BBC News banging on about student loans, again!

[otolith]

I wonder if there is some way of tying the university's long term funding to the student loan repayment success of its graduates -the university will then have to have an eye on the employability of the graduates it creates (and the undergraduates it takes on).

I have a feeling a great many academics would think that the most monstrous suggestion they've ever heard!

[Shay HTFC]

singlecoil said:

I wouldn't draw a sharp line anywhere, but I can tell you that, for instance, History of Art would be on the other side of it. As to why I don't want to pay for young people to spend a few years studying such subjects, are you really sure you need me to answer that? Is it really not self explanatory?

Its clear you don't value arts which is fair enough because its hardly an economically productive field.

But there is so much more to a country than having it be solely economically productive. I am happy to subsidise the study of arts if it improves the general atmosphere and culture of Britain. Just the same with subsidising galleries and museums which are also economical wastes.

In my opinion there IS a value to studying History of Arts. There is knowledge to be learnt that can be used to better Britain. You can't see the value in something because its not economically productive, we get that, but get over yourself and accept that others with a less technocratic viewpoint might think otherwise.


edit: Having said all that though, I do think too many people go to uni. In an ideal world, everyone would go to university and become enlightened, expertly skilled citizens, but in the real world it ain't gonna happen.

Edited by Shay HTFC on Tuesday 13th March 21:36

[otolith]

Why are those who think that things are so valuable that they should be subsidised by other people's taxes never willing to pay the real cost of providing them out of their own pocket? If we want more History of Art graduates, shouldn't we be willing to pay them more for their services? /Devil's Advocate

[singlecoil]

Colonial said:

singlecoil said:

What makes you think that, I don't remember mentioning art galleries? Or are you extrapolating my position? If so, why? Is what I actually said not enough?

Without art history curators will find it a bit difficult...

Who said there shouldn't be any art history? I didn't. If people fancy becoming curators, then perhaps art history would be a good subject for them to take. They can get a loan to pay their fees on really quite generous terms...

[Colonial]

singlecoil said:

Colonial said:

singlecoil said:

What makes you think that, I don't remember mentioning art galleries? Or are you extrapolating my position? If so, why? Is what I actually said not enough?

Without art history curators will find it a bit difficult...

Who said there shouldn't be any art history? I didn't. If people fancy becoming curators, then perhaps art history would be a good subject for them to take. They can get a loan to pay their fees on really quite generous terms...

My apologies. I misunderstood what you were saying - that it was a wasted degree, not that it should be a free degree.

Carry on.