h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*sighs a deep sigh of relief as the sofa touches down, wanders off to the kitchen, comes back with some , and settles back down*

Education. I'm looking at going back and getting my degree at long last. Should be an interesting time. And one that I am sure you will hear all about. As to the state of the educational systems around the world... All of them seem to make learning a task when it should by all means be a pleasure.

Amy I do hope that you feel better soon, dear.

[not here]

*gets all misty-eyed*

Hypatia, that's so sweet. I met my husband on a blind date. He's 2 years younger than me, and it raised a couple of eyebrows since we were in our early twenties. But most people considered the difference insignificant.


Don't get me started on public school districts, MR. Have you been to a PTA meeting yet? It burns my hide how much parent groups donate financially to supply things that the district ought to. The parents don't get that they are already paying taxes to educate their kids. I hate that "let's have another fundraiser" attitude. They ought to get to board meetings and lobby for their kids' needs.

Gwen -

Having just started again on my BA, I can tell you it's interesting. Being 31 in a room of 18 year olds is quit ....... well quit ..... well, I can't really explain it.

I have noticed that I take school more seriously now. I look at school as just more work, so I bring the same work ethic. It's actually sad how low the bar is for getting an A, and yet ... with the amount of moaning and complaining .... you would think we were being assigned 50 page papers every day.

I went to school in Catholic schools until College so I cannot speak to the public education system.

Courtesy

LOL! She hasn't been to a PTA meeting yet, WM, cause the Orange County Republican housewives meet at 11:30 AM. Yes, that's right, AM, effectively shutting out all those unfortunate enough to have to work for a living...

isnt it weird to be in dorms with people half your age?

do you buy them beer?

*shocked*

MR... pay those dues and appeal to the PTA president (in writing) for alternating evening and morning meetings! And cc the principal.

*rubs palms together in anticipation of seeing the fur fly*

*imagines Courtesy in the dorm... *

Isn't that terrible? What a way to effectively control what the local PTA stands for and who is involved. I'm hoping, since MR doesn't have class the day they meet, that she will ride in and take over the whole snotty upper-class lot.

Whilst sneaking around I found this in the works: A765948. Those cookies look great and... that's my chocolate chip cookie at the end.

Good job Anna!

I don't think I would call the Br educational system vocational. In fact, our vocational training is absolutely dire. Nobody takes it seriously, for a start. The highest qualification you can get for being an electritian in Br is the lowest level in Germany. They couldn't even keep the pollytechnics, which were a wonderful idea, but had to turn them into second rate uni's. It shouldn't be like that. It's not here. Despite the fact that the Russian ed system will be on its last legs any day now, they do have this wondersful system of highr ed. institutes, which are pure vocational training centres, but very thorough. Probably not quite as up to date as they could be, but there you go.

As for public education: my school was pretty average. (Considers the understatement rather ruefully...) No complaints, though. The problem with today in Br is: too many exams. Br kids now the most examined in Europe at, what? 11, 14, 16, 17 and 18. And 7? have they put that in yet. And the introduction of the AS level was farcical. It takes a heck of a long time to make a really good exam - it needs a heck of a lot of testing. No way did they do enough of that - I'm not surprised they made a cock up.

I'd strongly reccommend, Caer, that you put pressure on No 2 son's school to protest... Everybody else seems to be...

And Courtesy: I've always thought education was wasted on the young

Oh, yes. Remember how well the school here likes us students? Well, I just found out that the PTA meetings are at 11:30 in the morning on Thursdays. Lucky for me that unlike the majority of student parents, I am free that hour. The head of the PTA is a classic CA barbie doll -- blonde, tan, manicured and botoxed. She's pushing 45 and trying to look 18....the whole tight pants and halter top thing. Frankly, I think it's disgusting, but I smile when I picture the looks on their plastered faces when *I* walk into the meeting. Gosh, someone who doesn't care about what so-and-so's mom wore to the family night? Someone who wants to talk about why there's no music education classes? Who wants to chair the Families at Risk committee?

Yep. I think it might be fun.

About Icelandic last names - they mostly use the father's name, but some use their mother's name, although it's not very common...

...another interesting detail, according to the Institute of Linguistics at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), is that the Icelandic phone books are sorted in alphabetical order by people's first name!

[Amy]

{[caer csd] Sol, I was thinking of phoning the College No2 went to, but he doesn't want me to make a fuss, he says that at 19 he can fight his own battles if he wants. So I have left it up to him. If he was definitely going on to Uni, it would be a different matter, but he is looking for IT based employment and is swotting up on Novell and Cisco with H's help.

With No1 son out of the house all day Sadie has found a new practise kip spot on his bed. He has now been set the task of shredding boxes of files over 6 years old and archiving the cold cases. They are amazed that he has turned up for a 3rd morning! He says its just like ebing back as school having to wear suit and tie, but he has found a sandwich bar with attractive girls to pass his lunch break }

Well, that's fair enough, Caer. But if I were his teacher I'd be wanting to know so I could raise merry hell. Mind, they probably do know, so...

Looking forward to the tales of your PTA battles, MR.

[]

Someone here (I've forgotten who) gave a link to an article mentioning a doctor who had said something about drinking too much water - I've forgotten who, and I can't find the posting - could someone help me find the link?

[ill]
disgusted at story about AS levels
looking forward to tales of PTA ladies getting their world punctured rightly

[H] Good Morning.

Titania, the phone books sound very confusing.

MR - afraid I don't know anyone named Hilles.

MR, if your parent organization is a formal PTA under the national organization you will find lots of information and resources at the national web site: http://pta.org/index.asp

It's an invaluable tool for counteracting parents who like to make up things as they go along. My battle cry is something like, "You can't do that, you'll lose your tax-exempt status!"

Caer good luck to No. 2 son if he is getting into my profession. Don't know what it is like on your side of the puddle, but over here those jobs are becoming scarce due to a glut of qualified people.

MR stick it to the PTA! (never liked what the PTA did in my school districts)

GL, I will be going up to Canada in four weeks, albeit to Calgary. Ever been there? Any suggestions on what to see etc.?

Oh, I would like to point out a very good piece that AGcB wrote yesterday... A831827

Go check it out.