"Carl R. Stevenson" wrote in message ...
"N2EY" wrote in message
om...
(Hans K0HB) wrote in message
. com...
"N2EY" wrote
1) Back in '78, the students learned Morse Code as part of their CG
training,
so there was no other training needed for them to get Extra Class
amateur
licenses. Today, they would need to put in some of their own time, and
a bit of
effort, learning Morse at 5 wpm for that test.
You know Jim, the more I ponder this paragraph, the more I think you
may just have hit on an important way of grading the dedication (and
therefore "value") of any given amateur licensee.
Well, that wasn't my intent at all. I was merely pointing out that for
some folks, getting a license involves a lot of learning and the
related effort, while others already have the skills and knowledge.
The point is that licensing should be based on one's demonstration
of the required qualifications, no more, no less.
That's your point, Carl, not my point.
The original story told how, back in 1978, the whole class of CG folks
went down to FCC and became Extras, while today none of them did.
My point was simply that there are significant differences between the
1978 and 2003 situations, such as:
- the 1978 class was 'required' to take the test, and means provided
to do so (do you think they went on their own time? used their own
transportation? paid any fees?).
- the 1978 class had already learned all they needed to know to pass
the 1978 tests.
If someone already has the knowledge to pass the tests, fine.
You can't change that situation anyway.
There is no "value added" in "making them work for it"
Who said there was? The point is that the 1978 class had a completely
different situation from the 2003 class.
... if
they have the knowledge they are qualified, period.
So would you agree with Kim that anyone who can pass the required
tests should be allowed into the ARS?
(and likely
they worked for it or they wouldn't have the knowledge anyway,
so the logic of "making them work (more)" fails)
It is a fact of human nature that most people value a thing more if it
took some investment of themselves to acquire.
73 de Jim, N2EY