WTF is up in academia???

[Ritual]

@Modderrhu
When I said \'f*ck-ups\' I meant they were poor students who litterally had to cheat to pass their exams. Of course, after spending 15-20 years teaching and doing research they had a little more grasp of things, but still, I had several teachers who didn\'t understand the courses they were giving...

But, we had the sort you mentioned too. They were usually frighteningly good at what they were teaching, but completely lost otherwise... lol

 

[airhead]

Originally posted by Zora
So if we\'re really into a band that plays air guitars, does that make us \"Air Heads\"?

Hey. Hey now. I resemble that remark.

 

[Legacy Account]

What use is \'higher\' education if 50% of everyone in the country has the same qualifications?

50% of the population of this country are most definitely NOT intelligent enough anyway.

Reckon it\'s down to as little as one in ten round this neck of the woods...

 

[tzor]

Originally posted by Evil Dave
I had a student worker who actually took a course on \"Star Trek\".

I don\'t know that particular course, but don\'t knock Star Trek. You could probably write an teach a very interesting course on the original series ... few people realize that it was the perfect storm of morality TV in an age when every TV show was sanitized for your protection. How by throwing an alien face on things you could discuss super controversially hot topics as race, war, etc with perfect ease. Even to the point that it was a necessary pre-cursor to \"All in the family.\"

And of course who cannot resist the irony that it was replaced by \"Laugh in.\" That the original pilot (which has to be the corniest show I\'ve ever seen short of some good B movies) was considered \"too intellectual\" for television.

I think I prefer classical air guitar ... perhaps I should take lessons some day. lol

 

[supervike]

Well, take this for what its worth...I\'m an uneducated sap, so I could very well be wrong.

The problem (at least in the US) with \'higher education\' is the lofty goal of \"teaching the next generation\" slipped down the scale to be almost non-existant. Universities and Colleges are all about the all mighty dollar. Not all of them mind you, but a huge majority. College education is a multi-billion dollar business. They are selling a bad product, that everyone needs, for a huge markup. Yet because of the \'NOBLE goal of education\' no one dares question its real validity.

The catch 22 of it is how the Business World and Job Markets put such an emphasis on the higher education, creating a HUGE demand for the product.

Its a freakin\' rip off, but its all part of the game. If you want to play in the game, you have to partake in the stupid rules.

 

[sebrushworth]

Originally posted by Ritual
But the government is happy because they make their statistics look better.

Bloody politicians, why can\'t we just line them up and shoot them?

 

[supervike]

not legally.

 

[finn17]

Ah..that\'s where they have got us...

Originally posted by supervike
not legally.

Because they make the laws...

I\'d just like to shoot the silly bitch who thinks that \'air guitar\' is worthy of doctoral study...I\'d use an \'air gun\' of course

 

[dauber22]

hmmmmmm.....

Originally posted by supervike
Well, take this for what its worth...I\'m an uneducated sap, so I could very well be wrong.

The problem (at least in the US) with \'higher education\' is the lofty goal of \"teaching the next generation\" slipped down the scale to be almost non-existant. Universities and Colleges are all about the all mighty dollar. Not all of them mind you, but a huge majority. College education is a multi-billion dollar business. They are selling a bad product, that everyone needs, for a huge markup. Yet because of the \'NOBLE goal of education\' no one dares question its real validity.

The catch 22 of it is how the Business World and Job Markets put such an emphasis on the higher education, creating a HUGE demand for the product.

Its a freakin\' rip off, but its all part of the game. If you want to play in the game, you have to partake in the stupid rules.

All about the almighty dollar... bad product... huge markup... corporate collusion... freakin\' rip off... stupid rules...

??? ??? ???

HEy, Vike - Are you insinuating that the HIgh Educational System is run by GW ???

 

[Dragonsreach]

@Finn; I have got to ask that as you are an ex-teacher, how can you be suprised at this? :wow:

Mind you in most of the schools around where I work anyone can get a \"doctorate\" in pharmaceuticals very easily.

 

[finn17]

Not surprised so much as saddened..

Originally posted by Dragonsreach
@Finn; I have got to ask that as you are an ex-teacher, how can you be suprised at this? :wow:

It was bound to happen after all the useful polytechnics suddenly became useless universties. I was a little surprised when I discovered you could do a degree in carpet laying, but after all, carpet laying is a worthwhile enterprise and at least it\'s vocational.

Then I found out a \'university\' was offering a degree in David and Victoria Beckham, and I even managed to rationalise that one....although it wasn\'t easy.

I had stupidly considered however that postgraduate studies were perhaps a little more sacrosanct. Especially at PhD level. And no matter how hard I try, I cannot rationalise any sort of qualification in air guitar....???

 

[supervike]

Originally posted by dauber22
Vike - Are you insinuating that the HIgh Educational System is run by GW ???

I was thinking that when I wrote it...glad you picked it up!!lol

 

[Trevor]

As for the weirdos remaining on as professors in physics

Biology

I reckon they\'re so damned intelligent that they just can\'t cope with the outside world.

I like to think so...

So focused on what they\'re doing that they can\'t even tie their show-laces.

Um... well sometimes... I do forget what I\'m doing a lot of the time...

They\'re probably amongst the most emotionally immature people anyone is likey to meet too.

Hey!

So, there\'s one conclusion I make; rather have them advancing science and teaching people than in the padded cells they might otherwise end up in.

Oh, ok suits me

 

[supervike]

hey Trev!

You don\'t spend near enough time here anymore!!

 

[Trevor]

sorry

 

[G-nome]

Does the university of Salford actually count as part of Academia?

Academia spelled differently is Macadamia which is a nut. Interesting coincidence dont you think.

 

[Nomis]

The other annoying thing about this is she probably can\'t add 2 + 2 together and consistently get 4 as the result.

I work in FE (Further Education) and any potential lecturers have to sit a basic test for numeracy and literacy - most fail one or the other even with full degrees or masters in their chosen subject.

 

[supervike]

They are coming out of the woodwork...

Originally posted by Nomis
The other annoying thing about this is she probably can\'t add 2 + 2 together and consistently get 4 as the result.

Same thing as I said before...

\"hey Trev!

You don\'t spend near enough time here anymore!!\"

Except substitute Simon for Trev!

 

[philologus]

I am currently going to college with \"kids\" about half my age. If the professors weren\'t annoying enough the students take up the slack. What is interesting is that I have developed the talent of guessing a person\'s major by just looking at them. It\'s great fun.

 

[philologus]

Sorry for the double post, but the bit about a course in Star Trek made me remember this article.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/05/10/offbeat.klingon.interpreter/index.html