tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post5527460710027212574..comments2023-12-31T13:47:05.758+00:00Comments on Fat Man on a Keyboard: A dispatch from the frontThe Plumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09244528534476387323noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-43112511687251408482009-03-15T13:52:00.000+00:002009-03-15T13:52:00.000+00:00Bob B - I like the U3A and other examples of self-...Bob B - <BR/>I like the U3A and other examples of self-help, but I don't think that it can replace the comprehensive service that was offered through local authorities, nor the aim of inclusive, popular universities.<BR/><BR/>Skipper (aka Bill)<BR/>I remember you well from my days at the College of Adult Education at All Saints when you used to employ me on the Politics Association study weeks. Glad you are still going strong.<BR/><BR/>Brigada Flores Magon<BR/>Throw me a weapon - let's get the bastards.The Plumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09244528534476387323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-87581232265099124672009-03-15T07:03:00.000+00:002009-03-15T07:03:00.000+00:00Please don't overlook the many adult education opp...Please don't overlook the many adult education opportunities created through the agency of the University of the Third Age (U3A), an international network of branches focused on providing self-help courses for retirees by sharing knowledge gained from their work experiences.<BR/><BR/>Try this link:<BR/>http://www.u3a.org.uk/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-827042841821357082009-03-14T22:04:00.000+00:002009-03-14T22:04:00.000+00:00Fat ManCould not agree more with your post. I come...Fat Man<BR/>Could not agree more with your post. I come from Manchester and was Director of Extra-Mural Studies there 1986-91. I absolutely despise the attitude of the university, my former employer, to the service whiuh served the region so well for so many years. I agree our department was inefficient and could have beehnj run more effectively but to get rid of rthe Dept in 94 than the pathetic residual rump in 2009 smacks of vandalism. I took myown current asffairs course out of the university this year to run it 'privately' at half trhe price for studnets and am glad I did in the light of what has happenedskipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02632351344359303404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-50552025861337801852009-03-14T19:47:00.000+00:002009-03-14T19:47:00.000+00:00All of this is deeply depressing. I know from my o...All of this is deeply depressing. I know from my own limited experience on the voluntary fringes of adult education, the WEA and the local council's adult literacy programme, that there is a huge demand for lifelong learning and that it has a real and lasting impact on people's lives. That any greasy little political apparatchik can dismiss all this as 'holiday Spanish' makes we want to tool up with a load of mollies and sort the tosser out.Brigada Flores Magonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17832555450198713371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-47484691356205698742009-03-13T22:05:00.000+00:002009-03-13T22:05:00.000+00:00ad, Thatcher was elected in 1979. You are technica...ad, Thatcher was elected in 1979. You are technically correct that there were pressures on public spending from 1976. However, there was no serious challenge to educational thinking. The first big cut in post-16 learning was the deflationary budget of 1981. 1982 was not the best time to start my career!<BR/><BR/>The closure of the college of adult education was a consequence of the impact of the unified business rate, part of the Poll Tax legislation, on Manchester City Council who had spent reserves trying to keep services going. Then there was the legislation of 1992 that radically changed the funding regimes of residential adult education and University responsible bodies. So, yes, the Tory government was decisive.<BR/><BR/>However, it is a crushing disappointment that instead of stopping the damage, Labour have compounded it and seem intent on delivering the coup de grace. I can't forgive them.<BR/><BR/>Blogger Brader, the interest is the result of the deep attachment people have to adult learning. Demand is as strong as ever and it is a cause that has always been an intrinsic part of the left.<BR/><BR/>I recommend following the link to the Alison Wolf article in my post <A HREF="here" REL="nofollow">link</A>. Good luck with Compass.The Plumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09244528534476387323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-24858710587059163822009-03-13T21:04:00.000+00:002009-03-13T21:04:00.000+00:00I attended that meeting addressed by Geoff B-K. It...I attended that meeting addressed by Geoff B-K. It aroused more comment than most meetings, all in favour of life long learning. Not surprising perhaps since our favoured submission to Compass was "Politcal Education, Political education, Political Education"Blogger Braderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12194042493169518680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36841665.post-50215830657769575962009-03-13T19:46:00.000+00:002009-03-13T19:46:00.000+00:00I started working in it in 1982 and since then the...<I>I started working in it in 1982 and since then there has scarcely been a year when I have not been dealing with cuts and insecurity.</I><BR/><BR/>Then the cuts probably started even earlier than the Thatcher era. On the face of it, it is unlikely that the cuts coincidentaly started within a year or two of your starting...<BR/><BR/>Not sure what to conclude from that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com