AIBU to think that it's in the best interest of society

[BenandBolly]

that those that can pay for private school should send their children privately thus freeing up places for parents who can't afford it.

Or should all parents no matter what their disposable income go through the state system to equal the playing field.....

...or would this just effectively mean that it wouldn't actually equal the playing field but cause even more pockets of high priced housing and free education for the rich?

[WorraLiberty]

I think the system is fine as it is.

Why does it have to be one extreme or the other?

Right now parents can choose state or private and that's how it should be.

[nancy75]

Well we could probably afford to send dd to private school, we don't because state schools are good enough,we also pay tax so are just as entitled to state education for our child as anyone else.

[Shellywelly1973]

Choice, either way is the most important issue for most parents...

[chandellina]

People need to be able to make choices. Some people can afford it but choose state education. Others might stretch to the limit for private. The reasons can be very personal.

[elizaregina]

ummm

why shouldnt there be enough places for all children anyway?

why is there a place/space problem?

there shouldnt even be a need for private schools - state schools should be just as good - and there shouldnt be a space issue either.

[BenandBolly]

because some people believe that parents who send their children to private school are giving unfair advantages to their offspring.

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I have issues with the questions you ask so I can't answer them without challenging the wording and the assumptions underpinning these loadedquestions:

1. That People who can afford private schooling are preventing those who cannot afford private school from getting places for their children at state schools. I don't think that is a big issue, the numbers involved are not having a massive effect on availability of school places across the country.
   
   
2. The playing field is not equal because children from wealthy backgrounds are priviliged regardless, wheteher they are state or privately educated - if all children had to go through the state school system this would not change, though it would hopefully mean state schools would have better support. The children of parents who value education and have good qualifications themselves, tend to do better at school and I don't see that changing.
   
   
3. State Education is not free as we all pay taxes to fund it and the rich should be paying higher taxes, so yes they should be allowed to access 'free' education (and healthcare). High priced housing around good schools is an issue but scarcity of housing and geographical location (London v. Cardiff etc) is more important re. housing costs.
   
   Society would be better served by reducing the massive gap between the rich and the poor - than constantly hand wringing over education and fiddling with it. Pay the teachers a decent wage, invest in schools, leave them to do the teaching and stop moving the goalposts.

[RobynRidingHood]

Some European countries give tax rebates to those who elect for private medical and education options. Now, that seems fair, because you aren't paying twice.

[BenandBolly]

bigmouth
I agree with every point

[sookiesookie]

because some people believe that parents who send their children to private school are giving unfair advantages to their offspring.

rules are not created because SOME people might believe. There has to some evidence not just joe bloggs opinion.