Record number applying for CAO - good or bad?

[Gael Nua]

Sidebar - is it possible to get a look at our worthy representatives Leaving Cert results?

[toughbutfair]

Sidebar - is it possible to get a look at our worthy representatives Leaving Cert results?

I'm sure Coughlan and co got straight As (was foundation level around then?)

[toughbutfair]

Me neither but you must be sheltered or getting on in years if you don't know someone who had grinds. I am of the opinion that if you can't understand a subject (eg maths)with the normal level of tuition than you will definitely struggle when a college lecturer goes through the course at a rate of knots in a class of 50+ students. not to mention when you try to actually apply the subject in a job situation. for that reason doing away with grinds might not be a bad idea.(barring the fact that some of our teachers can't actually teach)
true no system is perfect but the irish one is particularly imperfect-as per usual.

I think we have a fairly good method. Everyone has a number and tot up points to be objective. I'd prefer points to be weighted for subjects depending on the course e.g. engineering course more marks for Maths than history.

How could you do away with grinds? make it illegal?

If I asked my folks for money to pay for me to get a grind, they'd ask what the hell I did all day at school.

[iartaoiseach]

I think we have a fairly good method. Everyone has a number and tot up points to be objective. I'd prefer points to be weighted for subjects depending on the course e.g. engineering course more marks for Maths than history.

How could you do away with grinds? make it illegal?

If I asked my folks for money to pay for me to get a grind, they'd ask what the hell I did all day at school.

I would reckon that an interview process for more courses would be a good thing especially the ones that are viewed as vocations(nurse doctor law for example) there are courses that already have this requirement such as architechure, art, music. combined with a weighted points system and a system whereby a student who wants to do say business must do a business subject in school first as opposed to doing home economics for the handy points.
the grinds question is a bit hard to solve in fairness. but it is a problem all the same. Imo it is more the parents than the students that are pushing the grinds I think just as we now have 4 and 5 year olds being tutored so they can have a head start.

My own opinion about the whole education process would be that most kids of 16-18 don't really know what they want to work at for the rest of their lives( I still ain't sure in my thirties). they should be encouraged to take a year or two out and go and experience life through travel before they lock themselves into the rat race but that would require a fair old rethink on society's part and would be a thread all of it's own.

[eoghanacht]

That just makes no sense. If a dog is going towards a piece of food to eat and another dog appears on the scene the dogs will obviously run faster (okay, they might fight) to get to it as now they are competing for a resource.

To say "no" is illogical - how can you possibly claim this?

ALERT!! Another dodgy thread from our resident NEO-CON

Ah, to live in TBF's tatcherite world, where word's like community and society are sneered at. Where the weaker member's of society are consigned to the scrap heap forever scorned as dead weight. A burden upon the tax payer no longer.

Happily for us TBF we have moral's, we are not dog's. Animals yes, but you see God or nature (whichever suits you) has endowed us with a conscience, with empathy for those less equipped to prosper in today's world. Well some of us have.

[toughbutfair]

ALERT!! Another dodgy thread from our resident NEO-CON

Ah, to live in TBF's tatcherite world, where word's like community and society are sneered at. Where the weaker member's of society are consigned to the scrap heap forever scorned as dead weight. A burden upon the tax payer no longer.

Happily for us TBF we have moral's, we are not dog's. Animals yes, but you see God or nature (whichever suits you) has endowed us with a conscience, with empathy for those less equipped to prosper in today's world. Well some of us have.

You didn't make a point. Do you agree that people try harder when there is competition?

[toughbutfair]

ALERT!! Another dodgy thread from our resident NEO-CON

Ah, to live in TBF's tatcherite world, where word's like community and society are sneered at. Where the weaker member's of society are consigned to the scrap heap forever scorned as dead weight. A burden upon the tax payer no longer.

Happily for us TBF we have moral's, we are not dog's. Animals yes, but you see God or nature (whichever suits you) has endowed us with a conscience, with empathy for those less equipped to prosper in today's world. Well some of us have.

How do you define a NEO-CON? I'm actually a liberal in the true meaning of the word ("freedom") whether it be free markets, pro-choice, pro gay marriage, pro-legalising soft drugs, pro sex education in schools, pro Euthanasia etc.

[hopi watcher]

Choice of what? courses?

Should average students be able to get a course studying medicine?

By providing sufficent places. The reason that segregation is done on results basis is to determine the capacity of a student to absorb complex information. Your questions always indicate your limited knowledge of the these subjects.

[toughbutfair]

By providing sufficent places. The reason that segregation is done on results basis is to determine the capacity of a student to absorb complex information. Your questions always indicate your limited knowledge of the these subjects.

So somebody on straight Cs should be able to go to medical school - brilliant! Lets just lower the bar for everything so the less able can get what they want. Way to dumb down a society. Your socialist views mean you side with the less able on everything which pulls us all down.

[eoghanacht]

You didn't make a point. Do you agree that people try harder when there is competition?

My point is your a troll. I'm of the opinion that people do their best in any given endeavour or situation, of course their are exceptions to the rule.

You on the other hand have a negative view of your fellow humans, where everybodies on the take or trying to do as little as possible, where nurses are scum (your words), where the education system shouldn't cater for special needs children and your call for "lesser people" to be neutured. Then you claim to be a liberal, lol, is that in the same way bertie is a socialist?