What I do have time for however, is to read the Daily Wail (more commonly known as the Daily Mail) and before you Guardianistas jump on your high horses, grab your pitchforks and start shouting 'witch, witch'! I don't read it for the (lack of) facts, nor the barely concealed racism. I read it because I believe you should know your enemy. And this enemy of mine published an article yesterday which stuck in my throat. It made my bile rise. It gave me a peculiar sensation which is now causing me to 'vent my spleen'. Here is the article;
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2106232/Les-Ebdon-University-Bedfordshire-offers-breastfeeding-carnival-arts-courses.html
and it speaks about Professor Les Ebdon (see below)
who has become the head of the Office for Fair Access, a body which gets disadvantaged students into higher education.
So far so good. Wrong! The article then goes on to tear this man's reputation to shreds. From remarking about his dress sense 'with his penchant for shapeless suits and loud ties (betraying a dress sense that's stuck firmly in the world of 1970s acadamia)' to disparaging the fact that the university he presides over (Bedfordshire) came 102 out of 119 in the Good University Guide. I'm sorry but if you are going to rank universities then someone is going to come last.
No, what really annoyed me was their comments on the courses which can be taken at his university - Carnival Arts, Spa Management and Sports Therapy. I believe the common vernacular these days is 'Mickey Mouse' courses.
Well, I am a graduate of one of these 'Mickey Mouse' courses. I did a FDA in Contemporary Acting and a Ba Hons in Contemporary Directing. I am also what you would call a 'disadvantaged student', coming from a poor background. If it weren't for universities like Bedfordshire or Newcastle College (where I studied) then I wouldn't be where I am today, doing an MA at Newcastle University. Therefore my question is;
Does it matter what you study as long as it is applicable and will encourage you to get a job in the future?
Personally I think no. For so many years it has been drilled into us that the point of university is to get a good qualification. But what does it matter as long as we are learning the skills that will help us in our careers. Perhaps what our country needs is somebody like Sir Les Ebdon who will encourage young people to study what they are passionate about, be it Spa Management or Chemistry, instead of constantly being told that because they are disadvantaged they have no hope of making something of their lives.
Discuss.
