Health and safety advice for university caving clubs

[Dave H]

From what I've experienced, simple things like spelling and grammar are not taught these days. At work we now get all applicants to write about their journey to our offices as part of their interview, to check on their basic skills of writing and spelling. I recon that our toilet cleaner could write a more coherent and syntactically correct description than most of the applicants we get! :x

We were discussing in the pub, the other lunchtime that we might move our minimum academic requirements up from top Honours Degrees to PHD, as at least PHD students have to be able to write papers! We ‘lower the bar' of expectation for new graduates, but we've still not been able to take one on for more than 4 years, despite the universities sending us their best students! (We have 70+ people working on my floor of the office and only one is aged under 34)

PS. This is no comment about anyone in particular - we all have our own problems (I'm name-blind) - but I just cannot see how anyone can achieve a degree without basic writing skills.
PPS. hrock and I have discussed this in the past on this forum.

 

[cap n chris]

I just cannot see how anyone can achieve a degree without basic writing skills.

Perhaps because they're not worth having so anyone who wants one just has to pay the man and hang around until the end of the course and, hey presto, degree certificate lands in lap. Call me a cynic but I reckon university is straightforward social engineering paid for by the attendees and has the required effect of reducing unemployment and social security costs.

 

[Andy Sparrow]

I think after Nick took the trouble to restart this thread about a very important subject all those who have indulged in this off topic rambling should feel a bit ashamed of themselves. Please, can we have no more off topic posts on this thread.

 

[cap n chris]

Good point. Agreed

 

[graham]

No need to be so pompous about it, Andy.

 

[Mark]

I think after Nick took the trouble to restart this thread about a very important subject all those who have indulged in this off topic rambling should feel a bit ashamed of themselves. Please, can we have no more off topic posts on this thread.

Off topic, I thought this was going to be about digging,

 

[andymorgan]

I'm fed up with these kind of insults about people's writing and typing abilities. This is not a national newspaper, or the like. Language has always changed, until some knob invented the dictionary. Some may say Shakespeare couldn't spell properly, and yet is regarded as one of the finest figures of English literature. Unless that is why people can't spell, because that is what they teach at schools? However I know my language isn't brilliant, which may be because i'm from Somerset, but I lay a lot of the blame on the state of the education system under the Tory government in the 80's and 90's.

 

[andymorgan]

I just cannot see how anyone can achieve a degree without basic writing skills.

Perhaps because they're not worth having so anyone who wants one just has to pay the man and hang around until the end of the course and, hey presto, degree certificate lands in lap. Call me a cynic but I reckon university is straightforward social engineering paid for by the attendees and has the required effect of reducing unemployment and social security costs.

Would you like it if your GP, solicitor, etc didn't study at university?

In reply to another point it is PhD, not PHD, if we are going to be picky.......

 

[danthecavingman]

I for one, agree with Andy. This is way off topic and quite frankly, getting far too silly. Not get back on with a sensible discusion about safety advice before I have to come and stop this thread.

 

[andymorgan]

Absolutely, I shouldn't have added any more myself

 

[tubby two]

Yeah- can the old post not be retrieved at all? i remember it being quite relevant what with the way unions are going at times. We currently have some h+s bloke assess a safety policy for our club but for what he knows about things it's pretty worthless. It's ok when the union are just agreeing and not poking about but when they decide to it can rapidly get out of hand.

tt.

p.s. henry, be a professional caving superhero. thats what i want to do. mouths suck.