Private School

[Rincewind]

I applied as a security role at a girls private school (not had any response) and looking at the website and prospectus it seems they take girls as young as five. How can any parent send a child as young as that away from home? Surely it isthe time when they need parents around them. I would not considr it until they were about 10. Even then I would consider the type of school and distance. At least in the teenage years the kids are embarrassed enough when parents are close by to prefer the company of friends.

[Darkon84]

I applied as a security role at a girls private school (not had any response) and looking at the website and prospectus it seems they take girls as young as five. How can any parent send a child as young as that away from home? Surely it isthe time when they need parents around them. I would not considr it until they were about 10. Even then I would consider the type of school and distance. At least in the teenage years the kids are embarrassed enough when parents are close by to prefer the company of friends.

Not all private schools are boarding schools.

[Rincewind]

I'm sure this one was, it mentions rooms and do's and dont's.

I think the standard of education would be priority. I would not want it to be an exclusive club with the Horray Henry types. I would not do it just to keep up with the Jones'. If I saw the child was turning into a snob, I would not want them there.

[Bellend Sebastian]

Having been to a supposedly 'red brick' university where I mixed with students from state, private and old type grammar schools I honestly couldn't say that I could point at any particular group and say that they were superior over any of the others and that things panned out for them better than the others. If I think of the people that went on to get proper graduate jobs (with the big plcs and earning shitloads of money) it was a pretty even split, and if we're going on earnings out of all the people I know some of the highest earners didn't even go to university. The highest earner I know personally went to state school, started the same university course as I did and then very sensibly switched to something a bit more meaningful at the same place and now earns about 3 times what I do. The secret for him is that he's willing to work a lot bloody harder than I am, and was also prepared to live and work in f***ing London which you'd have to hold a gun to my head to make me do.

I've only talked in material terms so far and if you like the ethos and the values that these places supposedly instill in your offspring then that's fair enough. If you want to get into politics it definitely seems to be an advantage, but who the buggery would want to do that? There's also a real risk that you end up being taught alongside kids called Alfonso and things like that.

I'm a big believer that your future to a large extent is determined in your very early years, and agree with my other half's simplistic view that if you're thick then it doesn't matter what education is thrown at you, and if you're clever you'll do well whatever system you go through. She's a good example of it herself - she grew up in a shit area, went to the shitty schools there, but because she was identified as a 'clever one', the schools did enough to get her to university and her own work ethic took her through what she needed to do to become a highly paid and qualified professional in the healthcare sector, and like most people seemingly, earns a lot more than I do.

As with most things you've got to take a step back and have a good think about the pro's and cons of sending your kids there rather than just having a fixed idea that it's brilliant and THEY MUST GO THERE AT ALL COSTS, because it's right for some and not others. I know someone from a very modest background who was sent there (again identified as a 'clever one') and on the face of it you'd say it was an unmitigated disaster, in that they were bullied to barely endurable levels, struggled academically and didn't even make it through university when they eventually got there and are now doing a job they could have done if they'd left school at 16, and all at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds that their family struggled to afford. And guess what? They want to send their kids to private school.

What this probably boils down to ultimately is that I'm too much of a tight arse and I would need to be much more convinced of its merits than I am to be throwing that sort of money around

edit: Used the word 'thing' instead of 'think'. Is it too late for me to go back to school? Yes

[z-layrex]

If I had a daughter sure, but not a son. My other half went to one of the best private schools in the south, and she's a really classy lady, as are all her female friends who went there.

The guys I've had the misfortune to meet though have almost all been absolute *****, with ridiculous nicknames for each other. One of them actually rolled his nose up at me when I met him a few years ago.

[Rincewind]

My elder brother is a clever sod and went grammer then University. Started off teaching, went into B & B andprogressed to a hotel. He did this through hard work and if he does something he sees it through, reserches and plans.

Nothing like me. His missus has a decent IQ too so it has been passed to their kids. In the last year of his schooling my brother took my nephew out of schoo because he (my nephew) felt he was being dragged backwards. The other kids in his year were being taught things he already knew. It helps having teachers as parents who actually take an interested in the education. My brother went to the school and worked out a curriculum that both he and the school board were happy with. I doubt things would be different in a private school. He would have still suffered from frustration and if boarded without the support of parents who knows what would happen.

Mind he was not happy at university either. His mind is inoverload so when he's leant something gets bored easily. Still a teenager though atm.

