What Is Ur Education?

[Tywais]

(Despite what everyone used to tell me in school about how important subjects like algebra and calculus were, 27 years later and I still have not used either one. Was that a waste of time or what ?)

Chances are that you do use it but not consciously when you go shopping (If I buy 5kG of this how much for 1kG). Of course it all depends on your field. I use algebra nearly everyday for one thing or another and calculus maybe once or twice a month. Not a fair comparison I realize since I work in nuclear Physics.

My wife would certainly agree with you. I sent her back to school to complete her Mathom 6 diploma and 'helped' her with her algebra homework. My feeling she was like everyone else, "what's the point".

[PeaceBlondie]

Maybe the following has already been said, but here goes my 2 satang worth:

It's a racket, a conspiracy of educators whose ancestors created the education dictatorship, and who still dictate many occupations in the developed world.

Do you want your kid taught at school by someone who flunked out of kindergarten? Probably not, not when it's still the education game. Of course, there are exceptions: if your kid is in P4 in Thailand, the farang teacher of English doesn't need a uni degree in English or in education to teach "this is an apple; and in Alaska, it's COLD...NOW!!"

The developed world contains all kinds of specialties where a bachelor's degree, or higher, is required. School teachers, accountants, brain surgeons, registered nurses, architects, engineering. Now, please, before you think of an exception ("I knew this bloke in Hampshire wot didn't have a uni degree, and he was right clever in nuclear physics..."), consider that these are the general rules.

I first went into religion, into the religious education of youth. A BA in Christian religion was the bare minimum. Then I became an accountant, where you had to know debits and credits, revenue and expenses, etc. You had to show you'd learned that at university. Yeah, I was an IRS auditor with a religion degree, plus 1.5 years of accounting courses. My friend's degree was in modern French literature, but she went on to be a CPA, and a manager of CPA's. You don't expect the average parish priest to be a heart surgeon, and you don't ask advanced theological questions of the average plumber.

Surely, education matters. Of course, there are exceptions. But who do you think I'm more proud of, as a father - the first two kids, who have master's degrees, or the last four kids, who didn't finish the ninth grade? By the way, the masters make over $50,000 per year and are earning real pensions, while I don't think any of the dropouts have ever made a third that much. But I love all of them the same.

Who's the happiest? Happiness or contentment has virtually nothing to do with educational level. Most Thais with 6th grade education are happier than most Westerners with a master's degree.

To the OP - why do you call yourself "Ajarn"?

This is a title that is earned, or if you work in a university.

Guys who teach kids, are "khroo".

Not everywhere in Thailand. Three hundred matayom teachers called me 'Ajarn" and that's exactly what they called one another "Ajarn" every day, and so did 6600 of our students. Khroo was never used. We may have worked in different provinces. I don't speak Thai, but all those who do speak it called me "Ajarn."

[richard10365]

I think education is extremely important. I have a high school diploma and think if I could have been my own parent and guided my educational choices from birth, I would have did things a lot different and ended up with 4 more years of higher education.

Life is what it is and I am living the life I ended up with.

Of course, this is not totally a bad thing since I am not working now, retired 2 years ago at 38, and living in the land of smiles.

Life turned out ok.

Edited March 6, 2006 by richard10365

[LoveDaBlues]

I have three BA Degrees, Anthropology, Sociology, Economics and part of a Masters in Education. I taught for a while on the college level but it did not pay enough so I quit and went into business.

My recent views on education have been colored by my youngest daughter who got all of the smarts in the family. She attended a special school for advanced children from the time she was in 2nd grade. The school went from grade school through high school. Two of her classmates got perfect scores on the SAT test.

Her school mates were among the most intelligent and well educated kids I have ever met. They all spoke at least three languages fluently by 16 years of age and almost all played at least two instruments with professional ability.

There were no sports at the school. But the children won all the State and National math contests and debating team awards.

She had to take an eight hour battery of academic and psychological tests to gain admission. If any of the students dropped below a B average they were dismissed from the school and there were no easy courses at the school. We received her first offer of a college scholarship when she was 11 years old.

She graduated with honors and is now in her second year of college and her part time job is Anchorwoman at the local radio station. All of her friends go to school at colleges ranked in the top ten in the US. My daughter is well spoken and well connected and it is due to her education.

I think one of the most important factors in Education is connections or networking. She spends her summers in France or Italy with friends and when she graduates will have a bag full of job offers from people she knows and went to school with.

Also her Sin Sot will be incredibly high if I can get her to move to Thailand.

I was still wetting the bed.........

