On Monday, 22 February 2016 11:51:06 UTC, Graham P Davis wrote:
On Mon, 22 Feb 2016 09:25:59 +0000
Norman Lynagh wrote:

On Mon, 22 Feb 2016 01:13:04 -0800 (PST), Graham Easterling
wrote:

SNIP
The number that go to University now is so large that local
councils cannot afford the fees and grants, unlike in my day. But
it all seems a bit pointless and leaves a distinct impression of
being a way of keeping young people away from unemployment, as
least temporarily.

Tudor Hughes

I think this is the most important point. Back when I took my degree
(1970-73) it was still a very small number (relative to today) that
did. However, it meant you got a grant, not a loan. It was all
essentially free. It meant you had no financial worries about going,
you could go from any background. At that time my parents had little
money and we lived on a Council Estate, in the far west of Cornwall.
It didn't matter, if you wanted to go you could, and I ended up in
NW London sharing with 2 lads from Barnsley.

Now, the policy of 'everyone who wants too should go & Britain will
be great again' has made the whole thing unaffordable. So we have a
system which works against people from a poorer background. In
addition, many go to the nearest university so they can remain at
home and saved money.

Getting away from home was too me the greatest experience. (Actually
I left home before finishing my 'A' levels, but that's a different
story.


At the time I started my career in meteorology (the early 1960s) most
Weather Forecasters in this country were non-graduates.


Yes, I started work at the Met Office at 18 instead of going to uni. My
father was an OAP and had been unable to work for a couple of years
through injury so I thought it was time I paid my way. As it was, I
think the money I earned from the Met Office wouldn't have been an
awful lot more than I would have got from a grant.

Late in '62, I went for an interview for AXO but was told when I walked
in that they were only taking graduates. In '64 I applied for a bursary
to study for a degree and was turned down because I wasn't an AXO. I
got promoted later that year.

I think the percentage of people being accepted to go to uni now is
about three times as high as those who passed the 11-plus when I took
it. Overall, I think that's good but there really are some right
dipsticks getting degrees. Still, that's better than what it was like
in my day when some clever people were destined for menial factory jobs
for the rest of their life.

--
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks. [Retd meteorologist/programmer]
http://www.scarlet-jade.com/
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.
Posted with Claws: http://www.claws-mail.org/

I'm surprised that you were told they were only taking graduates for AXO's. I can distinctly remember being aware that the entry qualification for AXO's was a pass degree *or* decent A levels and that therefore the fact that I failed my (pass) degree didn't immediately matter. The interview was in Nov or Dec 1963. As far as I can remember none or very few of the XO's and SXO's in Bracknell had degrees. They were quite highly regarded and had a practical background.

Tudor Hughes.