[MooseBreath]

Simple - the idea that someone should be entitled to a "better" standard of education based on nothing more than their parent's ability to pay is, well, fucking retarded

How is it retarded? If people have got the money to pay for a better education why shouldn't they be allowed to do so? Please don't tell me you're going to say something like "public schools should already be of the highest possible standard" because that would be beyond moronic even from a typically one-dimensional left winger.

[Haydos]

Simple - the idea that someone should be entitled to a "better" standard of education based on nothing more than their parent's ability to pay is, well, ****ing retarded

But having a better quality of literally everything else is fine? They just shouldn't be allowed better education? Is private healthcare disgusting too? How about higher quality food?

[The Doctor]

How is it retarded? If people have got the money to pay for a better education why shouldn't they be allowed to do so? Please don't tell me you're going to say something like "public schools should already be of the highest possible standard" because that would be beyond moronic even from a typically one-dimensional left winger.

Well because this Private & Public v State schools system just perpetuates the class divide and continues along the whole "who you know, not what you know" shit that this country is run on (look at old Gideon George Osbourne for proof).

Suppose you had a child with leukaemia coming from poor, working class parents - should that child expect a lower quality health care because of nothing more than who they were born to? If not, why should it be fine for children to expect a differing standard of education due to nothing more than their parents are?

Ultimately, the idea of children being entitled to different standards of education (talking actual schools, not private tutors etc. here) based on the success (or lack of) on their parents behalf is a pathetic, self-serving ideology.

Edit:

But having a better quality of literally everything else is fine? They just shouldn't be allowed better education? Is private healthcare disgusting too? How about higher quality food?

Not at all, privatised health-care is also ridiculous, as for food/housing etc. - that'd more be punishing the parents that have done well for themselves, that's not my argument, my argument is against punishing children for how their parents have done in life.

[MooseBreath]

Bit naive. There are always going to be better services available to those who can afford to pay for it. Where a child grows up has a large impact upon their future, should we ban parents from moving to better areas? Should we ban them from buying better books, higher quality food? This is just another case of, if I can't afford it, no-one else should be allowed to have it.

[Jon the Hat]

Well because this Private & Public v State schools system just perpetuates the class divide and continues along the whole "who you know, not what you know" shit that this country is run on (look at old Gideon George Osbourne for proof).

Suppose you had a child with leukaemia coming from poor, working class parents - should that child expect a lower quality health care because of nothing more than who they were born to? If not, why should it be fine for children to expect a differing standard of education due to nothing more than their parents are?

Ultimately, the idea of children being entitled to different standards of education (talking actual schools, not private tutors etc. here) based on the success (or lack of) on their parents behalf is a pathetic, self-serving ideology.

Edit:

Not at all, privatised health-care is also ridiculous, as for food/housing etc. - that'd more be punishing the parents that have done well for themselves, that's not my argument, my argument is against punishing children for how their parents have done in life.

You don't have an argument, you have an ideolgy based on nonsense. There is no difference between being able to provider better food and better education. Food might well be more important.

[Captain...]

As a good old fashioned lefty, my daughter was sent to the local public school to get the "well rounded" education that only they can provide, however as she progressed and expressed a desire for a uni degree that required an above 98 TER for entry, well rounded wasn't going to be enough, she would need an environment that taught for high achievement, and sadly, "most" public schools are focused on turning out decent middle of the road people who will fit the template.

We were fortunate that she was able to get a scholarship that paid much of the (absurd) fees and she went on to achieve exactly what she aimed for... however, in the process, the elitism and snobbery of the school led to bullying, mental torment and abuse, which the school, for the most part ignored.

So, would i do it again, ........... i really dont know, the torment etc may also have happened at public school.... and its most unlikely that she could have achieved the required result at public.

I guess its a decision, that like so many as a parent... carries positive and negatives from both sides. and youll only know if it was right... months..years..decades down the track... I still dont know.

im sure that helped the discussion no end

There is that element to it, I went to a state primary school and a private secondary, but I never really fitted in and it was difficult whenever there was a non uniform day I hated it as all my clothes were shitty old things (still are) and everyone else had nice new fashionable clothes and were dropped off in Lexi and BMWs whereas we had a 2CV.

I went because I was quite bright at primary school and thought I would sit the entrance exam, I pretty much aced it and my parents scrimped and saved to send me there, and buy the uniform and all the gear needed. I left after GCSEs and went to a state college passed my a-levels and went to uni.

So was it worth the money? It is hard to say, I think if I had gone to a state secondary I would have probably fallen in with the lazy crowd, not trying hard and getting by, but with worse teachers and more disruptive students it would have been detrimental to my education, I may not have gone to university, or even considered it an option.

