CJ (and others)
School is a difficult one :
Firstly :
Having had the misfortune in the past to be a computer tech in a school I can safely say that the vast majority of ICT (as they have re-christened the subject) are clueless. They also feel very threatened by anybody who does know their subject (on the whole). After two years I walked out and within 4 weeks and had trebled my pay (fixing dealing room equipment).
However :
You also have to play the game, whether it's school (or work), you have to appear interested, do what you have to do and then a bit extra (it helps you make your point, believe me). Otherwise you will fail because you will either, get bored and do nothing or annoy those in authority and never do anything right in their eyes (and therefore getting poor marks or undue critisism) eventually causing you to give up.
IT is for those who may be able to make the grade
ICT is for those who can't manage in the real world
90% of the jobs listed as ICT insist on a teaching qualification no matter what the post is, it's a little group as bad as masons and ex MPs looking after each other.
Secondly :
In the UK (can't speak for other countrys) is the only industry where success is punished with additional tasks, responsabilitys and tighter deadlines. If you watched the "IT Crowd" on Channel 4 it hit the nail on the head when the cleaners are more likely to be rewarded for a successful system roll out before IT dept who actually carried out the work.
IT are often the dumping ground for tasks that nobody else want to do. IT depts I have worked in have been told to fix broken toilets, repair vending machines or call the vending company when a machine ran out of coffee. Senior managers view the IT dept as being obstructive when refusing to do these tasks. (me unhelpful ? never ;) )
Whats the point ? :
Pieces of paper, are much useful more useful than you currently know.
Why ?
Because they are your escape route when you lose interest (and eventually you will lose interest), you can then change career to something less stressful (like teaching ?) or more just something you enjoy.
Without those bits of paper it's immensely hard to change career. I regularly clock up 140 -> 150 hours every fortnight and it wears you down eventually (age dosn't help either :( )
Rob...
PS
When I was at school the careers teacher asked me what I wanted to be and when I said an electrician he laughed at me and said I was too stupid and that I'd be sweeping factory floors for the rest of my life.
I did go back a few years ago (when I was Head of Networks for a newspaper group) to see if we could take on some kids in for their 5th form work experiance week, after a while he realised who I was and he went very quiet indeed and that felt good.
