Going to miss college

TheBody

What college and department is this lecturer in op?

Ficheall

kowloon wrote: »

There are quite a lot of books that haven't been thrown up on the net yet. The more specialised the topic the less likely you are to find much online. I can see the popularity of ebooks closing the gap though.

That's fair - but to claim that lack of funds to buy books is holding one back from learning isn't terribly reasonable. I'm in the process of writing up my phd at the mo, and all my information has been obtained either online (wikipedia for a sizeable portion thereof!), through trial and error, or through thinking things through for oneself. Perhaps my field (maths and computers) are more suitable for this, but I suspect one would have to become very specialised indeed, or be working at the very forefront of your area of research, before the internet would be of no use to you.

edit: It's actually proving quite a pain now to find "hard copies" of the information for references, since citing the internet is frowned upon..

wilkie2006

HardLuckWoman wrote: »

Im finished next week. With nothing to go back to in September.

What will I do? I loved it, will miss going to class and learning. Never want to leave. If I could stay there forever, I would. The year isn't long enough :-(

Is it acceptable to ride a lecturer when finished?

Life gets $hit after college. Work is bo11ocks. Yes, do a Master's or a PhD... but it'll never be as good as your undergrad days

I'm totally with you - I was so sorry to finish. I still am. If I won the Lotto I'd stay there forever.

EDIT: The only good thing about working is having money. That's nice.

EDIT x 2: Seriously though, why would you want to ride a lecturer? Most academics are a fucking weird bunch.

sock puppet

Ficheall wrote: »

That's fair - but to claim that lack of funds to buy books is holding one back from learning isn't terribly reasonable. I'm in the process of writing up my phd at the mo, and all my information has been obtained either online (wikipedia for a sizeable portion thereof!), through trial and error, or through thinking things through for oneself. Perhaps my field (maths and computers) are more suitable for this, but I suspect one would have to become very specialised indeed, or be working at the very forefront of your area of research, before the internet would be of no use to you.

edit: It's actually proving quite a pain now to find "hard copies" of the information for references, since citing the internet is frowned upon..

It probably does depend on the area. I don't know a single person uses a textbook for programming.

cloptrop

Just go to jail , any after hours reader will tell you they are just as cushy as college these days.

Fallschirmjager

yep i think you should go back to college. nothing i like more than my tax money going to support your lifestyle choices and of course the 'free' education..i mean honestly there is nothing i could do with that tax money with our 2 kids..nope..i really think it vital that you can **** around in college while we all pay for it.

i mean after all the purpose of college is really permanent education is it not? i dont think actually getting a freaking job and supporting yourself is something to rush into. best take several years of my hard earned cash so as you can make the right choices.

Pedant

I hate college. Loneliest time of my life and not guarantee of getting anything out of it either after all the work.

WoollyRedHat

My name is URL wrote: »

A lad I know is 43 and has never left college. He signs up to new courses every time he's due to finish one. He has more letters after his name than he has had jobs which he's spent so much time becoming qualified to do.

Why, he's an anti- Van Wilder!

Pedant

My name is URL wrote: »

A lad I know is 43 and has never left college. He signs up to new courses every time he's due to finish one. He has more letters after his name than he has had jobs which he's spent so much time becoming qualified to do.

Maybe his goal in life isn't to get a job. Maybe the only thing that helps fulfill his life is knowledge.

WoollyRedHat

Pedant wrote: »

Maybe his goal in life isn't to get a job. Maybe the only thing that helps fulfill his life is knowledge.

And college girls, lots and lots of college girls.

LH Pathe

miss college, 2012?

give her one for me

fasttalkerchat

seamus wrote: »

Go get a job, you bum!

HardLuckWoman wrote: »

No

Sign on?

Wompa1

Pedant wrote: »

Maybe his goal in life isn't to get a job. Maybe the only thing that helps fulfill his life is knowledge.

Maybe he is afraid to actually work a job....

Dudess

Fallschirmjager wrote: »

yep i think you should go back to college. nothing i like more than my tax money going to support your lifestyle choices and of course the 'free' education..i mean honestly there is nothing i could do with that tax money with our 2 kids..nope..i really think it vital that you can **** around in college while we all pay for it.

i mean after all the purpose of college is really permanent education is it not? i dont think actually getting a freaking job and supporting yourself is something to rush into. best take several years of my hard earned cash so as you can make the right choices.

Wow... you personally are financially supporting the OP? Fair play...

Wompa1

Dudess wrote: »

Wow... you personally are financially supporting the OP? Fair play...

Everybody who works is if she's getting a grant, also if even if she's paying tuition fees, they are subsidized by the tax payer.

Luckily I'm not paying taxes there any more so I have less gripes but somethings gotta give. In what other country is never leaving college a viable lifestyle choice?

