God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Obama: A reincarnation of Nixon, but without ANY scruples,
masquerading in politically-correct black-face.

"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
--


Stuff like this is already leaking into the workplace. eg; Rewards for
poor performance.


Cheers

"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
--


Stuff like this is already leaking into the workplace. eg; Rewards for
poor performance.


Cheers

"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Obama: A reincarnation of Nixon, but without ANY scruples,
masquerading in politically-correct black-face.

This cr*p really winds me up - there are 3 main types of schools in the UK,
state schools ("comprehensive"), Grammar schools and private (fee paying)
schools. The socialist guvmint objects on ideological grounds to anything
that
could remotely be construed as elitist, so they have indulged in a sustained
campaign to get rid of Grammar Schools (who have odd notions like putting
different capability students into different "streams", and have an interest
in
producing good results in their students). They also keep trying to remove
the
"charity" status from fee-paying schools (which gives them a tax break,
keeping
fees lower). These schools also have a vested interest in producing good
results
for the pupils (and do). Note that the parents paying the fees still have to
pay
taxes to fund the state education system.

What is left are the state schools. Many of these are being run on a "no
competition,
every student wins" basis, and the exam standards appear to be manipulated
to
provide consistent increases every year for pass percentages,
"demonstrating"
that the policies and teaching are improving all the time. Meanwhile,
industry
and universities are horrified at how poor school leavers are at the basics.

The current socialist solution is (Jim's link showed the latest wheeze,
there have
already been previous "initiatives") to force universities to accept much
lower
standards for "financially disadvantaged" pupils, or ones from the state
schools.

I cannot see how the socialists can be so irresponsible, or believe what
they are
doing can be justified. Unfortunately, their ideology based education
policies
will be extremely harmful for the whole of the UK for decades.

Ian

"Martin Riddle" wrote in message
...


"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
--


Stuff like this is already leaking into the workplace. eg; Rewards for
poor performance.



Granted that I'm a fan of Kurt Vonnegut but that smacks of his "Harrison
Burgeron"
Showtime made it into a movie
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...06468841636088

Oppie

"Martin Riddle" wrote in message
...


"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
--


Stuff like this is already leaking into the workplace. eg; Rewards for
poor performance.



Granted that I'm a fan of Kurt Vonnegut but that smacks of his "Harrison
Burgeron"
Showtime made it into a movie
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...06468841636088

Oppie

"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

Gag. What a ridiculous idea.

But I understand where it comes from... the notion we have today that everyone
"should" have a college degree, even though -- as has always been the case --
relatively few jobs really require all that a traditional college degree gave
you, led to a reduction in college entrance and graducation requirements.
People who once would have gone for, e.g., two-year technical degrees and made
perfectly good electronic technicians, software developers, web programmers,
etc. now go for the "full meal deal" and spend four or five years in
college -- and realistically you don't even have a choice: It's nigh
impossible to get even a sales job with a "technology" company (e.g., Agilent)
these days without a bachelor's degree. We've ended up with a system where
attending college is more a rite of passage with a bit of education tacked on
than a rigorous program for people who want to understand their field far more
in-depth than the bulk of people in the workforce actually require. Hence,
you have people like Lord Mandelson there realizing that... hmm... since
college for many doesn't really matter that much anyway except insofar as your
salary goes, where's the harm in just deciding that what few entrance
requirements remain can be "adjusted" to "benefit" the lower classes? It's
classic social engineering at its finest.

I wonder how elementary schools are funded in England? In the U.S. here it's
primarily by property taxes, which I think does make it very noticeably harder
for schools in poorer neighborhoods to provide the same resources as schools
in wealthier areas.

---Joel

"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

Gag. What a ridiculous idea.

But I understand where it comes from... the notion we have today that everyone
"should" have a college degree, even though -- as has always been the case --
relatively few jobs really require all that a traditional college degree gave
you, led to a reduction in college entrance and graducation requirements.
People who once would have gone for, e.g., two-year technical degrees and made
perfectly good electronic technicians, software developers, web programmers,
etc. now go for the "full meal deal" and spend four or five years in
college -- and realistically you don't even have a choice: It's nigh
impossible to get even a sales job with a "technology" company (e.g., Agilent)
these days without a bachelor's degree. We've ended up with a system where
attending college is more a rite of passage with a bit of education tacked on
than a rigorous program for people who want to understand their field far more
in-depth than the bulk of people in the workforce actually require. Hence,
you have people like Lord Mandelson there realizing that... hmm... since
college for many doesn't really matter that much anyway except insofar as your
salary goes, where's the harm in just deciding that what few entrance
requirements remain can be "adjusted" to "benefit" the lower classes? It's
classic social engineering at its finest.

