WIBU to tell my 62 year old dad there's no point in him doing A-Levels!?

[redsector]

My dad has apparently been inspired by his grandchildren! to do a couple of A-Levels. He's a brainy old folk and has recently been told of a discount in tutoring (what my dc used as family friend) so would like to give it a go. Surely it's a waste of time/ effort/ money, etc!? Or do I just roll with it?

There will always be idiots who read the OP & nothing else.

Sigh.

You can fail at any hobby in life whether it be ice skating, archery, cooking, further education....doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a go.

Plus you have already said he is clever so I really don't see why it would be a waste of time.

Good for him. Why would you discourage him?

My dad is 69 and has just completed his foundation year at college, surrounded by school leavers, is currently in Rio volunteering at the Olympics and on returning is starting a degree course at uni.

I couldn't be more proud. Even if he is spending my inheritance

If our classrooms had a few "older " learners in them it would revolutionise teaching and learning for all . Learning for learnings sake is vitally important .

I'm 63, and I'd be both deeply hurt and very offended if somebody suggested I was too old for A levels or a 2nd qualification/degree/whatever. We may be getting older externally, but inside we still feel young, you know! Just because he ain't a candidate for a 20 year tenure at NASA doesn't mean he doesn't still have an enquiring mind and a competitive streak if only competitive against his age!

I am an Adult Education teacher. It is fabulous he wants to return to Education. I have all sorts in my classes and a wide range of ages. Have had plenty older than 62 too! He will hopefully love it and make lots of friends and keep his brain active.

I did my undergrad degree with a man in his 60s. He'd only learned to read ten years previously, due to undiagnosed dyslexia and having been written off at school.

Is he retired OP? I remember saying to my grandad that it's quicker to come by train (to visit us) so why did he come by bus? He told me he has lots of time so he doesn't have to worry about wasting it.

Same here I guess, much better than sitting around watching TV. It's not a waste of he enjoys it. Assuming there's no expectation so no stress attached. Hope he enjoys it.

Well, he clearly has a reason beyond 'career prospects'. Career development is not the ONLY justification for wanting to study and a qualification, whether it's an A level or a degree, is affirmation that he has reached a level of understanding and achieved a goal. Whatever his reasons for wanting to do it, perhaps the question you should ask is: what are YOUR reasons for being concerned about it?

Not a waste at all, at 62 there is still time for a career change - many people are still working until 68 or more and change jobs frequently.

Two years study for five years in a new and interesting job - Why not? Although if he has already retired and doing it for the hell of it. Again, why not?

Surely, it isn't for you to roll with it, OP? He's only 62, hardly in his dotage yet and I'm sure he doesn't need you to make decisions for him or worrying about him failing. He's a grown up, I'm sure he'll cope but I bet ge does really well. It's not like he's jacking it all and planning to go back packing with teenagers or taking up kick boxing or sprinting.

The only point you need to worry about is that he wants to do it. I plan to do A levels when I retire just for fun. I wanted to do English as a 16 yr old but wasn't allowed so I'm doing that first. I might even do physics GCSE just because I found it hard and didn't do it at school beyond yr 9. I might even continue studying the benefits of education for reducing the risk of dementia. I studied it as my last module for my psychology MSc about 6 years ago at the ripe old age of 43 but I have a hankering for a PhD. Really, I can't see why anybody would actually decide to stop studying and learning. How dull is that! Good on your dad for not giving up.

As a 52 year old that has just done her first year of a full time degree course and there are plenty of folk at uni with a few years on me, I would say it is his choice and why would he stop learning at 62? My FIL is 79 and still works as a consultant to the British Standards Institute. Hope your Dad has an amazing time.

When I did my degree in English there was a guy in his 70's on my course. He'd worked in a trade since he was 14, and this was the first time he had the time, money or opportunity to pursue academia.
He was a legend! He fully immersed himself in the student culture, he'd stay in the library all night cramming for tests with us, had (what was left of) his hair in cornrows and more than once got a cheer just for appearing in the pub. I'll never forget him, and hope I'm half as awesome when I reach that age!

You know, one of the most successful business men in the world is Richard Branson and he's 66 years old. He's still at the helm of his business and always entertaining new ventures.
My point is, how very dare you pretty much write your father off at 62?! At what point in your mind should people give up trying to better themselves or adding to their achievements? I think you are being a bit out of order to even consider doing anything other than giving your dad your full support on this. It might be a bee he's had in his bonnet all his life and is now taking a brave step to ticking it off his list! If you discourage him then , I'm sorry but you must really suck at being anyone's moral support. Do the right thing OP!

Firstly: IMHO you are really missing the point - good on your dad for expanding his mind - you should be proud Secondly 62 is not old Thirdly it's actually none of your business, he's able to make his own decisions!

YABU. Why on earth shouldn't he? Early sixties is not old (I think your implication is he is too old) and there is no upper age limit on learning new things. I'd like to go back to uni when I retire and do a PHD. Can't afford it and haven't got time now. There's 'no point' if the only point is career but it can be fulfilling in itself.

I should have chosen geography as an option when at school but didn't due to 'issues'

Years later I opted to do A level at the school I was teaching at, out of intellectual curiosity. Students thought it hilarious/cool, the teacher was happy with me being there and we both got a lot of PDP learning through our shared experience.

My DH1 went to Uni as a mature student after studying at night school, he got a First in Computer Science and totally changed his life. We met on day 1 of Freshers Week and were inseparable, despite the age gap; he brought worldly wisdom to the friendship group, we kept him young!

U3A is thriving and rightly so!

My own next project is to learn the celtic harp ;-) May have to wait a while as I'm teaching a full timetable of new courses next term, scary but exciting!

YABU. The point of learning is - learning. How did you not see the point?

The OP has admitted she was wrong and has been very gracious about it.

So stop laying into her please and rtft.

So what are you waiting for? Surely you can see from all these incredibly inspiring stories that the only thing stopping you is your own shuttered mind set. What do you have to be afraid of? Everyone thinks more of people who gives things a try.

OP a previous poster put the link to future learn on here, they have just started a Spanish for beginners course.

It really is worth looking through that site, there's loads of courses available, all free! I've done a few and am just starting the Spanish one

Learning is so good for mental and emotional health especially as you get older so soz YABU and should encourage him!

Encourage him. It will give him some thing to do (ward off depression), keep his mind active (ward off dementia) and give him a sense of achievement.

You should be glad he is still recognising the value of learning for learnings sake!