Student Protests

9 Mar 2011

Of course with the new deal that the Gov is proposing for Police pay, you might find that they have to conscript un-employed students to keep order at rallies involving disgruntled Police Officers.
"May you live in interesting times"
an ancient Chinese curse............we certainly do !!
John & Shel

11 Mar 2011

Quote by flower411
If we were living in the nineteenth century when there was no State education for all paid by the tax-payer then unless you came from a rich background you would neither have been capable of reading my post nor replying to it because you wouldn't have been able to read and write.
Read your History.

I was a little bit confused by your post, so I went and read some history. It turns out that not just people from rich backgrounds were educated as you say. Many apprentices, soldiers and sailors, members of religious groups and guilds assistants received education. In fact, King Alfred insisted that "section leaders" (or the equivalent term of the day) of his armies who weren't all from rich backgrounds were taught reading and writing so that they could understand his written orders from Winchester, and be able to report back to him in the same way.
Perhaps you need to re-read your history?
Well I am an Historian and teach it at University. I would happily sit down and discuss with you the points you have raised, but that is not possible, and I do not have the time for a full written reply as I am just about to depart for warmer climes. However, if you contact me after March 5th when we return, I would be happy to write to you in full, citing my sources . In the meantime,may I suggest, for KIng Alfred, that you read "Anglo-Saxon England" by F.M. Stenton ?
So when you said "Read your History" You meant just read the bits that you say we should read ......glad you`ve made that clearer.
Personally I`d rather take a balanced view.
Oh I'm sorry, I thought that as an Historian with a Ph.D in the history of Anglo-Saxon England, I would know more about the subject than people who aren't Historians and don't teach the subject at university. I also thought that I was right in referring to the nobles who led Alfred's armies as ealdormen and thegns rather than 'section commanders". I also thought a polite reply to your posting would elicit a polite response. Clearly I have a lot to learn, but obviously not from you.

16 Mar 2011

Quote by sexyslut79
Oh I'm sorry, I thought that as an Historian with a Ph.D in the history of Anglo-Saxon England, I would know more about the subject than people who aren't Historians and don't teach the subject at university.

Distant history is largely based on a theory, and a theory is just an educated guess.
If the world was wiped out tomorrow and aliens came down and wanted to learn what western religion was in the 20th Century they could look at our churches, that are mostly east-west aligned and surmise that we worshiped the sun. They could then look at our crucifixes and surmise we also glorified human sacrifice.
So do historians really know more about the subject? Depends on what subject, and what theories they support. Sometimes the most popular views are discredited........so their knowledge was shown to be lacking. Even those with Ph.D's and teach in Universities.
Dave_Notts

1 Feb 2012

And as it came to pass, the meek shall vote with their feet
University applications from UK students for the first year of higher tuition fees are down by 8.7%, according to figures from the admissions service
With fees rising to up to £9,000 per year, the impact has been biggest for England's universities - down by 9.9%.
Universities Minister David Willetts said "It is encouraging that applications from people from some of the most disadvantaged backgrounds remain strong"
But Sally Hunt, general secretary of the UCU lecturers' union, said the "figures are very worrying and once again highlight the government's folly in raising tuition fees to as much as £9,000 a year. Applications in England are down over 50% more than in any other part of the UK as a result of the government making it the most expensive country in the world in which to gain a public degree."
There had been much debate about whether students would be influenced by fee levels - and the private BPP University College, which charges £5,000 per year for a three-year course, is reporting that applications have more than doubled.
There have also been signs of an increase in UK students applying overseas. Maastricht University in the Netherlands, where fees are £1,500 per year, is reporting a surge in applications

1 Feb 2012

Nicola Dandridge, Universities UK: Dip not as great as feared

1 Feb 2012

Quote by Bluefish2009
Nicola Dandridge, Universities UK: Dip not as great as feared

The change does not come into effect until this September/Octobers admission. So how have they worked out what the effect will be until then?
If the reduction is 9.9% now I wonder what the effect will be when next years admissions are calculated.
In Nottingham, the two universities are having record admissions this year (Admissions September/October 2011) as the new pricing does not come into affect until 2012 admission.
Dave_Notts

1 Feb 2012

Quote by Dave__Notts
Nicola Dandridge, Universities UK: Dip not as great as feared

The change does not come into effect until this September/Octobers admission. So how have they worked out what the effect will be until then?
If the reduction is 9.9% now I wonder what the effect will be when next years admissions are calculated.
In Nottingham, the two universities are having record admissions this year (Admissions September/October 2011) as the new pricing does not come into affect until 2012 admission.
Dave_Notts
Only time will tell

