MSE Parents Club Part 15

SugarSpun

I also think it's adding insult to injury to expect students to pay more for poorer quality education. The number of active researchers in universities in the UK is getting lower and lower because professors (often getting on in years and not doing much in the way of new work) are safe from being fired so the positions available for younger/new academics are limited. The options are maternity cover for people with tenure or one-year posts, which are unrealistic because it requires academics to uproot families every year and move somewhere else - or not get a job at all because competition is so fierce. All the good positions are abroad, and all the good academics (;)) have taken positions there. For those of us who then want to return to the UK, we can't do it and be academics because it's simply not possible to get a long term reliable position. So while there are many distinguished names in universities at the moment, many are trading purely on those names and there is no one coming up behind them to replace them when they eventually die.

I'm in favour of paid apprenticeships - my dad did one in the early 60s and it seems like the ideal solution.

tarajayne

I didn't know your birthday was coming up 3. I've already booked mine for next year as I decided if I don't do it myself I will get nothing. :mad: So we booked the hall on Monday which was rather organised of me. What's the plan then if he's working? Have you asked for any pressies?

bexta

The uni fees debate is tough. I do believe higher ed isn't for everyone, and I mean that with no disrespect - some people are more 'practical' and others are more 'academic' (for want of better terms) There are a lot of people doing things like media studies and random things though. The rise seems to have come really quickly though, which doesn't really allow people to make proper provisions.

My degree isn't even really recognised here (Bachelor of Library and Information Management), but with all the funding cuts, there's probably not much hope of getting into that field anyway I did work 2 jobs all through uni though, so I don't think students should expect to get it all for nothing. I hate working in retail with an absolute passion, but it's either that, or carer's jobs around here.

tarajayne

Paid apprenticeships are the way to go, but it's a sad sign of the times that a lot of teenagers turn their nose up at the small amount of pay. My kids have never even had pocket money so she didn't question the amount, and to be fair they also covered her transport. But she just worked weekends to make her money up. Some kids are so out of touch these days. Last night was an eye opener, after running we popped in Sainsburys and E's friend was in awe. She kept saying how cool it was to be in such a big store. She thinks we're rich, which we're no where near but bless her she is such an amazingly lovely girl. I like kids like that.

Mazcabs

Sami_Bee wrote: »

My sister went straight to Uni from college and she's still a Physio and has no plans to ever change that

How weird, my sister is a physio too!!!:D

SugarSpun

That is shocking Tara - what do teenagers do that they need to spend over £45/week?

*is old and out of touch and probably doesn't spend that herself*

bexta

Tara, very true about apprenticeships. A lot of kids don't realise that you might be poor whilst training, but the qualification and skills it teaches you could set you up for life.

The grouchy old codger in me thinks too many kids are influenced by stuff like the X-factor, and they want to be 'famous' rather than actually doing anything.

CAFCGirl

morning

bleurgh

Loving baby updates.... woowoo for words, steps etc (sorry cant remember names! - Blame my brain!)

bexta

SS, if you're around here - alcohol, smokes, drugs, fake tan....(well classy town )

tarajayne

If a teenager can get £20 from their parents for doing nothing I suppose they figure that £45 for a full weeks work just isn't worth it. I see so many parents who say, well so and so wants this (ie a car) so we're having to get together some money. Am I too hard because I think they should be buying it themselves? What kind of adults do these parents think they are creating. The amount of times when I worked in the bank the parent would come in, pay the 20yr old's overdraft off. The overdraft would be taken away so it couldn't happen again then you could almost guarantee that the kids would be back within a couple of days to put the overdraft back on.