Originally Posted by Jsmth321 (Post 11211145)

..... I see nothing affordable about it at all, yes monthly premiums are affordable, but if you want to use the services, your putting out a nice amount of money for that and for many they could not afford to do so.

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 11211189)

Overall, much of what you describe is now also going on in the UK. Entering a university to get a degree is seen as being the norm, and grades count for a lot (we get 800 applicants for 50 places - you have to triage somehow). Standards for GCSEs, A-levels, Standard Grades and Highers (Scotland), etc. have DROPPED over the past decades partly in order to allow more people to get enough passes to qualify for university ... so then the entry level requirements are moved upwards.

Part of the problem is that for centuries, education has been moulded by people with a certain type of intelligence and the standards and assessments still largely reflect that sort of intelligence. There are people who are highly intelligent but struggle with the rather restricted methods of teaching, learning and assessment. But then there are a heck of a lot more people who don't do well at school because either they didn't try or are just plain not intelligent no matter how you define intelligence.

I completely agree with you that the (societal) answer is not to send more people to university (widening access to university in the UK has been a complete disaster, than you for that Mr. Blair). However, unless the system changes, it is a primary answer to success in obtaining jobs, whether we like it or not.

The system sucks in many ways but until it changes we have to play by the system's rules, otherwise we will struggle.

Originally Posted by rebs (Post 11211240)

I left school (in the UK) in 1980 - back then, they used to say to us to work hard and get you O levels or you'll end up working on the pic'n'mix counter in Woolies! Also, in those days, there were kids who turned 16 early in the final year that could leave school at Easter before the exams - they left with nothing, not a single qualification to their name - they don't have that Easter leaving option any more - not sure how many youngsters leave with nothing these days.

I guess nowadays they say work hard and get a degree or you'll end up (well, I don't know what the equivalent would be now that Woolies is no more...).

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 (Post 11211234)

Very true you are. I do best learning on my terms, at my pace and what I want to learn, but when it comes to rigid requirements of school especially in subjects I struggle in like math, history and other types that are largely memorizing things and taking a test or writing a paper, I really struggle and always have, and I accept this, and after several attempts at college, and a good amount of debt from loans, I am no longer willing to waste the money on something not feasible under the current system of learning.

I thought about trades, but I can't get a high enough score on the assessment exam that is required for entry.

Originally Posted by rebs (Post 11211240)

I left school (in the UK) in 1980 - back then, they used to say to us to work hard and get you O levels or you'll end up working on the pic'n'mix counter in Woolies! Also, in those days, there were kids who turned 16 early in the final year that could leave school at Easter before the exams - they left with nothing, not a single qualification to their name - they don't have that Easter leaving option any more - not sure how many youngsters leave with nothing these days.

I guess nowadays they say work hard and get a degree or you'll end up (well, I don't know what the equivalent would be now that Woolies is no more...).

Originally Posted by rebs (Post 11211240)

they left with nothing, not a single qualification to their name - they don't have that Easter leaving option any more - not sure how many youngsters leave with nothing these days.

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 11212690)

...... I sometimes wonder whether he became successful after leaving with no GCEs/CSEs.

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 (Post 11211234)

I struggle in like math, history and other types that are largely memorizing things.

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 11212857)

You do? :confused:

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 11212984)

Well, he actually was quite intelligent but didn't adapt very happily to the secondary school environment. I wouldn't be surprised if he is thriving these days.

I heard from a similar school pal a few years back, who goofed around and bombed all of his GCEs. He now runs his own company in NYC.

[Or are you querying why I would be thinking about someone I knew so long ago?]

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 11211190)

And that is one reason why people either people aren't signing up for it, or are going to drop it after the first year, or sooner, when they realise that unless they have a medical catastrophe (several accident, stroke, heart attack, or cancer) their is no hope of insurance ever paying for any treatment.

Originally Posted by steveq (Post 11212629)

Like the US they have to be in education or training until they are 18now.

Originally Posted by AmerLisa (Post 11213131)

did you mean there, not their?

Originally Posted by rebs (Post 11211240)

I guess nowadays they say work hard and get a degree or you'll end up (well, I don't know what the equivalent would be now that Woolies is no more...).