Premier Doug Ford had choice words for students expressing concerns over recent cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) Tuesday, telling them to “not pick basket-weaving courses” and to invest in education that gives people in-demand jobs.

Speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park, Ford said he received “thousands of calls” from students over the long weekend, who expressed concerns about the province cutting the amount of grant money students can receive through OSAP.

“I mentioned to the students, you have to invest in your future, into in-demand jobs,” he said.

“You’re picking basket-weaving courses, and there’s not too many baskets being sold out there.”

  • Washedupcynic@lemmy.caEnglish
    22·
    2 days ago

    As a late gen x/early millenial, I was told to get a college degree in STEM. I did that, and got an MS and PhD. I finished my doctorate in 2008 just in time for the housing market to crash and forced austerity via republican wars and george bush. I spent 3 years in a postdoctoral fellowship, effectively making $10 hourly based on hours I worked VS salary. After my fellowship, in 2011, I could NOT find a job in my field, because there were no jobs. I gave up and leveraged my education into a different field.

    I ended up working for the state, in a position that has nothing to do with my education, and only requires a high school diploma. I make $30 an hour now. 13 years after I finished my fellowship and gave up, I started having STEM companies cold calling me to offer me positions because they saved my resume. Best part was being offered $30 hourly, which is what I already make in a position that doesn’t require post secondary education. Telling them not to bother me unless they were prepared to offer me $60 hourly felt fucking amazing.

    The point to my rambling is that whatever is “in demand” could change at a moments notice for any reason. If you’re going to spend 4-10 years of your life learning a particular skill set in a particular field of study, you should at least enjoy yourself and feel enthusiastic about what you are studying.

    I’m not a Canadian, but if I came across Doug Ford slowly dying on the street, I’d step the fuck over his body and keep walking.

    • uhmbah@lemmy.ca
      5·
      2 days ago

      but if I came across Doug Ford slowly dying on the street, I’d step the fuck over his body and keep walking.

      +1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1

    • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      As a mid-millennial I was told to get a college degree in STEM, I almost did that, I was set to graduate with a BS in Aeronautical Science in 2009, left college in 2008 because of the financial crisis, finished flight school and became a flight instructor, I’ve never made more than $30 an hour, I am now an advocate for violence.

        • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          3·
          2 days ago

          I was having trouble sleeping the night before last so I ended up fantasizing about rubbing a lamp and being given three wishes by a genie with Aladdin rules, “Rule #1, I can’t kill anybody, BLEEGH! ~so don’t ask~” so I wished for a microphone that addressed everyone in the world, that everyone regardless of the language they spoke would understand what I meant, and be magically compelled to obey any instructions I gave.

          “Authoritarian dictators, kill yourselves. Child molesters, kill yourselves. Wealth hoarding billionaires, kill your families then kill yourselves.” I got about as far as “Anyone who works with nuclear weapons, dismantle them and destroy all documentation.” before I fell asleep.

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
      3·
      2 days ago

      Exactly, and the in demand job of today is often the job with high competition and less work when you’re done training for it because a lot of people want an in demand career