tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post8173308908973240769..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Reflections on Clare’s graduationJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-22794635657678665582014-04-22T19:16:57.611+10:002014-04-22T19:16:57.611+10:00Yet somebody else that I have not read, Evan! The ...Yet somebody else that I have not read, Evan! The book sounds interesting from a Google scan.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-33472195323972750742014-04-18T20:12:35.939+10:002014-04-18T20:12:35.939+10:00There was a talk broadcast on RN by the chancellor...There was a talk broadcast on RN by the chancellor of Macquarie Uni.<br /><br />It didn't rise above the faddish cliches of managerialism.<br /><br />It is well and truly time to leave Uni's and construct learning places (which Uni's could have been).<br /><br />Paul Goodman's Community of Scholars is worth reading.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13355215688351759230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-78410600093927343192014-04-17T18:55:04.139+10:002014-04-17T18:55:04.139+10:00That did make me chuckle, kvd!That did make me chuckle, kvd!Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-68216925803006441392014-04-17T06:28:01.788+10:002014-04-17T06:28:01.788+10:00Maybe we're just old, and should quietly take ...<i>Maybe we're just old, and should quietly take the hemlock when it's offered.</i><br /><br />Probably best, but make sure you keep the courier docket, and don't ever write a thank you note!<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-6140761498042880532014-04-17T06:14:54.313+10:002014-04-17T06:14:54.313+10:00Thanks, JCW, Ramana and kvd. Will pass congrats on...Thanks, JCW, Ramana and kvd. Will pass congrats on to Clare.<br /><br />I got one response on the Newcastle question from Scott, a suggestion that a history of the place had been published. I haven't been able to find it via web search. The UNE material, Sydney too, is dominated by people (students and staff)who went to uni during earlier periods or who were actively involved over longish periods. I suppose that the key thing that triggered the writing is the importance of the personal experience to them. It may be a case of O temporal o mores, but there is a difference between immersion and the transactional experience that seems to dominate the present university scene.<br /><br />All experiences are multi-faceted and change as institutions and society changes. What happened with my own PhD at UNE, the fights and mess that are still talked about now if to a diminishing degree as people age, was deeply disillusioning. Just before he died, my father who had read the PhD said that if it was rejected I should not rewrite. I think that he knew what was happening, had inquired, but couldn't talk about it.<br /><br />My own experience, yours with your PhD or so many other students with theirs, illustrate the imperfections in system over time, illustrate the way that bias and poor systems clothed in academic authority can masquerade as sometimes standards and objectivity.<br /><br />Perhaps you should reconsider a PhD. I have occasionally thought of it, but it would detract from my writing! From Clare's experience in ancient history at Macquarie, there were many attributes there that I would classify as old university. It was a deeper experience than I have seen in other recent cases. <br /><br />Well, I had better start the day, leaving aside the thoughts that your comment raised. I have to deal now with the more pedestrian world of project plans, policy revisions, process documentation, risk analysis. Broader ideas must be set aside!<br /> <br /> Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-62644651022632893482014-04-17T05:02:35.870+10:002014-04-17T05:02:35.870+10:00Yes, congratulations to your daughter and best wis...Yes, congratulations to your daughter and best wishes for her future.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-58963007419298039902014-04-17T01:27:59.670+10:002014-04-17T01:27:59.670+10:00Congratulations Jim and please do convey to Clare ...Congratulations Jim and please do convey to Clare too. Having attended three convocations of my son, I know exactly how it feels.Rummuserhttp://www.rummuser.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-20731453273862942322014-04-16T22:25:14.160+10:002014-04-16T22:25:14.160+10:00Congrats on being a proud dad (again)! We could h...Congrats on being a proud dad (again)! We could have a long and ongoing discussion around this topic. Did you ever get any responses to your queries re Newcastle Uni?. Separated by generational gaps, my off and on experiences at UNE arouse different emotions, and as a post grad student and staffer at ANU, my experiences went from 'wow' to how soon can I ditch this dump? One of my lovely stage daughters who did ugrad and hons @ ANU is a PHD candidate @ McQueerie. Back in town the other day - had coffee with her -and she is SO full of praise for McQ, that I am almost convinced to pick up where I left off and reconsider the PhD there. As PSW and I and sundry old ex RAAF types are wont to say; 'this isn't the Air Force we joined'. These aren't the universities we went to! Maybe we're just old, and should quietly take the hemlock when it's offered.<br />O tempora! o mores!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com