I do feel there is pressure on young people to go to university these days. It's as though if they don't go, they are making a mistake. I wonder I how many are there because they feel they should be, rather than they want to be. I'm sure it has a bearing on the mental struggles that a lot seem to face.
For some, vocational or more practical courses would definitely be better. Polytechnics and Technical colleges used to do that very well. It doesn't mean you're any less clever, just that your brain learns, investigates, processes and invents differently from those who are happy with pure academics.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I agree that the education system seems to be broken and has been ever since somebody had the idea that the best way to teach children was to lump them all together and ignore the fact that not everybody is equal. The selection process may have been flawed but at least the brightest were kept pressured to learn rather than being held back at the pace of the slowest. Children have different needs and need to be treated as individuals. Support the bright so that they excel as much as support the less able so that they can achieve their maximum.
Exactly - and those in the middle need to be shown what they can achieve too with a bit of thought and application. The Belgian system isn't perfect but they do stream people in their secondary schools and those that are destined to be car mechanics/plumbers/electricians/carpenters/flower arrangers/retail/catering can get early training and qualifications and, crucially, financial and admin training so they can manage their hours and income and costs if and when they go independent - and they all stay in secondary school to the end of the academic year they turn 18.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I worked in the state education system all my working life and know a great deal about university admissions. Oxbridge does a tremendous amount of outreach work but it is hard for them to broaden their catchment if doors are slammed in their face. I just know that far too many teachers have quite a sneering disregard for an Oxbridge education and this rubs off on students. They are poorly advised on subject choices and not encouraged to do those things that would enhance their applications. I also imagine that in many areas there is strong peer pressure to avoid achieving academic excellence.
When you compare pupils with the same results there is absolutely no bias in favour of public schools, versus grammar schools, versus state comprehensive schools. The problem is getting those results. If the teaching is not good enough then students will rarely get to the elite universities.
For what it is worth, the state comprehensive where I taught had about 4 to 10 successful Oxbridge applicants a year. When at these institutions these students’ school background was a complete non issue.
When I started medical school, 85% of my year were from public school. Do we really believe that a public school education makes for being a better doctor?
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
When I started medical school, 85% of my year were from public school. Do we really believe that a public school education makes for being a better doctor?
As the saying goes:
What do you call a person who got the lowest pass mark in their medical degree.
Doctor.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
It was ok Anni, and I knew what I was walking into when the curtains were still closed, so I had a few minutes to prepare for the worst. He always wanted to be 'carried out of his house', and he got his wish. I just sat with him for a while, holding his hand, then phoned my sister and the doc etc.
I'm very lucky that both my parents didn't have to go into a home. They would have hated it. My Mum died relatively peacefully and quickly too, and I'm eternally grateful that neither of them had long, horrible illnesses, or worse. It can be truly awful for so many people. We're all atheists, but I like to think they're together forever, somewhere out in the ether
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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When you compare pupils with the same results there is absolutely no bias in favour of public schools, versus grammar schools, versus state comprehensive schools. The problem is getting those results. If the teaching is not good enough then students will rarely get to the elite universities.
For what it is worth, the state comprehensive where I taught had about 4 to 10 successful Oxbridge applicants a year. When at these institutions these students’ school background was a complete non issue.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm very lucky that both my parents didn't have to go into a home. They would have hated it. My Mum died relatively peacefully and quickly too, and I'm eternally grateful that neither of them had long, horrible illnesses, or worse. It can be truly awful for so many people.
We're all atheists, but I like to think they're together forever, somewhere out in the ether
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...