The death of distance learning?

[Amelanchier]

A valid debate no doubt but my concern was for distance learning in particular and specifically for a course which has helped me immeasurably over the past half decade (hence the title).

 

Regardless of opinion on whether the right to an education imposes a duty on the state to provide it at any cost, there is an unique implication of govt. policy for distance learning. Namely that it is likely to extinguish it in niche subjects like arboriculture.

 

I don't necessarily mind the derail though. At least it makes one of my threads look interesting...

[Steve Bullman]

we're not talking about school.....we're talking about further education.

 

And for the record, i have a 17 year old starting university in a years time, so yes im going to be helping with that....and i still think the new fees are a good idea

 

in answer to a few comments made by others elsewhere....id just like to publicly say, no, i am not old enough to have a 17 year old...shes actually my step daughter.....i am in fact every bit as young as i look

Edited April 6, 2011 by Steve Bullman

[Mick Stockbridge]

The gravy train is grinding to a halt, it'll be tax credits next......

[Stephen Blair]

I am feeling bad about some of the things i said, i was thinking today what if i was a care giver to a family member, what if i was too busy looking after a loved one to go out and hold down a job.

My apologies for bumping my gums with out thinking about situations diferent from my own.

 

Oh and Steve, you could so easily have a 17 year old kid:sneaky2:

[josharb87]

Hammy, if you want something bad enough you find a way.

Tony when i was 27 i bought my first house for £75k, it was over 20 years. I also borrowed £70k for equipement to be paid back in 4 years, then for a laugh i bought 3 other houses just as i was starting a family when i was 29.

It can all be done, it takes discipline and hard graft mate, winging doesnt help, thats what folk do that have been defeated before they start.(not a personal attack on Mr Sorenson)

 

Inspiring

[Peter]

So did you guys pay to go to school? Out of your own pockets? Or did you go to state funded schools? PAid for by the taxpayer. The same taxpayer who susidised the now horrifically expensive courses of higher education? Or who are paying for your children to be educated?

 

School isnt designed to educate the individual, its designed to sort children into bin men and lawyers. If a little education happens along the way, then thats a happy accident. Overall it is the nation who benefits, not the individual.

 

University is now a way of trapping young people in debt to banks for the rest of their working lives. Come out of uni with £20k plus debt, by the time its paid off they will have a mortgage they can barely afford, by the time thats paid off its a few short years of retirement before they have to sell the house to pay for care in their old age.....

 

As for being able to get anything you want if you work hard enough, that is a pipe dream. Social and financial mobility has not been harder for 100 years, the gap between rich and poor is growing all the time. While you are working all the hours you can to scrape together the payments on your 3 rental houses, the few with the real money are sitting in their mansions laughing at you.

[Stephen Blair]

While you are working all the hours you can to scrape together the payments on your 3 rental houses, the few with the real money are sitting in their mansions laughing at you.

 

My rentals pay for themselves and make me money aswell now, they were initially a quick fix to retire young that went sour when the Market turned, now they are a retirement plan. It is possible to get what you want in this life, you just need to know how to do it, trying to buy a Ferrari when you are on a £5 er an hour isn't the way.

I put my graft in before kids and just tread water now busineswise and concentrate on my family life, BUT the oppertunities that arise while sitting watching are unreal, less is more that's for sure, manage what you have and let it work for you. And change battleplans when 1 runs out of goodstuff

[APC]

Issue I see is from some jobs with salaries of less than £20,000 requiring a degree as "essential". Often the top of the pay scale will still be below £20,000 with no realistic opportunity to progress beyond it. That is when tuition fees are poo.

[BenC]

Nothing is free, someone has to pay for it. Might aswell be the person who benefits:001_cool:

 

Lets hope employers will start to think like this:biggrin:

 

In my experience these cuts happen in a cycle so get ready for when it swings back:thumbup: