Time for a trip down the Time Tunnel, I'm afraid - and I am grimly aware that my own particular Time Tunnel is exceedingly long and getting longer! Anyway, I will open my remarks with a single name which may, or may not, get the memory banks ticking away - Norman Geras! I should, perhaps, put it this way - the late Norman Geras, 25 August 1943 – 18 October 2013, R.I.P.
He was an esteemed University teacher and a Professor Emeritus of Government at Manchester University. He was also an out-and-out Marxist with, no doubt, the reddest of red underwear! For years he ran a personal blog in which he put forward his Marxist ideas which I read and, of course, criticised fiercely - but never angrily because it was obvious that he was an exceptionally pleasant man and not one to allow his Marxist philosophy to stop him from lashing 'the usual suspects' on the extreme Left if they were more than usually 'stoopid'. In other words he was an idealistic Marxist but one who never forgot his humanity.
I am reminded of all this by an article at The Coffee House written by Nick Cohen who has discovered that some moron at the 'University of Morons', aka: Reading University, have issued severe warnings to students and teachers that the words of Norman Geras must be treated with extreme caution under the 'anti-terrorist Prevent programme'! The fact that Norman Geras spent his entire life in passionate opposition to any action likely to cause civilian casualties seems to have escaped these pen-pushing 'Pecksniffs'. Read Cohen's article and be reminded, yet again, that the biggest dunces are usually found in Universities!
Reading University has exactly the same kind of illiberal hacks in charge as too many US universities have. A complete dumbing down of faculty, staff and finally students. The same sort of people seem to find their way into government jobs where they conjure up 'protective' programs and other nanny state notions. College graduates of today might very well complete their educations without ever being confronted with any ideas contrary to their expensive multi year brain washing.
Now go forth and function in the real world!
Posted by: Whitewall | Monday, 12 November 2018 at 18:33
Duffers be thankful that your time tunnel is a long one and that with kind providence there is, hopefully, still some distance to the end of it.
Posted by: AussieD | Monday, 12 November 2018 at 21:51
Well at least the students have got the right attitude to university lectures ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2018/11/12/russel-group-university-lecturer-reveals-none-400-students-turned/?li_source=LI&li_medium=li-recommendation-widget
Mumbling douche-bags with an over-inflated opinion of themselves and a salary to go with it. Completely overtaken by the modern age. A near total waste of time and money.
Think about what that lecture actually was: A talk about marking techniques. Wtf? Why couldn't that simply have gone on a website years ago with the questions and answers all there in the comments from the first year once and once only for future years to read? No-no-no that won't do, say the academics, I need my salary to stand there and drone on about the same old thing I did last year for the rest of my working life until I draw my gold plated pension.
Best give 'em the middle finger and stay tucked up in bed with whoever you're tucked up in bed with and head down the battle-cruiser about half eleven for breakfast.
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Tuesday, 13 November 2018 at 06:30
"two or more absences will lead to a meeting with the welfare team. "
Two or more absences will lead to chucking out - and payment of the current years tuition fees. Should solve the problem.
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Tuesday, 13 November 2018 at 09:42