I wonder how elementary schools are funded in England? In the U.S. here it's
primarily by property taxes, which I think does make it very noticeably harder
for schools in poorer neighborhoods to provide the same resources as schools
in wealthier areas.

---Joel

On Sun, 9 Aug 2009 12:01:47 -0700, "Joel Koltner"
wrote:

"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

Gag. What a ridiculous idea.

But I understand where it comes from... the notion we have today that everyone
"should" have a college degree, even though -- as has always been the case --
relatively few jobs really require all that a traditional college degree gave
you, led to a reduction in college entrance and graducation requirements.
People who once would have gone for, e.g., two-year technical degrees and made
perfectly good electronic technicians, software developers, web programmers,
etc. now go for the "full meal deal" and spend four or five years in
college -- and realistically you don't even have a choice: It's nigh
impossible to get even a sales job with a "technology" company (e.g., Agilent)
these days without a bachelor's degree. We've ended up with a system where
attending college is more a rite of passage with a bit of education tacked on
than a rigorous program for people who want to understand their field far more
in-depth than the bulk of people in the workforce actually require. Hence,
you have people like Lord Mandelson there realizing that... hmm... since
college for many doesn't really matter that much anyway except insofar as your
salary goes, where's the harm in just deciding that what few entrance
requirements remain can be "adjusted" to "benefit" the lower classes? It's
classic social engineering at its finest.

I wonder how elementary schools are funded in England? In the U.S. here it's
primarily by property taxes, which I think does make it very noticeably harder
for schools in poorer neighborhoods to provide the same resources as schools
in wealthier areas.

---Joel


AFAIK schools in the US aren't funded neighborhood-by-neighborhood,
but rather by school _district_, with substantial equalization because
of large cash infusions via state-wide taxation schemes, ADA, etc.
Arizona and California are certainly that way.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine Sometimes I even put it in the food

On Sun, 9 Aug 2009 12:01:47 -0700, "Joel Koltner"
wrote:

"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

Gag. What a ridiculous idea.

But I understand where it comes from... the notion we have today that everyone
"should" have a college degree, even though -- as has always been the case --
relatively few jobs really require all that a traditional college degree gave
you, led to a reduction in college entrance and graducation requirements.
People who once would have gone for, e.g., two-year technical degrees and made
perfectly good electronic technicians, software developers, web programmers,
etc. now go for the "full meal deal" and spend four or five years in
college -- and realistically you don't even have a choice: It's nigh
impossible to get even a sales job with a "technology" company (e.g., Agilent)
these days without a bachelor's degree. We've ended up with a system where
attending college is more a rite of passage with a bit of education tacked on
than a rigorous program for people who want to understand their field far more
in-depth than the bulk of people in the workforce actually require. Hence,
you have people like Lord Mandelson there realizing that... hmm... since
college for many doesn't really matter that much anyway except insofar as your
salary goes, where's the harm in just deciding that what few entrance
requirements remain can be "adjusted" to "benefit" the lower classes? It's
classic social engineering at its finest.

I wonder how elementary schools are funded in England? In the U.S. here it's
primarily by property taxes, which I think does make it very noticeably harder
for schools in poorer neighborhoods to provide the same resources as schools
in wealthier areas.

---Joel


AFAIK schools in the US aren't funded neighborhood-by-neighborhood,
but rather by school _district_, with substantial equalization because
of large cash infusions via state-wide taxation schemes, ADA, etc.
Arizona and California are certainly that way.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine Sometimes I even put it in the food

Ian wrote:
"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson

It depends on exactly how you read it.

The best university admissions interviewers are trained to spot coached
candidates from public (US private) schools and can determine natural
talent by a few well crafted awkward questions.

Anyone already schooled in the right answers for the standard ones gets
hit with the next tier until they finally run out of luck. Where you
fail and how compared to what sort of school you came from is a good
predictor of genuine ability, luck and/or native cunning.

A lot of the kids that come through pressure cooker public schools with
heavy academic coaching fall apart at university so equal performance
under pressure from an uncoached candidate is *more* than equal.

