I imagine that when Leacock was writing, a university education was an elite and profound thing, and would usually have made a massive impression on what a man (probably no women then!) would become. He is justified in calling it a wreck, but it would be a magnificent wreck that stayed with someone all their life.
Two years studying leisure management at the local concrete and glass box because Tony Blair thought everyone needed a degree is not in the same league. That's not so much magnificent wreckage, but more a vaguely remembered small pile of garbage.
Following on from Sam Vega there was once a time when if you were not good enough to for university you might become a filing clerk or other office worker. Today you need a degree to become the modern equivalent of the filing clerk.
A friend got her BA in Radio and TV Production, and also music.
She was told at interviews that the music one was more valuable, as there was an opportunity to project herself, so now she has the job of her dreams, as a trainer in IT to huge companies - especially lawyers, who need to be told how to charge for saying 'Good morning'...
As for me, I should have become a carpenter/plumber! (but I never had the Latin)!
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I imagine that when Leacock was writing, a university education was an elite and profound thing, and would usually have made a massive impression on what a man (probably no women then!) would become. He is justified in calling it a wreck, but it would be a magnificent wreck that stayed with someone all their life.
ReplyDeleteTwo years studying leisure management at the local concrete and glass box because Tony Blair thought everyone needed a degree is not in the same league. That's not so much magnificent wreckage, but more a vaguely remembered small pile of garbage.
Following on from Sam Vega there was once a time when if you were not good enough to for university you might become a filing clerk or other office worker. Today you need a degree to become the modern equivalent of the filing clerk.
ReplyDeleteA friend got her BA in Radio and TV Production, and also music.
ReplyDeleteShe was told at interviews that the music one was more valuable, as there was an opportunity to project herself, so now she has the job of her dreams, as a trainer in IT to huge companies - especially lawyers, who need to be told how to charge for saying 'Good morning'...
As for me, I should have become a carpenter/plumber! (but I never had the Latin)!
Sam - yes I'm sure Tony Blair wanting everyone to have a degree has created a much more miserable class of wreckage.
ReplyDeleteDemetrius - I wonder where all the filing clerks went, and the typists.
Scrobs - I knew a good IT guy who retrained as a plumber. Not so much a matter of money but he wanted to be his own boss.