1 Feb 2012

Totally agree Blue............so how does the link state that the dip is not as bad as was feared if the new admissions have not even started yet?
Dave_Notts

1 Feb 2012

Quote by Dave__Notts
Totally agree Blue............so how does the link state that the dip is not as bad as was feared if the new admissions have not even started yet?
Dave_Notts

Because admissions starts with aplications to UCAS which commences before Xmas for the 2012 intake, so they are commenting on applications being 8.7% down.
Compared to applications in 2010 for 2011 intake I would expected a greater differential than 8.7%

1 Feb 2012

What total dross, that is the trouble with Britaain now, everyone is full of apathy. i think its right that "the people" stand up and be counted, that is true democracy, not the lily livered attitude that the state knows best and is always right! It is not. the irony of the student fees is that most will never be paid back, or if it is it will take decades! All it means is that the Govt is saddled with a huge debt that it is never likely to recover. Who are these layabout wankers? Oh yes, probably middle class wankers, sons of MP's or multimillionaire musicians. And as for destroying peoples livelihoods, I think the bankers and the present govt are doing a a pretty good job at that!

Quote by flower411
It`s interesting that when the last government tried to destroy peoples livelihoods by banning hunting, the protests were peaceful and the police are on record as commenting on how well behaved the protestors were.
When a bunch of layabout wankers who think they should be given everything on a silver platter get told they might have to pay their own way for once rather than sitting about spongeing off the rest of us .....there`s violence ........
So much for democracy

2 Feb 2012

Quote by Onthebeach_1
What total dross, that is the trouble with Britaain now, everyone is full of apathy. i think its right that "the people" stand up and be counted, that is true democracy, not the lily livered attitude that the state knows best and is always right! It is not. the irony of the student fees is that most will never be paid back, or if it is it will take decades! All it means is that the Govt is saddled with a huge debt that it is never likely to recover. Who are these layabout wankers? Oh yes, probably middle class wankers, sons of MP's or multimillionaire musicians. And as for destroying peoples livelihoods, I think the bankers and the present govt are doing a a pretty good job at that!

Not to mention what TB and GB did prior to that... wink

3 Feb 2012

Quote by Rogue_trader
Totally agree Blue............so how does the link state that the dip is not as bad as was feared if the new admissions have not even started yet?
Dave_Notts

Because admissions starts with aplications to UCAS which commences before Xmas for the 2012 intake, so they are commenting on applications being 8.7% down.
Compared to applications in 2010 for 2011 intake I would expected a greater differential than 8.7%
Only 8.7% down............thankfully it wasn't higher then phew. The big but...........and you know it is coming lol

..............but what percentage of lower income students have not applied this year?
For those that can afford university, whatever the price, are not going to be affected. It is those that have not been born into the right family that will suffer. Nothing I can see where they break it down demographically.
Dave_Notts

3 Feb 2012

I have heard that some of the more forward thinking Universites are gearing up for a rise in part time and remote students.
This will cater for people like my youngest. A predicted top grade A level student who attends a first rate school and has looked at her options and decided that she would rather not saddle herself with a lifetime of debt.
I am sure she isn't alone. A bit of a shame tbh.

3 Feb 2012

we went down last week to chichester uni as my daughter wants to get a degree in teaching.
it was a fine uni and her interview went very well. in fact so well she has been offered a place there in september based on her grades. this is the first of 5 uni interviews she will be attending and because of the drop in uni graduates, she will hopefully have a better chance of getting in the better uni out of the 5 she is looking at going to. so that has to be good for her as she is not an A grade student.
yes the cost is high. luckily it is now only a 3 year degree course as the 4th yeer will be spent in the classroom. but as i have said to her, she will have a recognised degree which she can use all of her life in being a teecher. the scope within teaching is huge as to where a person can go. yes 27 grand is a lot of debt but the payback of that money is taken gradually and i am sure that if a person had to pay full price for that degree it would be a lot more than 9 grand a yeer.
she is prepared to take the gamble if that is the right word, as she is clever and i hope that it will end up being one of the better decisions she makes in here life, even with the debt. :thumbup:

3 Feb 2012

Despite some dire warnings about the Coalition’s student finance reforms, we’ve already had more applications to university than in any year under the previous government. Once the decline in the total number of 18 year olds has been accounted for, their application rate is down only 1 per cent on last year, when a record number of people applied to get in. We’ve sent recent graduates into 2,000 schools and colleges to explain that maintenance grants are being increased and monthly repayments after graduation are being reduced. Simon Hughes, the Coalition’s Advocate on Access, has really helped us to get the message across. Already, more people have applied to start university in 2012 than there are places available. So yet again it will be very competitive.

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