This cr*p really winds me up - there are 3 main types of schools in the UK,
state schools ("comprehensive"), Grammar schools and private (fee paying)
schools.

So far I agree with you.

My Grammar school was destroyed by the Labour party.

The socialist guvmint objects on ideological grounds to anything
that
could remotely be construed as elitist, so they have indulged in a sustained
campaign to get rid of Grammar Schools (who have odd notions like putting
different capability students into different "streams", and have an interest
in
producing good results in their students). They also keep trying to remove

That is actually better than having mixed ability classes where the
brightest are bored out of their skulls whilst the dimmest are still
working out which end of a pen the ink comes out.
the
"charity" status from fee-paying schools (which gives them a tax break,
keeping
fees lower). These schools also have a vested interest in producing good
results
for the pupils (and do). Note that the parents paying the fees still have to
pay
taxes to fund the state education system.

Tough. I believe that the state education system should be able to
educate the brightest students, and that dim students with rich parents
(or royalty) should not buy a free pass into Oxbridge.

Fee paying schools are *businesses* they are not charities within the
strict definition of the UK law. It is an anomoly that they are allowed
UK charitable status. They exist to perpetuate the status quo.

I particularly object to some of the tax payer subsidised Creationist
schools that Tony B.Liar has created during his Premiership.

What is left are the state schools. Many of these are being run on a "no
competition,
every student wins" basis, and the exam standards appear to be manipulated
to
provide consistent increases every year for pass percentages,
"demonstrating"
that the policies and teaching are improving all the time. Meanwhile,
industry
and universities are horrified at how poor school leavers are at the basics.

Hard to argue with that. Remedial teaching for maths and English is
unfortunately all too necessary at universities these days.

The current socialist solution is (Jim's link showed the latest wheeze,
there have
already been previous "initiatives") to force universities to accept much
lower
standards for "financially disadvantaged" pupils, or ones from the state
schools.

I do not approve of the forcing them, but they have always applied a
degree of skill in testing for the brightest talented candidates from
non-public schools for at least a few decades. And it goes back a lot
longer than that with scholarships and other funding mechanisms for
those very bright but not rich enough to pay university fees. Isaac
Newton could not afford to go to Cambridge, he should have been a farmer
and was admitted as a sizar (working to support his scholarship).

I cannot see how the socialists can be so irresponsible, or believe what
they are
doing can be justified. Unfortunately, their ideology based education
policies
will be extremely harmful for the whole of the UK for decades.

This started with Labours Comprehensive plan in the mid 1970's, and the
Thatcherites did nothing to reverse the trend. The end result was to
create some extremely intelligent criminals in failed schools.

To avoid ambiguity there are still plenty of good schools in the UK but
there are also places that are effectively sink schools and get all the
unteachable dross dumped on them that no-one wants. Rich people move
house to get their kids into good schools, the poor are priced out of
the market and often stuck next to a failing school.

It is worth asking the direct question: how many Labour party MP's kids
go to public school? (NB for US readers public schools in the UK are the
expensive private option for the well to do).

Regards,
Martin Brown

Ian wrote:
"Jim Thompson" wrote in
message ...
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson

It depends on exactly how you read it.

The best university admissions interviewers are trained to spot coached
candidates from public (US private) schools and can determine natural
talent by a few well crafted awkward questions.

Anyone already schooled in the right answers for the standard ones gets
hit with the next tier until they finally run out of luck. Where you
fail and how compared to what sort of school you came from is a good
predictor of genuine ability, luck and/or native cunning.

A lot of the kids that come through pressure cooker public schools with
heavy academic coaching fall apart at university so equal performance
under pressure from an uncoached candidate is *more* than equal.

This cr*p really winds me up - there are 3 main types of schools in the UK,
state schools ("comprehensive"), Grammar schools and private (fee paying)
schools.

So far I agree with you.

My Grammar school was destroyed by the Labour party.

The socialist guvmint objects on ideological grounds to anything
that
could remotely be construed as elitist, so they have indulged in a sustained
campaign to get rid of Grammar Schools (who have odd notions like putting
different capability students into different "streams", and have an interest
in
producing good results in their students). They also keep trying to remove

That is actually better than having mixed ability classes where the
brightest are bored out of their skulls whilst the dimmest are still
working out which end of a pen the ink comes out.
the
"charity" status from fee-paying schools (which gives them a tax break,
keeping
fees lower). These schools also have a vested interest in producing good
results
for the pupils (and do). Note that the parents paying the fees still have to
pay
taxes to fund the state education system.

