining them to an institution for most of their lives.

Loudmouth
You have misinterpreted my comments completely - I don't think in the terms you described. Poirot explains the points well.

In more modern times tertiaty education has become the norm in terms of goal-setting or of measuring 'success'. With increasing pressure on universities to 'sell' degrees and pressure on staff to pass students under certain conditions (as has been reported) means the value of a university education is diminished. Rather than do that, why not a 'horses for courses' approach allowing for all manner of skills, desires, merit coupled with appropriate teaching.

Not every skillset, job or career needs or should be catered for at tertiary level. Not every person wants or is able to participate in tertiary education and this is not in any way devaluing that person, unless you see a tertiary education as the only valid measure of success. I don't and value all manner of education whether it be skills based, trades, CIT, TAFE, College and University.

Ummmm just to butt in for a moment, isn't true that the higher educated one,s thats put the whole world in jeopardy?

So what has gone wrong?

CACTUS

The country is over-run with university inmates. Some are not suited to higher schooling, you can pick this up in a kid at a very young age, if they get a chance to go outside and fiddle. Trades are best learnt young, Kids forced into higher schooling that are not suited for it , will be lost, and forever know there is something missing. I think it's an ego trip for parents that had no chance of such things. I do not know any thing about university. So what is an arts degree. or economics, degree mean.

Poiro and Pelican,

Thank you for your responses but, with respect, they could be interpreted as more sophisticated versions of the attitude that I was complaining about.

When the children of the working class are participating at similar (or better) rates as the children of upper and middle class parents, then we can start equivocating about 'too many going to uni', 'not enough in the trades', 'unskilled work is valid in its own right', etc.

Unless, of course, we actually do want to perpetuate the status quo, or bring back a status quo ante :)

Loudmouth,

I wasn't necessarily referring to "unskilled" work. I was making the point that "skills" don't all fall under the umbrella of tertiary education.

I believe, in this instance, you're constructing a saddle to place on your particular hobby horse.

With respect....