OT: Degrees and Certifications

[Fairlight]

The honourable and venerable DataDoIt spoke thus:
> 
> Perhaps rather than looking at is as a measure of 'what you know', view it
> as a measure of 'what you're capable of knowing'.  Some people are simply
> incapable of learning, and a degree from an accredited university
> establishes at least a semblance of learning ability, along with the ability
> to accurately follow directions or instructions.

I suppose this makes sense--to a point.  Thanks, Mike.  It at least
explains the rationale in terms that make some sense.  

I would take issue with the implication that the only "real" measurement of
whether you can learn is if you can do it within the confines of
our structured, regimented educational system.  You also seemed to find
that a shallow approach.

I think one of my favourite scenes from Babylon 5 is when Garibaldi takes
over his new wife's company and (having previously fired the entire corrupt
board of directors) gets all the "troublemakers" into the boardroom.  They
want to know why they're there.  He says it's because they're all
troublemakers that think they know how the company should be run, think
they can do it better.  He doubles their pay, and says that their job is to
tell them where they've screwed up, and how to fix it.  They're also
supposed to tell him if he screws up.  "If you're right, you get a bonus.
If you're wrong...I'll eat you for lunch."  :)

I've always liked the idea of putting the "troublemakers" in charge.  Too
often, that description is applied to people frustrated with the current
(ineffective, flawed) systems that are in place.

> That's a logical viewpoint... Then there's the illogic of the situation,
> which can be attributed to employers leading very sheltered lives, that
> can't think outside of their socio-ecostructured box.  Those who think that
> if you're not degreed, then you're obviously stupid, or poor and therefore
> stupid. 

Some of us have no trouble learning--it's the institution and its chains of
formality at which we chafe.  Formalised education and I didn't get along
very well--there was always something far more interesting (and a better
use of time) than the vagaries of esoteria presented in most classes.  Not
that it's -all- unnecessary, by any means.  Some is quite useful--even
interesting.  However, quite a bit is "fluff", and even serious subjects
were transmogrified into caracatures by instructors that took themselves
too seriously.  English Lit's deconstructionism comes to mind when taken to
the extremes it usually is.

Skip the formalities.  Give me a book and let me figure it out myself.  :)
I never saw anything that the institution of formalised education could do
for me that a good dose of carefully selected reading could not.

Thanks for the insight though.  It starts to explain the "why" bit that
I've wondered about for years.  I appreciate your taking the time to
detail it!

mark->
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