[Gulliver_in_LOS]

Ihave a PhD in Physics. Married to a Thai woman and have a six months old baby boy. Currently working as a postdoc in Japan. I master four languages: French, English, Arabic, Japanese, and now learning Thai.

[raro]

I almost posted PhD in comparative gynecology, but as this threat is still serious (after so many pages...wow!) I admit to being a uni drop-out (Chemistry), went to business school, graduated as "Industriekaufmann" (some German vocational degree) and still curse the years I wasted in university. No, I don't belive in education, but in self-acquired knowledge/skills (whether in school or wherever else).

[rcalsop]

College drop out, working as a Naval Communicator..

Is that as in Navel confrontation with loss of seamen , ??????

[sbk]

BA in Politics and History.

I studied what interested me as I viewed (and still do) education as a means to learn rather than a means to a job.

And see how correct I was? Here I am living on a small island running a beach bungalow business.

[gburns57au]

You know I reckon if someone was to go through the threads...they could find out...

a persons address or neighbourhood, their income, their job, their education level and how much home security that person has....

This place must be a burglars dream....

[sbk]

You know I reckon if someone was to go through the threads...they could find out...

a persons address or neighbourhood, their income, their job, their education level and how much home security that person has....

This place must be a burglars dream....

I'm easy enough to find alright. But, good luck getting past my 5 dogs

[gburns57au]

You know I reckon if someone was to go through the threads...they could find out...

a persons address or neighbourhood, their income, their job, their education level and how much home security that person has....

This place must be a burglars dream....

I'm easy enough to find alright. But, good luck getting past my 5 dogs

5 pieces of steak with a knock out drug in it.......

[sbk]

You know I reckon if someone was to go through the threads...they could find out...

a persons address or neighbourhood, their income, their job, their education level and how much home security that person has....

This place must be a burglars dream....

I'm easy enough to find alright. But, good luck getting past my 5 dogs

5 pieces of steak with a knock out drug in it.......

What would you recommend for the husband with the shotgun then?

[Tywais]

I'm easy enough to find alright. But, good luck getting past my 5 dogs

5 pieces of steak with a knock out drug in it.......

What would you recommend for the husband with the shotgun then?

5 pieces of steak with a knock out drug in it.......

Edited March 6, 2006 by tywais

[CMCool]

Chances are that you do use it but not consciously when you go shopping (If I buy 5kG of this how much for 1kG). Of course it all depends on your field. I use algebra nearly everyday for one thing or another and calculus maybe once or twice a month. Not a fair comparison I realize since I work in nuclear Physics.

You don't really need Lie Algebra when you go shopping, do you?

[astral]

Not sure what you mean by Undergraduate? BA (failed)?

I did graduate and I also have a Post Grad qualification in Education, so

I ticked the Masters Box.

"Professional" struck me as odd as well.

Don't Doctor's and Accountants have degrees?

Does it include the profesional ladies as well?????????????

Edited March 6, 2006 by astral

[gburns57au]

You know I reckon if someone was to go through the threads...they could find out...

a persons address or neighbourhood, their income, their job, their education level and how much home security that person has....

This place must be a burglars dream....

I'm easy enough to find alright. But, good luck getting past my 5 dogs

5 pieces of steak with a knock out drug in it.......

What would you recommend for the husband with the shotgun then?

a holiday.....

[sadman]

Family finances didn't permit going to uni at 18, so I went out and got a job. At 32 I put myself through uni at the same time as holding down a demanding job and being a husband and father. Got a 1st in Criminology, then later did a Master's in Law followed by an MBA, as well as a few bolt-on post-graduate qualifications. I did these for the sheer pleasure of it.

It doesn't make me a better or more intelligent person, although probably more personally fulfilled. Education is a wonderful thing because it gives you choices. My elder daughter went to uni, my younger one chose not to. They both do well in different ways. My son is doing very well at school. I love them all to bits and equally and that has nothing to do with education.

All I want is that they have options - if they want to sweep the streets, that's great as long as they want to, not because they have no choice. Plenty of my family and friends do jobs they detest but but do anyway to put food on the table. I wanted more for me and want more for my children.

I built up a thriving business and, like a previous poster, find myself less happy than when I was a one-man band. Please don't misunderstand me - I am very lucky to be in the position in which I find myself. I can't have it all ways.

I am now in the process of sorting things out so that as soon as my son finishes full-time education I will move to LOS permanently. I will want to work, but not like now. Whatever I do will be modest and give me the time to do what I want to do - live life, enjoy my partner (soon to be wife) and children. That is a choice I am fortunate enough to be able to make. Just out of interest, my good lady studied at Oxford and is fairly dismissive of her studies there. Her business has nothing whatsoever to do with her Oxonian qualifications (studied medieval English and is a hypnotherapist). She shares my dreams.

