Kent McMillan, post: 374911, member: 3 wrote: society actually needs other than a citizenry capable of independent thought and inquiry - in other words: land surveyors
Now that is a platform I can get behind.
PaulDon, post: 374963, member: 10992 wrote: Society doesn't need a Vice-Chancellor of QueenÛªs University Belfast deciding what society needs or what a 21 year old person should or shouldn't study. But perhaps society needs certain vice-chancellors to study what happens to societies when the tenets of communism/socialism are liberally applied to the countries of the world.
I tend to agree.
One thing I have noticed in my life is what happens to those that are either chosen or aspire to some sort of leadership. Some in history (and usually there out of circumstance and not desire) have risen to the challenge and actually taken to heart the needs of the people they represent. Those are few and far between. Most "aspire" to leadership either out of simple greed, or with the forethought their constituents are dumbasses and therefor easily maneuvered.
As a nation, we need leaders. But that by no means indicates we have no direction. A nation with no movement or direction tends to gather barnacles like a vessel at dock.
"If God had not want them to be fleeced, He would not have made them sheep." - JosÌ© Doroteo Arango ArÌÁmbula (aka Pancho Villa)
paden cash, post: 374967, member: 20 wrote: Most "aspire" to leadership either out of simple greed, or with the forethought their constituents are dumbasses and therefor easily maneuvered.
Considering that Mr. Johnston reportedly draws an annual salary equivalent to $288k USD and that British national health service doctors draw an average salary roughly 1/3 of that or less, I'd say there is a distinct air of self-congratulation in his remarks about leadership and service to society.
Kent McMillan, post: 374969, member: 3 wrote: ... I'd say there is a distinct air of self-congratulation in his remarks about leadership and service to society.
The French had it right in 1789-1791...."guillotine!"
If you invest your tuppence
Wisely in the bank
Safe and sound
Soon that tuppence safely invested in the bank
Will compound
And you'll achieve that sense of conquest
As your affluence expands
In the hands
Of the directors
Who invest as propriety demands
An educator that wishes to limit the pursuit of knowledge. So who should be in charge of what we learn? Or maybe putting it differently, we should ask who should decide in what areas we should remain ignorant? I never remember receiving any harm from learning anything. The same can not be said about ignorance. I have often thought that Politicians wish to keep the masses ignorance for job security.
Payden, I think we should be proud to have somebody at 21, that values history. NOT somebody that is "Disconnected from history" as it seems they want.
N
Chancellor backtracks
"In the interview I wanted to stress that a university education is more than the study of any one subject and that the aim is to produce graduates who have the potential to become leaders within our society. History graduates at Queen's are thinkers who have the capacity to help drive society forward.
"I sincerely apologise if there was any misunderstanding in the interview and would place on record that I have regard for students, colleagues and alumni from history."
GeeOddMike, post: 374980, member: 677 wrote: Chancellor backtracks
"In the interview I wanted to stress that a university education is more than the study of any one subject and that the aim is to produce graduates who have the potential to become leaders within our society. History graduates at Queen's are thinkers who have the capacity to help drive society forward.
"I sincerely apologise if there was any misunderstanding in the interview and would place on record that I have regard for students, colleagues and alumni from history."
The use of 'apologize' and 'if' together reveals a complete lack of sincerity. He's still a jerk...
thebionicman, post: 374983, member: 8136 wrote: The use of 'apologize' and 'if' together reveals a complete lack of sincerity. He's still a jerk...
I have in the past taken on duties of an adjunct faculty member at a local university. In my memory of conversations with all the ivy-covered and tenured mucky-mucks I can't think of one in which I didn't feel at least a hint of condescending arrogance. But I understand because of my personal experiences I probably don't give them an honest chance.
There may actually be some of them that might be functional in a mediocre way within the real world....but I doubt it. :pinch:
paden cash, post: 374990, member: 20 wrote: I have in the past taken on duties of an adjunct faculty member at a local university. In my memory of conversations with all the ivy-covered and tenured mucky-mucks I can't think of one in which I didn't feel at least a hint of condescending arrogance. But I understand because of my personal experiences I probably don't give them an honest chance.
