Andrew Norton (the only classical liberal in Carlton) has made a career out of keeping an eye on developments in higher education after a spell as the editor of the Policy quarterly at the Centre for Independent Studies. This is a meditation on 25 years in the business.
Twenty-five years ago today I started my career in higher education policy – although I did not then know I was starting a career rather than a job – when I began in education minister David Kemp’s office as his higher education adviser. Since leaving this role I have been a higher education policy adviser to University of Melbourne vice-chancellors, the higher education program director at the Grattan Institute, and now ‘professor in the practice of higher education policy’ at the ANU.
Few people spend most of their careers in higher education policy. Career paths are limited or at least not easily planned in advance. Three of my four higher education jobs did not exist before I was appointed to them. At various points I considered alternative careers but higher education policy opportunities appeared and I took them.
So you lucked out advocating fluffy policies, that did not work!
I have a degree in the school of life – best money I ever spent . Two kids in uni and both are I think struggling with cognitive dissonance as they see irrationality and politics are required to pass .
I was told years back that the Spectrum was created to blame children for teachers failure to cope with diverse personalities.
It has since become a huge earner, whilst condemning kids to lesser lived lives, and teachers morphing into just another single point on that spectrum.
Reads like a mea culpa. Can’t understand why the commenters are thanking him.
They need to start with Lower Education first. Children leave School at 16 years not being able to read, write and do basic sums. No wonder they can’t get jobs.
Andrew, any news on concrete achievements?