Tough. I believe that the state education system should be able to
educate the brightest students, and that dim students with rich parents
(or royalty) should not buy a free pass into Oxbridge.

Fee paying schools are *businesses* they are not charities within the
strict definition of the UK law. It is an anomoly that they are allowed
UK charitable status. They exist to perpetuate the status quo.

I particularly object to some of the tax payer subsidised Creationist
schools that Tony B.Liar has created during his Premiership.

What is left are the state schools. Many of these are being run on a "no
competition,
every student wins" basis, and the exam standards appear to be manipulated
to
provide consistent increases every year for pass percentages,
"demonstrating"
that the policies and teaching are improving all the time. Meanwhile,
industry
and universities are horrified at how poor school leavers are at the basics.

Hard to argue with that. Remedial teaching for maths and English is
unfortunately all too necessary at universities these days.

The current socialist solution is (Jim's link showed the latest wheeze,
there have
already been previous "initiatives") to force universities to accept much
lower
standards for "financially disadvantaged" pupils, or ones from the state
schools.

I do not approve of the forcing them, but they have always applied a
degree of skill in testing for the brightest talented candidates from
non-public schools for at least a few decades. And it goes back a lot
longer than that with scholarships and other funding mechanisms for
those very bright but not rich enough to pay university fees. Isaac
Newton could not afford to go to Cambridge, he should have been a farmer
and was admitted as a sizar (working to support his scholarship).

I cannot see how the socialists can be so irresponsible, or believe what
they are
doing can be justified. Unfortunately, their ideology based education
policies
will be extremely harmful for the whole of the UK for decades.

This started with Labours Comprehensive plan in the mid 1970's, and the
Thatcherites did nothing to reverse the trend. The end result was to
create some extremely intelligent criminals in failed schools.

To avoid ambiguity there are still plenty of good schools in the UK but
there are also places that are effectively sink schools and get all the
unteachable dross dumped on them that no-one wants. Rich people move
house to get their kids into good schools, the poor are priced out of
the market and often stuck next to a failing school.

It is worth asking the direct question: how many Labour party MP's kids
go to public school? (NB for US readers public schools in the UK are the
expensive private option for the well to do).

Regards,
Martin Brown

In message , Jim Thompson
writes
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
I hate the way the idiots think everyone has the right to be mediocre
and degrade every one else's achievements in the process by lowering the
signal to noise ratio.

All idiocy like this does is raise the bar further because everyone who
gets a university qualification now has to go and do a post grad
doctorate to get to the same level as before.

There's a reason that entrance exams are set and not everyone can be a
rocket scientist or chip designer!
--
Clint Sharp

In message , Jim Thompson
writes
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
I hate the way the idiots think everyone has the right to be mediocre
and degrade every one else's achievements in the process by lowering the
signal to noise ratio.

All idiocy like this does is raise the bar further because everyone who
gets a university qualification now has to go and do a post grad
doctorate to get to the same level as before.

There's a reason that entrance exams are set and not everyone can be a
rocket scientist or chip designer!
--
Clint Sharp

On Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:43:42 +0100, Clint Sharp
wrote:

In message , Jim Thompson
writes
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
I hate the way the idiots think everyone has the right to be mediocre
and degrade every one else's achievements in the process by lowering the
signal to noise ratio.

All idiocy like this does is raise the bar further because everyone who
gets a university qualification now has to go and do a post grad
doctorate to get to the same level as before.

There's a reason that entrance exams are set and not everyone can be a
rocket scientist or chip designer!

Things will ultimately settle out. Many universities presently almost
completely ignore SAT scores and base admission upon interviews. I
personally did interviews of high school students, seeking admission
to MIT, for close to thirty years.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine Sometimes I even put it in the food

On Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:43:42 +0100, Clint Sharp
wrote:

In message , Jim Thompson
writes
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
I hate the way the idiots think everyone has the right to be mediocre
and degrade every one else's achievements in the process by lowering the
signal to noise ratio.

All idiocy like this does is raise the bar further because everyone who
gets a university qualification now has to go and do a post grad
doctorate to get to the same level as before.

There's a reason that entrance exams are set and not everyone can be a
rocket scientist or chip designer!