Many of you reading this are already living in LOS, waking up to the sound of the sea or whatever, and living the life of your dreams. We are living in London, running our businesses and getting onto tv as much as we can in between trips to LOS. Guess where we'd rather be. You lucky, lucky people.

[the gent]

Oh God, it seems all those dreary american posters have missed the point of the thread.Quelle surprise?

I particularly like the the septic BEM, ex NSA, but gosh I can't say a word "I'm retired man but I just couldn't resist it, you know what I mean." Hey, Mr. Cryptoanalyst, how's the microwave perm or have we not reached that stage yet?

That of course will not mean anything to most, mods included, so don't knock yourselves out. But BEM is cool, aren't you buddy?

That aside, education beyond 16 - 17 is mostly conceit feeding the vanity of the alleged educated.

I have little formal education beyond 16 but I still read and ask why.

[Khutan]

I had the good luck to work for a company that had a constant requirement for PhD's. (Read Defence contractor) So as a full fee-paying student, its difficult not to pass.

So I could say that it is little better than your average MSc, but it was a bit of work to do it.

[khall64au]

Oh God, it seems all those dreary american posters have missed the point of the thread.Quelle surprise?

I particularly like the the septic BEM, ex NSA, but gosh I can't say a word "I'm retired man but I just couldn't resist it, you know what I mean." Hey, Mr. Cryptoanalyst, how's the microwave perm or have we not reached that stage yet?

That of course will not mean anything to most, mods included, so don't knock yourselves out. But BEM is cool, aren't you buddy?

That aside, education beyond 16 - 17 is mostly conceit feeding the vanity of the alleged educated.

I have little formal education beyond 16 but I still read and ask why.

Good on ya buddy! I too read and asked why, many years after high school. Alas, unless one has an entrepreneurial spirit, good financiers and a lot of savvy luck these days - one needs to have an education to move along in the world.

I would not call education conceit nor vanity but a modern necessity. So therefore, many of us bite the bullet in later life to fulfill a rapid economic need. Some of us are lucky and actually enjoy what we study and make it a life vocation - one that allows us the freedom to live where we want.

Education is no longer a luxury, but a must. Which century are you living in The Gent?

[the gent]

Khall,

Define progress.....another thread posits the same thesis albeit through the prism of whom we regard as the good or the great. Apart from the facile response expected from the usual retards, folk have inadvertently hit upon the key, it's not the century, it is the man( meant generically).

For me, my heroes are Isaac Newton and the guy who hit upon ' zero ' but in bleak moments I hanker after that old poof Da Vinci who concluded that people were in the main ' sacks for food' and ' fillers of pisspots '

But, of course, he had never been to the Gold Coast!

[kerryk]

With the day to day stuff sometimes I forget how lucky I am. I live in Thailand.

[Old Croc]

Oh God, it seems all those dreary american posters have missed the point of the thread.Quelle surprise?

I particularly like the the septic BEM, ex NSA, but gosh I can't say a word "I'm retired man but I just couldn't resist it, you know what I mean." Hey, Mr. Cryptoanalyst, how's the microwave perm or have we not reached that stage yet?

That of course will not mean anything to most, mods included, so don't knock yourselves out. But BEM is cool, aren't you buddy?

That aside, education beyond 16 - 17 is mostly conceit feeding the vanity of the alleged educated.

I have little formal education beyond 16 but I still read and ask why.

I had the one of highest IQs in my high school, but didn't go to uni. Instead I went "up north" and worked in many varied jobs for good money. I despise the school of thought that expouses the theory that time spent in tertiary institutions equals superiority. I did some study later in my work career and have some qualifications, but they mean little to me.

In the workplace I found I was always way ahead of the Masters or Doctorate degree holders in the practicalities of life and work.

I consider excessive tertiary study to be a way of avoiding the real world and a pathetic attempt to gain status. Something that the British and Americans have in common.

