The University Challenge (2004) by Pugsley Lesley

Author:Pugsley Lesley [Lesley, Pugsley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Sociology, General
ISBN: 9781351060219
Google: hNJMDwAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 36871020
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2018-02-09T00:00:00+00:00

A ‘Need To Know’ Basis

Although this cohort of students were the last to enter higher education prior to the introduction of tuition fees, a number of parents were aware of the impending changes and the cost implications. While all the parents in the study were fully supportive of their children wanting to go to university, the parents of both pupils at Llanover School did express some reservations as to the potential benefits of higher education. They exhibited anti education attitudes that were similar to those expressed in a Learning Society project in South Wales (Gorard et al, 1997:31). Here one respondent, a 57-year-old working class man was somewhat scornful when he told the interviewer:

You said about education about getting qualifications. I might fall into something that I would really love...but you asked me about getting education, which I think, would be a foolish thing for me to do really. It's a waste of time as far as I am concerned. You see them on the news, like that woman of 70 or 80 getting a degree or something. What for like? You know, what for? She has wasted hours. To go and do some thing like that at her age is a waste of a couple of years of her life.

In my study both the pupils at Llanover High School were from working class families and neither set of parents has been in post compulsory education. For both families this was to be the first child to apply to university. Although proud of their children, both sets of parents were sceptical of the employment related 'benefits' of higher education. In the case of the Istance family, that Mark had decided to remain in post-16 education and to apply to university.

We never exerted pressure on him at all. I never said...well we are rather surprised that he has made the decision to go to university. We thought that perhaps he might not. I wouldn't put pressure on him, no not at all. Let me just say that I am concerned that a lot of time and effort will go into a university education and I am worried that his job prospects at the end of that time will be no better than they are now. As I said before I worry if it's all worth it. I would be content with him not furthering his education at all but getting a good job with prospects somewhere. But having said all that I mean I have never ever suggested to him about leaving school and trying to look for a job mind. If he wants to go on then that's OK.

(Mr Istance)

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