They are shutting down Classical Studies at Royal Holloway, London University.
But don't worry. The taxpayer will still be supporting courses in surfing, kite flying, curry making, and endless media studies degrees in various ex-tech colleges, where presumablythey train you in phone hacking, blagging, and bribing policemen. So much more useful than the training in plumbing, electric, building etc that they used to give.
Another triumph for British education. It appears that the windbags in the House of Shame are determined to do to the universities what they have already done for state schools.
Makes you sick doesn't it!!!!
ReplyDeleteSeems the best way to save Classics programs is to find ways to have students sign up for them, rather than fund empty programs. If they're having to turn students away and the post-school Classics job market is hungry for grads, yes stopping funding is foolish. But if it's on life support, I can certainly understand pulling the plug.
ReplyDeleteThere is far too much emphasis on promoting 'vocational' degrees instead of the ‘humanities’. It seems to me that Britain’s university system has increasingly been geared towards making better tax paying cash-cows than an educated workforce with valuable critical thinking skills.
ReplyDeleteCall me a grumpy old man but I think this is short sighted and ultimately damaging to the country.
You're bloody right.
ReplyDeleteDear Ray
ReplyDeleteYes,
J
Dear Sons
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of tertiary education is to educate the next generation of leaders, not to train corporate serfs,
J
Dear Lee
ReplyDeleteRight, education is the point. The windbags always confuse it with training.
J
Dear Lurker,
ReplyDeletethanks,
J
Dear John
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that the heady days of pure education are long gone. Once the Student loan came on the scene people started looking for "paying degrees" and at £9000 a year (as a standard it seems not as a maximum) as you say it is a very short sighted policy; another problem is the reduction in scholarships and industry sponsorships the only ones I've heard about lately from our sixth formers are from the armed services. The Surfing and Curry making degrees will I think only be open in the real world to the kids of the very rich who can afford not to ever work in the "real world";and thereby these too will fall by the wayside. Not sure where this leaves the Classics; I suppose there will still be an enclave of Scholarships enshrined at Oxbridge, but the overall effect will be to turn the universities into over priced polytechnics.
May I point out that this is English- not British education? It is a bit different in Scotland.
ReplyDeleteMay I point out that this is English- not British education? It is a bit different in Scotland.
ReplyDeleteo tempora! o mores! As someone may have once said. Jolly sad, this. Count me in as a member of the annoyed brigade. It may be the case that sic transit gloria mundi, but that doesn't mean we must go quietly into this night. The spear penetrates the coward's back as surely as the brave man's front - or something fairly close to that.
ReplyDeleteAs I see, everything not going well overthere? :( I want to move there, please do not ruin your country...
ReplyDeleteDear Shaun
ReplyDeleteI expect a number of universities to disappear over the next few years.
J
Dear Anon
ReplyDeleteThose of us in England are very aware that things are different in Scotland. Don't get me started.
That Scottish, and all other European students get free tuition at Scottish universities except for the English, Welsh and Northern Irish (who are charged the full rate) is not going down well here in Southern England - especially as we suspect our taxes are paying for it. :)
John
Dear Pete,
ReplyDeleteUm, yes,
:)
John.
Dear Igi
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, we are cleaning out the sewers. We do this every so often.
J
You lot think you have problems? What about those of us who have to pay that £9000 for our degrees? I'm obviously going to have to go for a paying degree, instead of Classical Studies etc or I won't be able to afford to go to university.
ReplyDeleteDear SF
ReplyDeleteOnly two degrees are worth having. Vocational, usually technical vocational, and traditional academic from one of the top fifty. Nothing else is worth getting into debt for.
Classics is a traditional high quality degree.
I have just put to daughters through university. It cost my wife and I at least thirty thousand pounds on top of their student loans.