The main difference is the environment, there were some good teachers and some bad teachers, probably a higher proportion of good teachers compared to a state school, but some of them were awful drone on at the blackboard types, but you never got called a swot or teachers pet, if anything it was the opposite, you got challenged by your teachers and your peers and it probably did more to stimulate the mind. They were also more strict than at state schools, you couldn't get away with not doing your homework.

It also had much better sports facilities, libraries and computers and more opportunities to do things compared to those I know who went to state schools.

There is an old boys club, and some people from very privileged backgrounds and some people who went through the prep school, but there were still disruptive pupils, fights and drink and drugs just like anywhere really.

If you are a hard working dedicated determined person then you would probably end up just as successful as at a state school, for people like me, bright but easily distracted, not very hard working and always looking for an excuse not to do my homework, then it was very beneficial to stop me becoming a waster and definitely helped me make something of myself, I am not in touch with any from the school any more, and it has been of no help in getting me a job through contacts I have made (this is more public schools) if anything it stopped me getting a job once, I was going to work part time in a chippy when I was 16, but they didn't want me because I went to a private school.

Would I send my kids? Depends on them really, I am not against the idea and if I thought it would be beneficial to them then I would.

Edit: The weird thing is I still feel there is a stigma attached to going to a private school, working class heros look down on you, and I very rarely mention it amongst my friends.

[The Doctor]

You don't have an argument, you have an ideolgy based on nonsense. There is no difference between being able to provider better food and better education. Food might well be more important.

Except of course there is, and comparing food to education is moronic.

Firstly, it's gonna be pretty hard to ensure all children get the same quality food when there's divisions as simple as what the children will actually eat, but also budget correctly and you can afford decent quality food, it's generally available to all - your £20k or so a year schools are not something you can just do a bit of budgeting to afford.

[Jace]

I went to a public school and I turned out OK....

[Captain...]

I went to a public school and I turned out OK....

Public, or state funded?

[MooseBreath]

Captain's a left wing liberal?

He went to a private school!

And captain lives at home with both parents

And captain's parents have a real good marriage

[Captain...]

Captain's a left wing liberal?

He went to a private school!

And captain lives at home with both parents

And captain's parents have a real good marriage

3 out of 4 ain't bad

[MooseBreath]

3 out of 4 ain't bad

There ain't no such thing as half way liberals

[Captain...]

There ain't no such thing as half way liberals

What does that even mean?

Actually I'm not really a left wing liberal, I have my own beliefs and ideas and don't blindly follow any political party or ideology, most of my opinions do coincide with those on the left, but that is not to say I don't sometimes agree with those on the right.

[Jace]

Public, or state funded?

Now you have just confused the hell out of me...

[Captain...]

Now you have just confused the hell out of me...

Eton is a public school, it can, in theory, be attended by anybody that can afford to, in reality it is full of neoptism and cronisim, but in theory it is open to the public but is privately funded and you have to pay to attend, private schools are different because they have an entrance exam, so only admit the best and the brightest and offer scholarships to those that can't afford to send their little genius. State funded are your normal schools.

Stupid rich kids go to public schools.

Smart rich kids and super smart poor kids go to private schools.

Everyone else goes to a state school.

[MooseBreath]

What does that even mean

Don't worry sir. It's just a reference to a movie. One wouldn't expect a private school boy such as yourself to have ever engaged with such trivial and low brow culture.

[Captain...]

Don't worry sir. It's just a reference to a movie. One wouldn't expect a private school boy such as yourself to have ever engaged with such trivial and low brow culture.

[Zingari]

Don't worry sir. It's just a reference to a movie. One wouldn't expect a private school boy such as yourself to have ever engaged with such trivial and low brow culture.

Come on moosey , he's just gone well out of his way to explain his situation and all credit to him (and his parents for the sacrifices they obviously made )

Shraps

I don't see why you're in any way embarrassed at having been bright enough to gain entry into a private school , and you should be massively proud of your parents for being so selfless

[Captain...]

Come on moosey , he's just gone well out of his way to explain his situation and all credit to him (and his parents for the sacrifices they obviously made )

Shraps

I don't see why you're in any way embarrassed at having been bright enough to gain entry into a private school , and you should be massively proud of your parents for being so selfless

It's not really embarrassment, its just that it has a stigma attached to it as proved, even if tongue in cheek, by moosey, so I tend not to mention it, I never lie about it and I am grateful to my parents for paying for it. I was just having a look and current fees are just under £3,500 a term, so about 10 grand a year, don't know how much it was back then, Eton is £29,000 per academic year.