Comments on: The test

By: puckersthepig

puckersthepig — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:24:19 +0000

Thank you so much dearest Mr Fry for managing to take my mind off the daunting and terrifying thoughts of the dreaded ‘results’. I spent my 20th of August reading and re-reading this blog as my parents sat by the door screaming at the post box. I have my results now however, and I suppose, well, I suppose they aren’t too bad. Thanks again. Kate x

By: Tony Fisk

Tony Fisk — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:42:43 +0000

@drumbum99:
John Howard (ex Australian PM) is reported to have once quipped that a conservative is ‘someone who doesn’t think they are morally superior to their grandfather’

I think/hope he was emphasising respect for elders, which is fair enough, to a point.

The problem arises when you turn that idea around and consider the morality of your grandchildren. Are *they* going to be better than you? If not, the law of averages suggests they are going to be worse, which is where your problems start. Indeed, the fecklessness of youth has been complained about since Aristotle’s day, and most likely before then. If it were true, then civilisation must be in a truly parlous state by now!

As you say Aurora, won’t be 25 forever! Just be a good ancestor and don’t pass on the contempt to your kids because that’s ‘dying before you get old’! (And Roger Waters is old enough to be your grandad!!)

By: Dave W

Dave W — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:25:34 +0000

Not only will the journalist have A levels, a degree, an MA and a Phd, they will also have Teeline at 100 wpm. Hey, student, don’t forget to ask the graduate in the UCAS call centre how many A levels, degrees, MAs and Phds they have too.

By: Aurora

Aurora — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:10:06 +0000

@Tony Fisk
The problem is not the isolation, is the category (25/30) to be UNBELIEVED,UNCONSIDERED,PULLED APART …I say who cares,we Wont be 25 forever …LUCKILY!!!

By: Tony Fisk

Tony Fisk — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:04:11 +0000

@Aurora: understood. *Nothing* an individual can do in isolation is going to be of much use at really changing the world. So why should an individual do anything?

Still, tipping points can work for good as well as ill.

By: drumbum99

drumbum99 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:36:58 +0000

Throughout the year we are told that our generation is worthless and a bunch of knife carrying “hoodies”. Then the one time of the year we shine and show how hard we’ve worked over the year we’re told “bah they’re just easier exams”. It’s almost as if people want us to fail. To be told that the results we have worked so hard for are not worth the paper they are written on hurts. I’m sure I’m not alone in having spent a lot of time alone over the past two year working for those grades when I could’ve been out acting like we’re told we should be, stealing and getting involved in knife crime. I don’t think these media outlets actually realise how much damage they can do by printing this rubbish.
Sure the exams have been changed since they were young but that doesn’t mean they’re any easier. Our chemistry teacher told us on many occasions how part of the now GCSE course used to be part of his degree! Now I realise that the content won’t exactly be the same but as times change and we learn more of the world as a society the content of our education will change. So of course there will be gaps in our education compared to yours, yet there will be things we learn these days that weren’t taught “back in the day”. Can’t people allow us a little glory without trying to pry it from us? At least allow us to finish our education before judging us.
We’re told our generation no longer cares. We do care; you just don’t let us show it! If we are constantly told we are worthless, well, then that is what we will become. Sorry about this rant it’s just incredibly demoralising to be told all year round that we are worthless. Thank you Stephen for a great post, it’s good to see that some people don’t judge us badly and understand our pain. Thank you =)

By: Aurora

Aurora — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:22:49 +0000

@Tony Fisk …I’m just not interested in changing the world …alone,but above all I don’t want to be called MAD just to have tried. When all the people will realize how necessary is changing it,I’ll do my best,but for now I just want to stop learning someting I can’t use or do,and be pulled apart for knowing.
Thanks for the advice anyway!

By: brazil1973

brazil1973 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:17:58 +0000

You said you did some teaching,how come you got past the CRB check

By: Squiza

Squiza — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:29:57 +0000

Hi Mr Fry,

Just finished watching your exquisite doco “In America”. I live in Australia and I reckon you should cum downunder and do the same. Great country.
Anyway, enjoy.
Paul. xx

By: Tony Fisk

Tony Fisk — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:03:43 +0000

One thing that does bug me in this teaching to the test mentality is its persistence into job interviews. I am a software engineer of about twenty years standing, and it does annoy me when I am presented with ‘a little aptitude test’ in an interview.

Now, I actually do approve of such things: it’s certainly easy for a smooth talker to pass themselves off as something they aren’t without a bit of technical rigour put in front of them.

What pains me is when I get asked stodgy questions about 1. subtle ordering of operators in ‘C’, or 2. the operation of an arcane bit of clever code, or 3. a logic problem.
A newly minted graduate would apply themselves enthusiastically.
Somebody who has twenty years experience (and who hasn’t done an exam in twenty years!) and who is more interested in what the job is might answer them thus (and thereby put themselves out of the running):
1. when in doubt, just shove some braces round it! (Potter fans might refer to it as the ‘bezoar manouevre’)
2. call the author of the clever code in, ask *them* what it is supposed to do, and then proceed to suggest how it might be made more comprehensible (always bearing in mind that, being the author probably means they are no longer available for an interview!)
3. point out where assumptions have to be made to cover the holes in the logic of the problem

Do such things matter, or are they put there for the sake of ticking a box in the procedure?
Frank Muir wrote about his final examination for the photography section of the RAF. In front of a board of examiners, he had to act out the procedure for developing a roll of film in a dark room and was failed as an utter disgrace because he did not mime turning out the light!

Having performed one set of such tests quite well, I was knocked back for not being able to type fast enough.

All lies and jests…

I rather suspect passion (of youth) is the key!

OK Ladies and gentlemen, I have no doubt taken up enough time on someone else’s soapbox.

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