Dudess

Tbh, I think fees should be reintroduced, but subject to very stringent means-testing. I think primary/secondary education is a right, but not third level, which is a choice.
But I hate that "MY hard-earned cash" bullsh1t and I could think of worse things to be funded by the tax-payer.

fasttalkerchat

Wompa1 wrote: »

Everybody who works is if she's getting a grant, also if even if she's paying tuition fees, they are subsidized by the tax payer.

Luckily I'm not paying taxes there any more so I have less gripes but somethings gotta give. In what other country is never leaving college a viable lifestyle choice?

In the op's defence its up the the government to provide an incentive for people to leave education. That isn't there right now. Getting a degree requires hard work so its not laziness that causes people to "choose" to continue to live on a few hundred a month.

Dudess

Why should third level education always be completed with a view to getting a job anyway? Some college courses are not in existence with a subsequent job in mind.

Dudess

But not everyone wants to avail of third level. And some in it clearly don't appreciate it. That said, I think everyone who does want to, should have the means to do so.

johnos1984

Dudess wrote: »

But not everyone wants to avail of third level. And some in it clearly don't appreciate it. That said, I think everyone who does want to, should have the means to do so.

Some don't appreciate a second level education either



Let me rephrase that, their parents don't appreciate a second level education

Wompa1

Dudess wrote: »

But not everyone wants to avail of third level. And some in it clearly don't appreciate it. That said, I think everyone who does want to, should have the means to do so.

Yes, but it's only in the taxpayers interest to subsidize people to get educated so that they can contribute themselves. If everyone should have the means to go to college, it should be for one undergrad and anything after that should be up to them in my opinion.

Help in post grads should be much, much, much more strict and only courses in areas which workers are required for the country should get funding. Other courses can be offered but people should pay up to do them

Wompa1

Domo230 wrote: »

I have to disagree. People no longer get a job for life but end up working several different careers over their lifespan. In order for the country to effectively adapt we need a workforce that can rapidly re-educate for the demands of the future.

A knowledge based workforce that is able to rapidly adapt with the times and position itself ahead of the curve is how we will make our niche in the world economy imo.

Do you think the current Irish education system effectively prepares people for the workforce right now?

andrew

Society benefits from people having an education in general, even if that education doesn't get them a job. The idea that society should only pay for the limited set of degrees which are directly applicable to a certain job is horribly myopic.

Wompa1

Domo230 wrote: »

No I don't think it does everything it should but that's a long discussion for another time.

Everything up to the leaving imo is substandard compared to the levels of many European countries (our record when it comes to teaching foreign languages is especially appaling).

Third level standards can vary depending on institution and course but overall I think we do okay. Most of the staff I know are seriously overworked and underfunded and it can affect the quality of education provided (especially if the academics has been hired more for the money their research ability brings in rather than their teaching skills). There is definitely room for improvement but we are not the worst.

Ok but more to the point the need to adapt. I would think that's adapt our current workforce which would mean further education which in what I had stated would be paid for if it is something that's deemed to be in demand...no Psychology PhDs, History, Philosophy...if people want to do those, let them pay.

Wompa1

andrew wrote: »

Society benefits from people having an education in general, even if that education doesn't get them a job. The idea that society should only pay for the limited set of degrees which are directly applicable to a certain job is horribly myopic.

You're missing the fact I say that about post grads. Everybody can do one undergrad with help if they qualify. If they drop out or want to go back and do another one after they get the degree and they want to do a different undergrad..they pay..no more going back and doing other undergrads or like one of the guys I use to live with, doing 2 HDips and a Masters...and now a PhD. The guy had to repeat every year in his undergrad and is going to be qualified in an area that has no jobs in Ireland.

padd b1975

Domo230 wrote: »

You ever seen the crap most libraries stock. It's a pity as I am trying to self educate at the moment because I can't afford college and I realised most of the subjects I wished to educate myself on required me buying books.


And sadly books are not cheap

If a book is not in stock, a library will gladly order it in for you.

xoxyx

There's a relatively short timeframe in a person's life where they can go to college and work part time, if at all, to support themselves as they get an education to prepare them for work that they enjoy and can excel in. This namby pamby "I'm in college to have fun" nonsense is just that - nonsense. The primary purpose of going to college is to get an education and to better yourself. Everything else is secondary.

You don't have to look to other cultures to see how unattainable a third level education can be. For many of us, our parents and grandparents couldn't even gain a secondary level qualification because the funds just weren't there and they needed to work to support their families. From personal experience, I've seen people with brains to burn working in unfulfilling jobs because they don't have the parchment to get them into the roles that they would be more than capable of. Those were the bad old days, but it shows how privileged we are when virtually everybody has the Leaving Cert., and college is accessible to most.

People on grants, on welfare, living off their parents and not making a contribution to society who go to college for fun, are no use to anybody but themselves. If they're going to college to learn skills that will get them into a career, there's no problem at all. But I don't get the attitude that they're 19/20 and have the right to doss away three years just for the craic.

