Don't ye hate leaving cert students

Lackey · 08-06-2016 10:17AM

kneemos wrote: »

Giving your kid Gin isn't a great idea.

Most leaving cert 'kids' are 18/19
In the spirit of this thread:
Judge lest ye be judged

Foxhound38 · 08-06-2016 02:52PM

Mint Aero wrote: »

They act like they're in honours english class

Maybe they... are in the honours english class?

jimgoose · 08-06-2016 02:59PM

Hande hoche! wrote: »

They suffer, so that we may enjoy the good weather.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

:cool:

HandsomeDan · 08-06-2016 03:06PM

They're kids ffs. Give them a break.

'I know words. I have all the best words.' - I mean, that's presidential material right there.

topper75 · 08-06-2016 03:09PM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

"We study things we don't like with brains we don't have to get grades we won't remember to impress people we don't like. In a country that doesn;t give a flying **** about us."

Yeah but on the upside, when your man goes out to the jacks you can have a quick gawk at what the lad beside you wrote.

thegreatgonzo · 08-06-2016 03:36PM

kneemos wrote: »

It's the constant annual advice on how to fill out CAO forms I find annoying,as if they wouldn't know.

I think a lot of them don't. It's 21 years since I did my LC so I've heard the message 21 times, but those kids are just hearing it the first time. Not every school has a career guidance teacher and some parents wouldn't have a clue either. There are a lot of reason students drop out of college in first year but it's often because they picked something they'd thought they'd get rather than something they wanted to do.

Mousewar · 09-06-2016 08:34AM

I don't hate them but I am deeply bitter and jealous of them since they possess the sweet elixir of youth.

threein99 · 09-06-2016 10:09AM

The one phrase describing Leaving Cert papers (or any exam for that matter) that I absolutely hated was "It was a nice paper"

jimgoose · 09-06-2016 10:14AM

threein99 wrote: »

The one phrase describing Leaving Cert papers (or any exam for that matter) that I absolutely hated was "It was a nice paper"

Yeah, that and it was "do-able". "Do-able"?? You turn up, read the paper, answer the damn questions. If you know the answers, it's "do-able", if you're there with your thumb up your arse it's not. Name a' Jaysis, "do-able"... :pac::pac::pac:

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 09-06-2016 10:22AM

I still have nightmares about my own LC maths paper. And still feel nervous hearing about maths papers now. Yuck

jimgoose · 09-06-2016 10:29AM

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I still have nightmares about my own LC maths paper. And still feel nervous hearing about maths papers now. Yuck

I used to love maths papers. Simple case of "DO 10 I=1 .. 10" until it's finished. As opposed to i.e. English, where you'd have to come up with reams and reams of shockingly intelligent shit that'd have the original authors rolling around on the floor laughing if they saw it... :pac::pac::pac:

Alf Veedersane · 09-06-2016 10:35AM

It's 17 years since I did my LC and all I remember is thinking my essay was deadly for English paper 1/2.

That's the entirety of my recollection of the LC.

SEPT 23 1989 · 09-06-2016 10:36AM

I feel sorry for them,brainwashed by teachers and certain media outlets into thinking this is the biggest event that will ever happen to them in their lives

unnecessary pressure and worry at a young age over nothing

AnonoBoy · 09-06-2016 10:49AM

There once was a poster named Mint Areo
Who decided one day on a dareo
To chastise verbose students
And he thought it quite prudent
But found that nobody else did careo.

- AnonoBoy

- Leaving Cert Honours English Paper 2.

Rawr · 09-06-2016 10:58AM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

I feel sorry for them,brainwashed by teachers and certain media outlets into thinking this is the biggest event that will ever happen to them in their lives

unnecessary pressure and worry at a young age over nothing

This is my own lingering memory of the LC. Once I had finished my final exams and had long hard look at the event as a whole, I suddenly felt very duped by it all. Sure...it was a big exam, and it took ages to sit & complete everything. But beyond all of that it was just a run of the mill school exam, no different than many that I had already sat.

