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Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / Re: School vs. education.
« on: May 09, 2013, 10:57:47 PM »
As a bit of background: I suppose I fit into the other category. I'm not very well schooled on anything; I attended probably 20-30% of all my classes since year 9 and achived nothing remarkable in my GCSE years (B's and C's with an A in physics and Spanish) however I would still like to think I've educated myself but I'm also not smart either. I read about history, practice and learn languages and while I may come across as a bit of a dumbass some of the time (usually playing to the stereotype I fulfill), I find difficult theoretical concepts (quantum mechanics recently for example) understandable and relatable.
In response to the videos, I think that he has a good idea but took it in the wrong direction. It's not about the handful of people that made money without going to uni, it's about the fact that they occupied a gap in the market for something. In melodramatic terms: people need(ed) them.
A degree doesn't just show that you're a smart individual, it also shows that you're committed to that particular area and have worked to get to a position where you can be employed in a certain profession. In a hypothetical situation where degrees were not needed and you could get a job just by being smart (yes everything is completely over simplified for this), someone that has the capability to be a particle physicist can also most likely be capable of being a rocket scientist and there would be nothing (contracts are tenuous...ish) to stop them switching jobs on the fly simply for amusement.
Secondly, subjects like citizenship/General Studies are pointless imo. They are purposefully put into a syllabus to allow people who otherwise wouldn't get the right grades to go to uni. This to me seems to completely defeat the point of A-Levels, which are (to a certain extent) a measure of your academic skills and ability to work in an academic environment.
TLDR, degrees have their uses. PHSE/ General studies is counterproductive.
EDIT: Audio cut out on the video from Othko at around 11.07, I feel like I missed 34 seconds of genius.
In response to the videos, I think that he has a good idea but took it in the wrong direction. It's not about the handful of people that made money without going to uni, it's about the fact that they occupied a gap in the market for something. In melodramatic terms: people need(ed) them.
A degree doesn't just show that you're a smart individual, it also shows that you're committed to that particular area and have worked to get to a position where you can be employed in a certain profession. In a hypothetical situation where degrees were not needed and you could get a job just by being smart (yes everything is completely over simplified for this), someone that has the capability to be a particle physicist can also most likely be capable of being a rocket scientist and there would be nothing (contracts are tenuous...ish) to stop them switching jobs on the fly simply for amusement.
Secondly, subjects like citizenship/General Studies are pointless imo. They are purposefully put into a syllabus to allow people who otherwise wouldn't get the right grades to go to uni. This to me seems to completely defeat the point of A-Levels, which are (to a certain extent) a measure of your academic skills and ability to work in an academic environment.
TLDR, degrees have their uses. PHSE/ General studies is counterproductive.
EDIT: Audio cut out on the video from Othko at around 11.07, I feel like I missed 34 seconds of genius.