[rcalsop]

I have a good education Masters with several applied qualifications achieved after starting work ,I work in HRD specialising in management team selection and building . I have one skill I am proud of and that is finding diamonds in the rough in the work environment these are people who have slipped through the educational net due to social or financial reasons ..people who fit this profile are hungry to learn and improve and with some one who has faith in them to push, support and be honest with them and offer the right challenges they become loyal and very valuable team members . This has worked for me from the UK and many countries including Thailand the ones who are not going to make it fall at the first fence . In China my first recruit ment foray was a safe play to recruit all top graduates ( I did not follow my normal rules )8 weeks into the first graduate induction course I had a joint meeting to check the progress and asked what their new vision was now they knew the company a little better, all of them replied they were happy and would work hard over the next years and learn as much as they could from the company then leave to set up their own business . I was astounded and changed policy immediately . The second and future recruitment was to find "hungrier people " with less emphasis on pure academic credentials , possibly different age brackets and mostly female ,and from lower socio economic brackets .

5 years later the first group are all gone having contributed nothing to the company but the second and third groups recruited 90% are still there and are doing well.

Edited March 6, 2006 by rcalsop

[Boo]

Left school at 17 (half way through my A levels) due to financial reasons. I was applying for places for a business degree. I worked for an insurance company for 18months then fell into investment banking & have been doing it ever since. A degree is not required to trade (which I did before giving it all up to travel for 7 years) or do project/business management if you have the experience to back it up. Unfortunatly for most younger people, they need a degree to get a foot in the door these days so I guess I was lucky. I often wonder if I missed out by not going to uni but thats mostly the social side. I look at my cousin who is 22 & in the middle of his maths/physics degree & he can barely look after himself or tie his shoe laces. He is mega clever but has not an ounce of commen sense that I wonder how he is going to cope in the real world.

The only kind of students who piss me off are the ones who do pointless degrees like medieval glass blowing theory as unless they intend to become a blower of medieval glass, then I see it as a cop out & they might as well print their degree on loo paper

[britmaveric]

Experience/Education go hand in hand - found that after finishing uni - requirements for descent position usually 4yr degree and 5-10yrs experience.

[khall64au]

Khall,

Define progress.....another thread posits the same thesis albeit through the prism of whom we regard as the good or the great. Apart from the facile response expected from the usual retards, folk have inadvertently hit upon the key, it's not the century, it is the man( meant generically).

For me, my heroes are Isaac Newton and the guy who hit upon ' zero ' but in bleak moments I hanker after that old poof Da Vinci who concluded that people were in the main ' sacks for food' and ' fillers of pisspots '

But, of course, he had never been to the Gold Coast!

TG I did not mention "progress" in my post. Where is that coming from? I do not believe that education equals progress, but it sure helps in making informed decisions about the advancement of the planet. Many under-educated people have no idea about the mechanisms of planet Earth and therefore continue to trash their very lifeforce in the quest for short term wealth. Having said that, many so-called entrepreneurs are making squillions doing the same thing but in the guise of job creation. I'm gonna get dizzy chasing my tail here - but I sure as don't want to live on the Gold Coast. Been there done that!

[Old Croc]

Experience/Education go hand in hand - found that after finishing uni - requirements for descent position usually 4yr degree and 5-10yrs experience.

I don't understand how they co-exist. It's impossible to leave uni with 5-10 yrs work experience (unless you go to uni at a late stage of life)

[britmaveric]

Experience/Education go hand in hand - found that after finishing uni - requirements for descent position usually 4yr degree and 5-10yrs experience.

I don't understand how they co-exist. It's impossible to leave uni with 5-10 yrs work experience (unless you go to uni at a late stage of life)

I know - bit ironic isn't it? Thank Buddah for internships!!

Edited March 6, 2006 by britmaveric

[sadman]

I despise the school of thought that expouses the theory that time spent in tertiary institutions equals superiority.

I certainly agree that it doesn't make a person superior, but it can impart a superior knowledge. This isn't everything, of course, but it can help. If you went to see a doctor and discovered that they had no formal learning, you might be a touch apprehensive.

I did some study later in my work career and have some qualifications, but they mean little to me.

What, not even the satisfaction of achieving something requiring hard work?

In the workplace I found I was always way ahead of the Masters or Doctorate degree holders in the practicalities of life and work.

The two are not mutually exclusive: it is possible for well-educated people to be practical, in the same way as it is possible for those without qualifications to be ignoramuses.

I consider excessive tertiary study to be a way of avoiding the real world and a pathetic attempt to gain status. Something that the British and Americans have in common.

But NEVER an Aussie, of course!

I often wonder if I missed out by not going to uni but thats mostly the social side.

Me too, but I'm really trying to catch up

The only kind of students who piss me off are the ones who do pointless degrees like medieval glass blowing theory as unless they intend to become a blower of medieval glass, then I see it as a cop out & they might as well print their degree on loo paper

Absolutely! And what's more is that we're paying for them to indulge their hobbies!