Interesting People mailing list archives
IP: Re:: Short changing their future -- from across the pond
From: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 05:26:53 -0400
X-Sender: Savana Burke@10.0.0.20 Date: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 09:23:52 +0100 To: farber () cis upenn edu From: s.burke () wolff-olins com (Savana Burke) Subject: IP: Short changing their future With reference to these comments:
"My fear is that these kids who haven't finished will last about seven years on the job
market. If they haven't learned to learn and can't go sideways into management, what happens to them?" Gosh, how awful for them! Don't tell me people will actually have to develop themselves throughout their working lives!
But the temptation for immediate rewards is great. Santa Barbara multimedia lab director Guy Smith says: "Without wanting to sound hysterical, this is really changing the shape of education in a fundamental way. You hear of kids leaving high school and making almost six figures. Recently we brought in 30 computer information officers and asked them about entry-level skills. I didn't hear the word 'degree' come up very often." (New York Times 25 Jun 98)
Sounds almost like a return to apprenticeship programs, doesn't it? I agree that some individuals will be able to go on into management, but everyone is not capable of that. While it's currently fashionable to think that everybody can and should attend university, is it really possible for all? "Learning to learn" should occur much earlier in a person's development - by the time they've gotten to university, it's often too late. I've heard it said recently that what the market requires now are legions of intelligent, imaginative, educated individuals willing to perform complicated, mind-numbingly boring work. Perhaps many students will end up "doing time" at this sort of job before re-assessing their situation and returning to school. At least by that time they'll have the money to pay for it. Just a comment from across the pond. Savana Burke ---------------------------- WOLFF OLINS 10 Regent's Wharf, All Saints St. London N1 9RL United Kingdom http://www.wolff-olins.com Direct phone:+44 (0) 171 551 4596 Direct fax: +44 (0) 171 551 4850 Mobile: +44 (0) 410 115 076
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- IP: Re:: Short changing their future -- from across the pond Dave Farber (Jun 26)