Can I just warn any lurkers out there...........

There is intellectual snobbery, and there is also anti-intellectual snobbery. There is nothing wrong with having qualifications of any sort, academic or practical. Nothing wrong with not having any either and just getting on with the job.

A man's a man for a' that. Or a woman's a woman for a' that, let's not be sexist as well as certificatist.

Now what is there to post about that is more important. I think I shall have a look on another thread. Bye.

I agree with your last statement absent that was succinctly put

Ana, Ceesnan and Nanadog you have all made very relevant points, I don't suppose you will get the clarification you have asked for C as some people throw out these things and then when they are shown to be in error fail to respond.

When most of us were of school age only between 5% and 25% of children, depending upon where they lived, even went to grammar schools and only a very small percentage went to university so therefore it would seem likely that the majority of GNs didn't and have probably never been bothered by the fact.

Does one's education matter when one is older? It appears that whatever level of education some people have time to post on almost every subject and on several forums, perhaps their education, or lack of it, means they don't have enough other interesting things in their lives. (ducks and heads off to do something else!)

Elegran love 'certificatist'!

Yes, I have to admit to having a completely empty, boring life - surely that entitles me to sympathy, rather than criticism. I am off after The Archers to Chamonix - I want to take the lift up to the glacier.

Good point movedalot the house needs me and I have two grandsons coming for dinner and an overnight stay. Will force myself away from GN and get going.
Thanks for the push

I quite like being 'some people' - makes me feel that I represent the silent majority!

I am more interested in what people have to say than in their qualifications.

In all the different jobs I have had in my working life no-one ever asked to see my qualification certificates - for all they knew I could have made it all up!

Mishap I threw away all my certificates – including the ones for swimming – when I moved. What possible relevance do O levels taken at 16, for example, have to do with one's career at 30, 40, 50, 60? I like medics including dentists and vets, secondary school teachers and university lecturers to be qualified to do what they do. I think that's probably about it. I'm just not impressed by a degree.

Neither are employers, it seems, especially degrees in the performing arts, media, or other 'soft options'. I think a good degree in physics , engineering or maths might still be useful in finding employment.

Greatnan Not sure that even maths and science degrees are much in demand these days; there seem to be plenty of BSc, MSc and PhD scientists out of work. I think it's a case of "When everyone is somebody, then no one's anybody".

Quite - my poor grandson worked so hard to get his MSc and can't even get a job volunteering. He was told he must get a PhD before he can be considered, which he can't afford. What a rotten time to be young in Europe.

My brother has just texted me to say he has found my grade 5 violin exam cert amongst our late mothers things.
In view of this discussion I am going to have it elaborately framed and hung in a place of honour.

I have found in the houses of friends I have visited that that "place of honour" is usually the downstairs loo

Oh goodness me absent maths and sciences very much in demand. Problem with some PhDs is that they are so specialised and if research funding cut in their area, they can be a bit stuck up the twig referred to re physicists. But they still have an extremely useful training if they are willing to get out of pure research and use their brains in business.
There are some branches of science that are being oversupplied with places as universities are profit motivated. e,g, marine biology.

I agree, Jess. My grandon's MSc is in marine biology and of course he wanted to do research on sharks, like almost everybody else in the field. I am no longer in contact with him, but his sister tells me he is now applying for jobs in commercial fisheries all over the country. They certainly have to come out of their ivory towers.

My DDs degree is chemistry. After a varied career in cleaning, bar work,accountancy and teaching assistant, she finally got her pg cert and is teaching science in a school in Cheltenham (not THAT one, a comp)

Jeni Damn, damn, thrice damn. In one of those boxes in the glory hole must be my piano exam and ballet exam certificates – and I thought I had disposed of all evidence of my education.

At our NW meetup we heard from Cari that GN has thousands of members
(I think she said 15,000 ! ).So there are an awful lot of lurkers!

I wonder if they join for the entertainment on the forums or, as jingle once suggested, possibly under one of her other names, for the competitions.

But do they have degrees Maniac?

I am not a lurker, never seen the point - why just sit and watch when its much more fun to join in?
And appropo above - I have a degree. I slogged away for 7 years to get my OU B.A. Hons in Humanities with English Literature. I enjoyed every moment of it even when dealing with death, desease, dyslexia and near divorce. I have no use for it as such - it was just great fun and has increased my understanding of many aspects of culture and history. I rarely refer to it but am damned if I'm going to be made to feel as if I should apologise for it by certain folks. End of!

Well done, Hilda - you must have felt a great sense of accomplishment.

HildaW I hope you don't mean that I have suggested that people should apologise for having degrees. Far from it. One of my cousins got an OU First in Humanities and had a great time doing it. Of course it is delightful spending time devoted to a subject of special interest. Nor should those who don't have them apologise for not having degrees.