Things will ultimately settle out. Many universities presently almost
completely ignore SAT scores and base admission upon interviews. I
personally did interviews of high school students, seeking admission
to MIT, for close to thirty years.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine Sometimes I even put it in the food

In message , Jim Thompson
writes
There's a reason that entrance exams are set and not everyone can be a
rocket scientist or chip designer!

Things will ultimately settle out.
I have to agree, unfortunately sediment usually settles out at the
bottom.

The problem is that the idiots in power here in the UK seem to feel that
a university qualification is the be all and end all, never mind that
the qualification might be in basket weaving (useful for high power
transmitting valves I suppose), badger shaving or some other such
arcane subject that has no real world application, as long as they can
boast that they have more graduates per capita than any other country
then that's OK.

Many universities presently almost
completely ignore SAT scores and base admission upon interviews.
Not here AFAIK unless you want a redbrick university and even then it's
your academic record that counts (a cynical person might also conclude
that the size of the wallet and family connections also had a bearing).
Apparently it's almost trivial to gain entrance to a 'new' university if
you want to pursue a degree in tourism or surfing (really!).
I
personally did interviews of high school students, seeking admission
to MIT, for close to thirty years.
Ahh, I bet there are some stories there...

...Jim Thompson

--
Clint Sharp

In message , Jim Thompson
writes
There's a reason that entrance exams are set and not everyone can be a
rocket scientist or chip designer!

Things will ultimately settle out.
I have to agree, unfortunately sediment usually settles out at the
bottom.

The problem is that the idiots in power here in the UK seem to feel that
a university qualification is the be all and end all, never mind that
the qualification might be in basket weaving (useful for high power
transmitting valves I suppose), badger shaving or some other such
arcane subject that has no real world application, as long as they can
boast that they have more graduates per capita than any other country
then that's OK.

Many universities presently almost
completely ignore SAT scores and base admission upon interviews.
Not here AFAIK unless you want a redbrick university and even then it's
your academic record that counts (a cynical person might also conclude
that the size of the wallet and family connections also had a bearing).
Apparently it's almost trivial to gain entrance to a 'new' university if
you want to pursue a degree in tourism or surfing (really!).
I
personally did interviews of high school students, seeking admission
to MIT, for close to thirty years.
Ahh, I bet there are some stories there...

...Jim Thompson

--
Clint Sharp

On Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:30:36 +0100, Clint Sharp
wrote:

In message , Jim Thompson
writes
There's a reason that entrance exams are set and not everyone can be a
rocket scientist or chip designer!

Things will ultimately settle out.
I have to agree, unfortunately sediment usually settles out at the
bottom.

The problem is that the idiots in power here in the UK seem to feel that
a university qualification is the be all and end all, never mind that
the qualification might be in basket weaving (useful for high power
transmitting valves I suppose), badger shaving or some other such
arcane subject that has no real world application, as long as they can
boast that they have more graduates per capita than any other country
then that's OK.

Many universities presently almost
completely ignore SAT scores and base admission upon interviews.
Not here AFAIK unless you want a redbrick university and even then it's
your academic record that counts (a cynical person might also conclude
that the size of the wallet and family connections also had a bearing).
Apparently it's almost trivial to gain entrance to a 'new' university if
you want to pursue a degree in tourism or surfing (really!).
I
personally did interviews of high school students, seeking admission
to MIT, for close to thirty years.
Ahh, I bet there are some stories there...

...Jim Thompson

My funniest was a cheerleader-style babe... true airhead blond...
didn't have a clue except "MIT is a good school" ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
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I love to cook with wine Sometimes I even put it in the food

Jim Thompson wrote:

On Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:30:36 +0100, Clint Sharp
wrote:

In message , Jim Thompson
writes
There's a reason that entrance exams are set and not everyone can be a
rocket scientist or chip designer!

Things will ultimately settle out.
I have to agree, unfortunately sediment usually settles out at the
bottom.

The problem is that the idiots in power here in the UK seem to feel that
a university qualification is the be all and end all, never mind that
the qualification might be in basket weaving (useful for high power
transmitting valves I suppose), badger shaving or some other such
arcane subject that has no real world application, as long as they can
boast that they have more graduates per capita than any other country
then that's OK.