There may actually be some of them that might be functional in a mediocre way within the real world....but I doubt it. :pinch:
My daughter (now son) won a big scholarship Freshman year at the local State U. So we got invited to a dinner thing with the President and his wife and some other dignitaries. Being a Land Surveyor I just sat down at the President's table next to his wife. She asked me what I got my degree in, I said, I didn't, I dropped out in a kind of proud way (like Bill Gates would). She instantly turned away from me and ignored me the rest of the evening, what a horrible snob.
I think successful people like me with a professional job but no degree are a threat to people like that. Like I don't really need to join your club of people with degrees. I already make something like twice the average College graduate salary.
Dave Karoly, post: 374996, member: 94 wrote: She asked me what I got my degree in, I said, I didn't, I dropped out in a kind of proud way (like Bill Gates would). She instantly turned away from me and ignored me the rest of the evening, what a horrible snob.
Did you rule out the possibility that you had a gigantic booger hanging out of your nose and she was just too polite to mention it before you jumped to the conclusion that she was a snob?
Dave Karoly, post: 374996, member: 94 wrote: ..I think successful people like me with a professional job but no degree are a threat to people like that. Like I don't really need to join your club of people with degrees. I already make something like twice the average College graduate salary.
Dave you're probably spot on....at least I agree with you. I have had similar experiences.
Picture the scene in the typical home with a 12 year-old child.
"Dad, I've decided I want to be a dentist when I grow up."
"That's great. Better make sure you get your homework done and correctly, then."
or
"Dad, I've decided I want to be an historian focused on the Sixth Century when I grow up."
"WHAT THE HE!! IS WRONG WITH YOU? YOU'RE NOT LIVING IN MY BASEMENT FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS!"
Or:
"Dad, I've decided that I want to become a government-funded cancer research scientist, but they don't get paid enough, so I'm thinking that a management position at a university would be better."
"Well, can you convince everyone that you are actually worth three times what a cancer research scientist is paid, son?"
"Don't people believe whatever they are told if it is stated emphatically and often?"
"Son, I'll send you a bill for room and board for your childhood."
"Don't people believe whatever they are told if it is stated emphatically and often?"
Nope. Better not say it. I'll be banned for sure...............................................
Might be considered P&R.
Holy Cow, post: 375060, member: 50 wrote: ..."Dad, I've decided I want to be an historian focused on the Sixth Century when I grow up."...
It could happen.
I'm betting the more likely scenario was similar to a buddy (fellow surveyor) of mine that washed out of engineering in 1972. About 1 semester before the money ran out he figured out he could make out with a degree in geography by taking a couple of classes. He figured he could probably get a job as a geography teacher somewhere. Then he found out teaching required another mess of classes he had either flunked out of, or hadn't taken.
We hired him as a rodman early in '73 and the rest, as they say, is history. He still didn't know squat about geography...
paden cash, post: 375064, member: 20 wrote: We hired him as a rodman early in '73 and the rest, as they say, is history. He still didn't know squat about geography...
Is there even any geography at all above the Red River? Is the idea that it takes real expertise to tell the difference between counties since the County Line signs tend to appear in flea markets as much as possible?
Kent McMillan, post: 375067, member: 3 wrote: Is there even any geography at all above the Red River? Is the idea that it takes real expertise to tell the difference between counties since the County Line signs tend to appear in flea markets as much as possible?
Oh Kent...you try so hard to differentiate yourself from us Okies...Kent doth protest too much methinks...a sure sign you're probably trying to hide some family secret of an Okie in the woodpile! Or possibly a secret desire to obtain dual licensure so you too can survey tracts in downtown Austin in a mere 2 hours?..:pinch:
And we call them swap meets up here...just fyi...;-)
Swap meets - that's what we used to call visits to the dump (now landfill - such a sterile appellation) back in the 50s.