The exception in this is people who can support themselves, who can work and pay their own way, and make the decision to go to college to do something for the pure enjoyment of it.

flash1080

My name is URL wrote: »

A lad I know is 43 and has never left college. He signs up to new courses every time he's due to finish one. He has more letters after his name than he has had jobs which he's spent so much time becoming qualified to do.

If he's 43 and has hardly worked in his life he's qualified to do **** all.

saa

Ah I cant wait until its over been depressed since November and my tutor never replied to my emails have 2 weeks to finish a project I have no idea what I'm doing or have to do........cannot wait to finish! The thing that really gets me is that I was an A/B student until the last number of months.

saa

I am so glad to finish, I have two weeks to finish a project I don't know what I'm supposed to do or how I'm doing as my tutor doesn't reply to my emails, come to my crits or even acknowledge me anymore. I used to be a A and B student since November I've depression but ive worked hard im just sleepy and sore all the time. I can't wait for the freedom, there is a lot of bullying happening in my year from the tutors so I doubt ill miss it.

Scanlas The 2nd

Pedant wrote: »

My name is URL wrote: »

A lad I know is 43 and has never left college. He signs up to new courses every time he's due to finish one. He has more letters after his name than he has had jobs which he's spent so much time becoming qualified to do.

Maybe his goal in life isn't to get a job. Maybe the only thing that helps fulfill his life is knowledge.

Knowledge is superficial, there is no amount of stuff you can know to be fulfilled.

Dudess

Wompa1 wrote: »

You're missing the fact I say that about post grads. Everybody can do one undergrad with help if they qualify. If they drop out or want to go back and do another one after they get the degree and they want to do a different undergrad..they pay..no more going back and doing other undergrads or like one of the guys I use to live with, doing 2 HDips and a Masters...and now a PhD. The guy had to repeat every year in his undergrad and is going to be qualified in an area that has no jobs in Ireland.

My understanding is: if you do a second undergrad you have to finance it?

pragmatic1

HardLuckWoman wrote: »

I've always had a fantasy of being with a teacher/lecturer. Nows my chance. How do I make this a reality?

Go for a masters and a phd. I want to be a lecturer myself.

andrew

Wompa1 wrote: »

You're missing the fact I say that about post grads. Everybody can do one undergrad with help if they qualify. If they drop out or want to go back and do another one after they get the degree and they want to do a different undergrad..they pay..no more going back and doing other undergrads or like one of the guys I use to live with, doing 2 HDips and a Masters...and now a PhD. The guy had to repeat every year in his undergrad and is going to be qualified in an area that has no jobs in Ireland.

You only get one 'free' undergrad in Ireland, everything else you have to pay for; including repeat years. The grant only applies for a certain number of year after the leaving cert. Only those going onto postgrad on the lowest income level get any money. And so the guy you used to live with is spending a lot of his own (or as seems to be the case any time I've seen it, his parent's) money studying, which is his prerogative. And if he wants to do a masters and Phd, so what (though I find it hard to believe that he'd be able to do a Phd with a transcript that shows he failed every other year).

token101

Domo230 wrote: »

I never understand the reasoning behind this. Why should someone not have the right to receive a third level education when it is one of the most important factors in what careers and income they will receive during their life?

I should have the right to educate myself to a level that does not exclude me from a career (among other reasons). Either that or we start to divide society between the rich who keep the well paid jobs and the serfs who cannot afford education and so are perpetually trapped in low paying work.

Education should be a right for all. It's sad that we live in a world where people are applauded and paid millions to kick a ball into a net yet we shun and discourage those who wish to learn as much as possible. Sadly anti intellectualism is still alive in kicking in much of Irish society today.

Second level education is essential to function in life, that's why it's a right. You can't function in any workplace without it. Third level isn't essential, you can function without it, albeit you're restricted.

Society will always be divided like that. Someone needs to dig the ditches and collect the bins; not everyone will be running the corporations. I think people that avail of third level shouldn't pay anything upfront, I'd accept that's a huge barrier to entry. But I'd be massively in favour of a graduate tax, paid by anyone who graduates college and gets a higher paid job. That's essentially the UK system, where you pay when you leave and start earning over a certain amount (£15000 over there or €24000 here because the cost of living is higher :pac:) Why should people who earn less pay for something they don't wish to/can't (because they can't get acceptance to a course they want for whatever reason) access? It's unfair really.

The last part; that's basic supply and demand for you. I don't think that has any direct relation to anti-intellectualism though, I can't see the connection there. Damien Hirst gets paid millions for putting a cow or a shark or whatever it was into a tank. I don't find that very intellectual. Whether you like it or not, football is an art form in itself; it takes years to perfect and transcends almost all cultures and divides. Dismissing it as 'kicking a ball into a net' is like saying Michaelangelo was only revered for 'throwing some paint on some church ceiling and making a naked mannequin'; it's nonsense.