I marveled at the ridiculousness of the previous 5 years, that had for the most part served as a never ending hype-machine that reliably spouted the phrase 'this will be on the Leaving' at least once or twice a day. Time that could have been spent actually teaching the material in a meaningful way appeared to have been pissed away in favor or showing you "the type of question you will probably get in Paper 2, Question 4".

The message was clear. "Prepare for it or be damned!!" Fill out your CAO form and mortgage your future based on how well you 'Compare and Contrast' some nonsense written by Jane Austin (I have a special kind of hatred for 'Emma'). But above all live in FEAR of it! Prepare! Cram! Cancel all PE activites! Forget sleep! There is simply no time! The Leaving in mere days! PANIC!! PAAANIC!!! AAAAAAAAAGH!!!

And then you sit it....

...and wonder why...

You move on with your life, and later that summer you get your results. For me, I got what I wanted, with some disappointments, but I got into college and it all turned out very well. My time in collage further fueled my opinion of the LC, and to this day I remain baffled as to why it was hyped *so* much.

If only they had focused on teaching, and making the students stronger on the *subjects*...then a final exam on that knowledge may not have been such a big deal.

As for LC students getting interviewed....well...I was once I teenager...and I still remember how much of a poncy pri**k I was. Let them have their moment...they'll cop on eventually.

lawlolawl · 09-06-2016 11:15AM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

It's 17 years since I did my LC and all I remember is thinking my essay was deadly for English paper 1/2.

That's the entirety of my recollection of the LC.

I was thinking about the essay writing aspect of state exams there recently.

It dawned on me that it's a pretty big ask to give someone a random topic and a relatively short time limit and basically say: "Now, go write something good!".

Professional writers don't even get asked to do that.

Clegg · 09-06-2016 11:19AM

That Rubberbandits joke about the LC and mature students is so on the point.

Alf Veedersane · 09-06-2016 11:22AM

lawlolawl wrote: »

I was thinking about the essay writing aspect of state exams there recently.

It dawned on me that it's a pretty big ask to give someone a random topic and a relatively short time limit and basically say: "Now, go write something good!".

Professional writers don't even get asked to do that.

Our English teacher had us write a load of essays over the 2 years and he always went through them and gave pretty decent feedback you I probably had a bank of ideas and concepts that work so I think I had a framework for an idea and where to take it.

Once I saw the choice of titles, I sketched out a frame it wrote itself.

I don't know why it stands out as a memory though.

jimgoose · 09-06-2016 11:38AM

Rawr wrote: »

This is my own lingering memory of the LC...

I was bate into an awful state over it in 1989, and made a slight hash of it, from the perspective of what I wanted to do. I repeated three subjects the following year, and three only, at the age of eighteen. What a difference a year makes. I was working, driving to school, and at that stage treating the whole "school" caper as the part-time endeavour that it was. I had pleasant, relaxed, and highly productive year, excelling in maths, physics and chemistry. At the end of it, I could feel the childish things of secondary school completely dropping away as I got into my car and buggered off. Goodbye to all that! :pac:

jimgoose · 09-06-2016 11:59AM

Clegg wrote: »

That Rubberbandits joke about the LC and mature students is so on the point.

"...and this is what they never tell you in secondary school: when you reach the age of 23, you become what's known as a Mature Student. You can apply for whatever college course you want, and the Leaving Cert points mean fuck-all!!" :pac::pac::pac:

Pinch Flat · 09-06-2016 12:03PM

jimgoose wrote: »

"...and this is what they never tell you in secondary school: when you reach the age of 23, you become what's known as a Mature Student. You can apply for whatever college course you want, and the Leaving Cert points mean fuck-all!!" :pac::pac::pac:

True. My brother recently completed his masters in his mid-40s. Very poor leaving cert and no primary degree. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it - way to much emphasis on the leaving cert IMO

smash · 09-06-2016 02:34PM

The higher level English paper had the following option in the composition section "write a short story that centres around two characters and a car journey". They were also asked to write a blog post...

