Quote: bushbaby @ November 12 2010, 5:48 PM GMTIs open university an answer for him?
It's a very hands on course as well as the academic side (engineering) so not sure but might be worth looking into. Will see how things go with his health first. He is having an operation on December 24th.
Quote: Loopey @ November 12 2010, 7:06 PM GMTHe is having an operation on December 24th.
Christmas Eve? Wow.
Oh, good luck with that, life's a bitch. But it's how you deal with problems that give you Brownie points for the here after....
Quote: DaButt @ November 12 2010, 7:09 PM GMTChristmas Eve? Wow.
Quote: bushbaby @ November 12 2010, 7:09 PM GMTOh, good luck with that, life's a bitch. But it's how you deal with problems that give you Brownie points for the here after....
Yeah. 
Only found out about the operation today. Been waiting for some test results. He needs it done soon and that's the earliest they can do it.
One of his kidneys isn't working and the other isn't coping too well with the strain.
That's disgraceful...see a private specialist but then again if you do these days you have to go private for the rest of the treatment.
I once went to a private specialist and got straight at the top of the queue on NHS but I think today, they make you pay if you see a private specialist first. Catch 22?
What a rubbish day to have to go into hospital.
I didn't even think that would be allowed.
Quote: EllieJP @ November 12 2010, 4:52 PM GMTNope, don't do the stuff or ever have.
I think just things like books, food and living and fancy dress outfits.
Good. 
Sooty is right. The issue of over 50% of college leavers going to university is a farce. it degrades the value of a degree - with many of the degrees being totally stupid anyway - even if not many students studied for them in the first place.
University education surely has to be an object lesson in how to arrange a process in the most inefficient and costly way. They do what? 36 weeks per year, around 15 hours per week lecture time, for 3 years. I did my degree over 5 years, 2 evenings per week - and held down a full-time job at the same time.
Part of it is the students desire to have 3 very sociable years and delay having to grow up -that's fair enough - theyre only delaying the ineviatable day when they have to have a massive reality check and start competing for money. In any event, its an expensive way of having 3 years of socialising.
Now fees are going to rise, college leavers and their families will question this notion of going to university. It will probably lead to a decrease in college students who go there, and lead to more college students looking to get into industry.
Whilst I don't entirely agree with massive hikes in fees, I feel it will lead to some college students being forced to shun university, and ironically, probably make a better, certainly less expensive, life decision.
Quote: Juan Kerr @ November 13 2010, 12:22 AM GMTPart of it is the students desire to have 3 very sociable years and delay having to grow up
Quote: Juan Kerr @ November 13 2010, 12:22 AM GMTI did my degree over 5 years
Damn shame Loopy, engineering is hard to do parttime. The one size doesn't fit all apporach is why people like your son get missed out. But a creative approach to education would probably accomadate him. The idea that most of the country takes 3 years out of the job market is daffy,
And in fairness most governments tolerate it as a way of massaging unemployment figures (plus its cheaper than JSA)
Do we have any other benefits named after super hero teams?
Reading about NHS operations that will now be forever blocked from public funds. I think we need to getover the idea of the state as the big provider and be more willing to pay for education, health insurance etc as a state provision.
Don't shrink the state make it smarter and more on your side.
As usual Don - very constructive post.......
Yes, I did it part-time 2 evenings per week 6 hours in total over 5 years - and did 50 hours per week in a full-time demanding job too - Oh and supported a family as well.
Graduated with honours too so am well placed to comment on how unbelievably, embarrassingly piss easy it is to achieve the same in 3 years full-time with no distractions(if you call 15 hours of lectures max full-time).
I found part time study easier when combined with a full time job.
I dunno the mixed focus and lack of poverty helped me stick to what I was doing.
The 3 year degree benefits mostly univesities who need to get with the times.
I haven't read all the comments but of course every poly and college is now a "Uni" which detracts from those at the higher level.
I can't understand why we should support perpetual students - ie those who go from one course to another for ever.
Why did the old Grant system get removed?
Maybe they should double the fees for overseas students. How do we benefit otherwise?
And yes - it's almost too common for kids to leave school, have a gap year and then go to so-called "Uni".
Maybe it should be more educationally selective.
I could live with that. Free undergraduate degree, but pay for any postgraduate study.
Quote: Chappers @ November 13 2010, 3:44 PM GMTMaybe they should double the fees for overseas students. How do we benefit otherwise?
They already charge them a hell of a lot more. But I'm not against that. If they can afford it, fine, if they can't there's really no desperate need for them to study in England, surely? So they're not harmed by not coming here.