Ending Educational Hypocrisy on Mumsnet

[zanzibarmum]

Do you think we might end educational hypocrisy on these threads by having to declare what type of school our DC go to - you know the sort of thing the mumsnetter who wants to abolish faith schools on the grounds of fairness while sending own DC to private schools or the mum whose children are in high-performing postcode protected state schools and wanting to abolish GS.

Or is the apparent inherent hypocrisy ('do as I say not as I do') so favoured by politicians and some MNs part of the fun.

[onepieceoflollipop]

While we are at it perhaps we could also end the eating and drinking hypocrisy.

Y'know, those of us who feed our dcs organic pasta and veggies, then once they are in bed open wine and send dh to the chippy.

Lots of hypocrisy on here, as in rl.

[choosyfloosy]

No, it would just make the threads even looooooooooonnnnnger.

Does anyone know of any websites with similar debates in other countries? I would love to know if it really is just British parents who get in such a twist over this.

[mum whose children are in high-performing postcode protected state schools and wanting to abolish GS]

[Fabster]

[carocaro]

So if you don't declare where and how you child is schooled you can't have an opinion?

I thinks it is evident when someone is pushing another agenda, eg: 'I don't do this but some do' etc etc

If I go on the weight loss thread do I have to say how much I weigh? Or on the bereavement thread state up front how the person in question died and what of?

[bonfirewithaheartofgold]

oh god please don't end the s&b hyposcrisy

[Deadworm]

Zanzibar what makes you think that people on that thread were being hypocritaical -- rather than being deeply exercised by the issue precisely because they weren't prepared to make a hypocritical declaration of faith in order to get into the preferred school?

[dilemma456]

Message withdrawn

[TheCrackFox]

Actually I think you have a point. My friend was bitching about private schools: "and you know really they are unfair and should be abolished". She might have a point but I had to point out her argument was slightly flawed as she lived in the catchment area for one of the top 5 primary schools in Edinburgh and that her house cost over half a million pounds.

[ihatemyjob]

I have a friend who is always bitching about her sons classmates all going on to private schools after primary. But she herself has become a born again RC just for her kids primary and secondary schools. (She can't see the hyprocrisy at all)

(mother whose kids go to a crap local state school and would cheerfully abolish all faith and private schools)

[Morosky]

Of course it is possible that their child goes to a high achieving state comprehensive school because they have chosen not to attend a grammar school. That is the case in the school I work in, which also has staff some of which choose to work in a high achieving state school but do not agree with grammar schools.

Have not read the original thread though.

[Morosky]

Their are also parents who have children in faith schools because they are, and always have been part of the fauth community. I would love my dd to go to a faith school if there were one locally, ironically if I wanted my dd to have a Catholic education I would have to pay for it.

[smallorange]

Mine are state educated at the primary down the road and so far have not grown horns. Does this mean I'm ok to want all private schools abolished, all religious schools closed and to force everyone to send their DCs to the school round the corner?

Thought not

[MollieO]

I would welcome a change to the never ending debates re state v private where everyone seems to end up being forced to justify their choice.

[bananaskins]

Oh dear, this is a bit like one of those "what class are you and can it ever change" threads for me.

I went to the shittiest, bottom of the barrel comprehensive in the county. My mum and dad held strong views on education and on the importance of attending your nearest school no matter what. According to some mumsnet predictions, I should've dropped out at 14 up the stick and drug-addicted, ready for a life of booze and benefits.

My two are at a private school. I gloss cheerfully over the prevailing mumsnet view that they must be called Tarquin and Timothy, are working at least two years ahead of the national curriculum , and are likely to be sexually abused by the staff when I drop them off at afterschool pony club (double ).

Or as smallorange says, thought not.

[fivecandles]

zanzi, like dilemma, my kids go to private school BECAUSE I don't want to be hypocritcal by sending my kids to a state school when I don't have a faith.

The thing is though your irritation/ anger is misdirect. It's wrong to judge parents for doing whatever they can according to their moral codes (for some that's going private, for some that's faith schools, for some that's moving cathcments, for others its tutoring for grammar schools) when they can and are positively encouraged to play the system. It's the system that you should be directing your complaints towards and the inequalities within it. Which basically mean that already privileged children get a privileged education and children in difficult socioeconomic circumstances who most need a good education get the worst.

[fivecandles]

faith school that should say though as it happens my nearest state schools are segregated by faith and with it by ethnicity as well. And therefore exclude my kids who are atheists.

[selectivememory]

I don't think it is necessarily hypocrisy to be interested in what is happening to children who aren't as fortunate as your own. With all the will in the world you can't make everyone's child able to attend, for instance, a highly selective school, but you can still be concerned about their education, can't you?? Is that being hypocritical? Or is it NOT being 'I'm alright Jack so therefore not concerned about anyone else'?

[GrimmaTheNome]

Hear hear, fivecandles.

[teamcullen]

I think the annoying thing with these threads is not the debate of what school peole think is better, because that boils down to personal choice.

Its the snobbery that goes with it form both ends of the scale, and the calls for abolishing any type of school which your child is not elligible for, whether its faith, private, out of the catchment.

Personally DS doesnt qualify to go to the local grammer school because he is not bright enough.

Does that mean I should call for the abolishment of all grammer schools.

[Morosky]

I think some people don't like grammar schools, or any other type of school because they have actual moral objections not because they simply can't get their child in.

I have mixed feelings about grammar schools, but would certainly prefer that my dd does not apply for or go to one. That is not because she would not get a place. I actually think she would get a place quite easily.

I am also anti private education, again not because dd could not go to one, infact she almost did and we could afford to send her now if we wanted but because I don't agree with them.

Faith schools again, I have mixed feelings about, but dd has attended them in the past.

[zanzibarmum]

Fivecandles - I am not irritated still less angry I find it all rather amusing surely you saw that from my question.

I am also not judging anyone - though I am decidely unconvinced by those who want to abolish schools that provide a good education which their own children are benefitting from in private schools or GS. By all means send DC private or move house to get into a good state school but then spare us from your desire to save us from the schools we choose for our DC.

Selectivemummy - yes take an interest in education but if a mum sends dC private isn't there something of.a constraint on calling for abolishing faith schools or GS - or at least they should declare the interest

I agree with the poster on the other thread: building is a lot better than abolishing.

[Bonsoir]

I don't see much educational hypocrisy on Mumsnet. Most posters are busy engineering their lives such that their children get the best possible education that their income and strategising expertise allows. They want any new system that is introduced to benefit their own particular circumstances.

All this is quite normal.

[thesecondcocking]

my eldest daughter went to a catholic primary school and is now at an all girls convent grammar school.
My 2nd daughter will go to a local faith primary school and depending on her 11 plus results will go to grammar school hopefully-although perhaps not single sex as i am less bothered for my 2nd and think she'd cope better with boys/rough and tumble than my eldest.
What i am saying is,i have picked the school appropriate for each child as they have been going,based on various things ie my work/their friends/their ability and their personality.

[ABetaDad]

I must admit I feel slightly vulnerable on school threads although they were the reason I first came to MN.

My DSs go to a Prep school and will go to a private secondary school after that. I went to a good village primary and then a not very good private secondary school to avoid a rubbish Comp. DW went to a village primary and then a top Catholic girls grammar school that went Comp.

If we could get a good local village prmary and a good free local grammar that is were our DSs would go. Instead we now have to pay for that standard. We have the money to avoid what other parents have to endure. We are lucky.

The ony people that I get annoyed by are those who pontificate about the evil of fee payng schools and then buy an expensive house next to a fantastic extremely selective state school and pay to have their kids coached privately to get into it.