My Dad has always been keen to point out that he worked damn hard for it, and my education is the only form of inheritance I can expect.
In this respect, we have one of the most socially divided school systems in the developed world.
a certain proportion of the kids get bused over to Manchester and some inner city kids get bused back to take their places. I'm guessing this isn't the norm then?
Quote from: andy_e on April 15, 2013, 02:23:49 pmQuote from: Dolly on April 15, 2013, 02:20:40 pmMost of us — about 93 per cent of the British population — who didn’t go to private school have an image of them that, if it was ever accurate, is now woefully out of date. We think of Flashman, bullying, toffs, snobs, a narrow focus on rugby, rowing and Latin, braying voices, the old-boy network. We think of exam factories charged with coaching the sons and daughters of the old rich, or coating the children of the aspirational new rich with a veneer of culture. I shared this view, broadly, until about a decade ago.That's my experience of private schools from someone who went to one...I went to 3 private schools over the years, and know lots of others who did. In my experience the above types represent a fairly tiny minority, albeit one who seem to have a knack of getting into power.
Quote from: Dolly on April 15, 2013, 02:20:40 pmMost of us — about 93 per cent of the British population — who didn’t go to private school have an image of them that, if it was ever accurate, is now woefully out of date. We think of Flashman, bullying, toffs, snobs, a narrow focus on rugby, rowing and Latin, braying voices, the old-boy network. We think of exam factories charged with coaching the sons and daughters of the old rich, or coating the children of the aspirational new rich with a veneer of culture. I shared this view, broadly, until about a decade ago.That's my experience of private schools from someone who went to one...
Most of us — about 93 per cent of the British population — who didn’t go to private school have an image of them that, if it was ever accurate, is now woefully out of date. We think of Flashman, bullying, toffs, snobs, a narrow focus on rugby, rowing and Latin, braying voices, the old-boy network. We think of exam factories charged with coaching the sons and daughters of the old rich, or coating the children of the aspirational new rich with a veneer of culture. I shared this view, broadly, until about a decade ago.
full-fee scholarships are open to anyone
I'd recommend people to read The Spirit Level (and the inevitable right wing back lash too).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spirit_Level:_Why_More_Equal_Societies_Almost_Always_Do_Better
Non-right wing back lash and a considered scientific critique of the book can be found in The Spirit Level Delusion
Non-right wing? The first names on page one are: — Kristian Niemietz, Institute of Economic Affairs (right wing think tank) — Ed West, The Telegraph— James Delingpole, The Telegraph— Philip Booth, City AM — An Englishman's Castle(also a three-worder from the Economist) The a lot of garbled argument to say that inequality is not associated with worse health. Blimey!
That's pretty much all Public Health epidemiology got it wrong...
EDIT : Although I would like to add that I personally would like to see inequality reduced regardless of whether it actually has any benefits for the health of a given nation.
if you are trying to say that because they gave it a positive review the author hasn't done an objective critique.
However, the idea that private schools are populated by normal folk is bogus
I'm squeamish about buying advantage for offspring - paying so mine get a head start on yours? Let's not pretend private education is anything else. It just doesn't seem classy
QuoteHowever, the idea that private schools are populated by normal folk is bogusI never suggested that did I? Although it does of course depend on your perception of normality I would contend 'normal' folk should mean a cross-section, not the specific demographic you happen to have grown up around.QuoteI'm squeamish about buying advantage for offspring - paying so mine get a head start on yours? Let's not pretend private education is anything else. It just doesn't seem classyI find this view that there is a some kind of competition going on completely bizarre. I've never met anyone who privately educated their kids to get one up on someone else. They do it because they want the best for <i>their </i>kid, irrespective of what anyone else is doing. In many cases they did this because their talented kid was bored/ ignored in the local state school. Now that might be tackled if we banned private education and went back to something the grammar school system, but that brought its own problems of life-changing selection didn't it?I don't think the idea of banning private education really stands scrutiny personally. I've just had laser surgery on my eyes, its brilliant, it should be available to everyone. But it isn't, because its a luxury not a necessity. Should we ban it lest the rich get ahead with their bionic eyes?
I find this view that there is a some kind of competition going on completely bizarre.
At one end of the spectrum is dentistry - in the middle is healthcare - and at the far end is education, this being considerably more important.
Quote from: Johnny Brown on April 16, 2013, 01:19:13 pmI find this view that there is a some kind of competition going on completely bizarre. I've been actually laughing out loud at this for while now. I don't really know where to start. I suppose I could start at evolutionary behavioral biology...
And I'd rather we all be half-blind and educated than thick and sighted. That's a fairly nonsensical answer to your implication that the best education should be reserved for the rich.
it's difficult to justify spending much state money to give a hand up to those already more able...I think there is still a good argument for doing more for the 'gifted and talented'
If private schools were abolished, parents would still be able to use their money to buy their children (and, incidentally, children of poorer parents) a better education, presuming of course that their kids were bright enough to make the top couple of sets or the 'gifted and talented' register (yes, we all have one). The finance could be used to provide smaller classes or extra lessons, trips, competitions, opportunities etc.
I believe diversity was an old old wooden ship?
Quote from: Pantontino on April 16, 2013, 05:09:11 pmI was discussing something similar with my wife's dad recently: our conclusion was that there is a sliding scale of importance with regard to public/private provision. At one end of the spectrum is dentistry - in the middle is healthcare - and at the far end is education, this being considerably more important.Bur what about climbing guidebooks? It is surely appalling that mixed provision is tolerated ... the BMC and associated member clubs should clearly have a monopoly
I was discussing something similar with my wife's dad recently: our conclusion was that there is a sliding scale of importance with regard to public/private provision. At one end of the spectrum is dentistry - in the middle is healthcare - and at the far end is education, this being considerably more important.