Many universities presently almost
completely ignore SAT scores and base admission upon interviews.
Not here AFAIK unless you want a redbrick university and even then it's
your academic record that counts (a cynical person might also conclude
that the size of the wallet and family connections also had a bearing).
Apparently it's almost trivial to gain entrance to a 'new' university if
you want to pursue a degree in tourism or surfing (really!).
I
personally did interviews of high school students, seeking admission
to MIT, for close to thirty years.
Ahh, I bet there are some stories there...

...Jim Thompson

My funniest was a cheerleader-style babe... true airhead blond...
didn't have a clue except "MIT is a good school" ;-)


Another 'Moron In Training'?

--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense!

On Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:24:42 -0700, Jim Thompson
wrote:

On Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:43:42 +0100, Clint Sharp
wrote:

In message , Jim Thompson
writes
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
I hate the way the idiots think everyone has the right to be mediocre
and degrade every one else's achievements in the process by lowering the
signal to noise ratio.

All idiocy like this does is raise the bar further because everyone who
gets a university qualification now has to go and do a post grad
doctorate to get to the same level as before.

There's a reason that entrance exams are set and not everyone can be a
rocket scientist or chip designer!

Things will ultimately settle out. Many universities presently almost
completely ignore SAT scores and base admission upon interviews. I
personally did interviews of high school students, seeking admission
to MIT, for close to thirty years.

...Jim Thompson

"presently" and what you did "years ago" are two different things. They
rely more on SAT scores now than they did before. The idiots are harder
to gauge now then ever before.

With the level of kids that have zero added education from their
parents, we'll be lucky if ANY of them actually learn the material.

It isn't college any more. It is advanced cheating classes. Half the
degreed assholes out there now do not really know the material.

One more reason why I do not get along well with "modern" youth.

The small stuff DOES MATTER.

Stop spitting everywhere. This isn't a baseball game, and you are not
on either team.

Stop flicking your cigarette butt TRASH onto the world that belongs to
the rest of us. It is actually littering in all 50 states.

Stop throwing your ****ing gum down on the ground, you ****ing
retards. That too is littering.

Stop emptying your vehicle ash tray by the roadside.

Goddamned inconsiderate ****ing retards.

Nearly every ****ing one of them are carefree, knows very little about
anything that matters idiots.

On Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:24:42 -0700, Jim Thompson
wrote:

On Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:43:42 +0100, Clint Sharp
wrote:

In message , Jim Thompson
writes
God help us, this will be Obama's next stunt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8192234.stm

...Jim Thompson
I hate the way the idiots think everyone has the right to be mediocre
and degrade every one else's achievements in the process by lowering the
signal to noise ratio.

All idiocy like this does is raise the bar further because everyone who
gets a university qualification now has to go and do a post grad
doctorate to get to the same level as before.

There's a reason that entrance exams are set and not everyone can be a
rocket scientist or chip designer!

Things will ultimately settle out. Many universities presently almost
completely ignore SAT scores and base admission upon interviews. I
personally did interviews of high school students, seeking admission
to MIT, for close to thirty years.

...Jim Thompson

"presently" and what you did "years ago" are two different things. They
rely more on SAT scores now than they did before. The idiots are harder
to gauge now then ever before.

With the level of kids that have zero added education from their
parents, we'll be lucky if ANY of them actually learn the material.

It isn't college any more. It is advanced cheating classes. Half the
degreed assholes out there now do not really know the material.

One more reason why I do not get along well with "modern" youth.

The small stuff DOES MATTER.

Stop spitting everywhere. This isn't a baseball game, and you are not
on either team.

Stop flicking your cigarette butt TRASH onto the world that belongs to
the rest of us. It is actually littering in all 50 states.

Stop throwing your ****ing gum down on the ground, you ****ing
retards. That too is littering.

Stop emptying your vehicle ash tray by the roadside.

Goddamned inconsiderate ****ing retards.

Nearly every ****ing one of them are carefree, knows very little about
anything that matters idiots.

On Sun, 9 Aug 2009 14:30:21 -0400, "Oppie" wrote:


Granted that I'm a fan of Kurt Vonnegut but that smacks of his "Harrison
Burgeron"
Showtime made it into a movie
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...06468841636088

Oppie

Give me a button, and I'll push it!

On Sun, 9 Aug 2009 14:30:21 -0400, "Oppie" wrote:


Granted that I'm a fan of Kurt Vonnegut but that smacks of his "Harrison
Burgeron"
Showtime made it into a movie
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...06468841636088

Oppie

Give me a button, and I'll push it!