Education and aspirations

[Walter]

Almost anything anyone is planning is going to be wrong. The amount of change that will hit in the next ten years makes career planning for mist a joke.

NS will I win the lottery a week next Saturday, I've got a ticket ?

[Nearly Sane]

NS will I win the lottery a week next Saturday, I've got a ticket ?

If you mean win with 6 numbers, no you are not. I may be wrong on that but the probability is that you won't. That's not hard to predict.

Looking at what's happening, and what has happened in the last century the change will only get faster. Note there is the possibility of a number of global disasters, but they also make  career planning a joke. The change will get rid of millions of jobs. Sectors such like building will become robotised and three d printing. Sectors that you or I can't see how they will be touched may not exist in 20 years. There is nothing hard or big in this prediction. The hard prediction is what actual changes will be.

[Walter]

If you mean win with 6 numbers, no you are not. I may be wrong on that but the probability is that you won't. That's not hard to predict.

Looking at what's happening, and what has happened in the last century the change will only get faster. Note there is the possibility of a number of global disasters, but they also make  career planning a joke. The change will get rid of millions of jobs. Sectors such like building will become robotised and three d printing. Sectors that you or I can't see how they will be touched may not exist in 20 years. There is nothing hard or big in this prediction. The hard prediction is what actual changes will be.

aww chisel
I was hoping you'd say yes

[Walter]

and I hope my three kids can keep up with it all , as for me I'm out of it.

[SusanDoris]

But for every Alan Sugar there are hundreds or thousands of other non graduates whose career prospects are limited by their lack of a degree.

The phrase 'career prospects' is interesting. It is something that nowadays seems to be a requirement of all people in work. But many people do not want - and know they do not want - to study more, take on responsibilities, etc and are happier in the work they are doing. As a teacher, you will know how, in a class or group, there are always those children who are leaders and others who are not. All should be encouraged to do their best at whatever they choose to do, but not criticised* for not wishing to do things they know would make them too stressed.

* not  quite the right word, but can't think of a milder one

[Gonnagle]

Dear Prof,

Easy to say, difficult to achieve. Someone has to pay for it, so if not the students, then all tax payers.

Correct!! All tax payers, give your vote to Mr Corbyn and he will go after all the tax payers, or may be the words I am looking for is tax dodgers, funding problem solved.

And the plus side would be, next time you use Google or buy something on Amazon you will have that rosy glow inside that you are helping to fund our nations future.

Gonnagle.

[Brownie]

The phrase 'career prospects' is interesting. It is something that nowadays seems to be a requirement of all people in work. But many people do not want - and know they do not want - to study more, take on responsibilities, etc and are happier in the work they are doing. As a teacher, you will know how, in a class or group, there are always those children who are leaders and others who are not. All should be encouraged to do their best at whatever they choose to do, but not criticised* for not wishing to do things they know would make them too stressed.

* not  quite the right word, but can't think of a milder one

I'm inclined to agree with you, SusanD.

It's important to have marketable skills but higher education is not necessary for that.  On-the-job training is more useful and if it leads to a qualification, all the better.

[floo]

I am glad our girls were bright enough to go to university. I think that experience has stood them in very good stead. Our eldest went on to get a Masters degree and is currently studying part time for her Doctorate in Theology.

[Walter]

I am glad our girls were bright enough to go to university. I think that experience has stood them in very good stead. Our eldest went on to get a Masters degree and is currently studying part time for her Doctorate in Theology.

I hope she finds it useful in getting employment, Floo

[floo]

I hope she finds it useful in getting employment, Floo

She has been employed ever since she left uni in 1993, she is now 46.

[Walter]

She has been employed ever since she left uni in 1993, she is now 46.

proof, if ever it was needed.

[floo]

proof, if ever it was needed.

Proof of what? 

[Walter]

Proof of what?

That a degree can be useful, of course.

[SusanDoris]

When I was a mature student in teacher training, the B.Ed was just coming in. If I had gone on to take it, I would not havegot the safe job I did get because the recruitment of teachers had become muchmore uncertain.

[Brownie]

I remember that period well, Susan.  There were quite a few unemployed teachers at that time.

[SusanDoris]

I remember that period well, Susan.  There were quite a few unemployed teachers at that time.

Because I was a naturally ambitious sort of person, I thought I would probably aim for a deputy headship, but it did not take me long to realise that I much preferred to be in a classrrom with my class, where one was fairly autonomous. I did become  Year Leader in a Middle School and very much enjoyed  that role as I was still teaching directly.

[Walter]

Because I was a naturally ambitious sort of person, I thought I would probably aim for a deputy headship, but it did not take me long to realise that I much preferred to be in a classrrom with my class, where one was fairly autonomous. I did become  Year Leader in a Middle School and very much enjoyed  that role as I was still teaching directly.

SD
what did you teach, and don't say kids?

[SusanDoris]

SD
what did you teach, and don't say kids?

reading writing rithmetic, P.E. basic Science, music, Art and Craft, etc. That's one of the other reasons I enjoyed teaching 9-11 year-olds - the variety in every week.  At training College my specialist subject was French, but once in Primary Schools I had no wish to move to secondary.