Alf Veedersane · 09-06-2016 02:37PM

smash wrote: »

The higher level English paper had the following option in the composition section "write a short story that centres around two characters and a car journey". They were also asked to write a blog post...

I would imagine that some with an writing skillz could write a pretty engaging story on two characters on a car journey. There are plenty who'd do an Ann and Barry job on it because the have no writing skills.

spurious · 09-06-2016 02:40PM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I would imagine that some with an writing skillz could write a pretty engaging story on two characters on a car journey. There are plenty who'd do an Ann and Barry job on it because the have no writing skills.

Or because the last book they read was 'Ann and Barry'.

jimgoose · 09-06-2016 02:48PM

smash wrote: »

The higher level English paper had the following option in the composition section "write a short story that centres around two characters and a car journey". They were also asked to write a blog post...

"Sid and Ron were 'eavy mob innit, wot does over banks and post-offices in broad daylight. That was why they 'ad two pickaxe-handles and a sawnoff Purdey wot they 'alf-inched from that toffee-nosed twit in the boot of the fackin' Jaaag, bruv!" :pac::pac::pac:

Elemonator · 09-06-2016 02:51PM

Having gone through the LC a few years ago and still not got the law course I wanted (I got something similar in the end anyway), I feel the utmost pity for them. I still get the shivers thinking about it.

And so what if they use big words? They are the ones who are going to do well. It seems to be a running celebration of mediocrity amongst some Irish people.

5rtytry56 · 09-06-2016 03:07PM

On my Thread - Lock watch.:D:D

Will it last until Sunday 12th June?

Sam Kade · 09-06-2016 03:15PM

Mint Aero wrote: »

Ever listen to them on the radio or tele doing interviews for the news. Trying to use big words in every sentence. Christ they're a pain.

I saw a few American tourists asking leaving cert students for directions last year, the students had such false contrived accents that the tourists didn't have a clue what they were saying :rolleyes:

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 09-06-2016 03:17PM

Years ago most people finished formal education once they left school, so the Leaving Cert was a huge deal.

Nowadays a lot of people continue to study full or part time for a good proportion of their adult life; dipping in and out of education as they change careers or climb up the ladder. University is no longer something you get a short window to avail of, and if you miss that window, then tough.

There's loads of options now to attend university as a mature student, study part time, study on line etc. and new courses being made available all the time. Employers are also more open to funding employees to study for relevant qualifications.

Even if you don't do well in your Leaving Cert there's far more opportunity to get into further education at different levels. Very few kids nowadays go straight from school into full time work.

The hype around the exam has become ridiculous and learning by rote and cramming has replaced any idea of a genuinely useful education that teaches kids to think for themselves, analyse information put in front of them or even use decent English when writing something.

Sam Kade · 09-06-2016 03:23PM

Dustin Large Peon wrote: »

Years ago most people finished formal education once they left school, so the Leaving Cert was a huge deal.

Nowadays a lot of people continue to study full or part time for a good proportion of their adult life; dipping in and out of education as they change careers or climb up the ladder. University is no longer something you get a short window to avail of, and if you miss that window, then tough.

There's loads of options now to attend university as a mature student, study part time, study on line etc. and new courses being made available all the time. Employers are also more open to funding employees to study for relevant qualifications.

Even if you don't do well in your Leaving Cert there's far more opportunity to get into further education at different levels. Very few kids nowadays go straight from school into full time work.

The hype around the exam has become ridiculous and learning by rote and cramming has replaced any idea of a genuinely useful education that teaches kids to think for themselves, analyse information put in front of them or even use decent English when writing something.

I blame the media nowadays, anything for a story. Savage pressure on them also with this glorifying of top results. But they should ease up on the false accents on tv, radio as they are ear grating.

Don't ye hate leaving cert students

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