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Politics

Is the Public Education system to blame for the present Governments predicament ?

42 replies

whitewave · 01/05/2012 11:12

One of the qualities that the Public School system seem to be very good at is installing in their inmates is a sense of self belief in one's ability, no bad thing if there is a sense of balance. On the negative side children removed from their parents at a tender age, cannot hope to develop so well emotionally as those who remain within the family unit. The problem it seems to me when considering our current government is that this emotional immaturity accompanied with an inflated self belief in their ability, overrides an individuals awareness of their actual ability. Unfortuately this is clearly in evidence as we watch Mr Cameron, throwing his toys out of his pram, (taking the form of unpleasant remarks, amongst others) when he is made to do something he doesn't want to do(return to parliament answer questions) or is critisised by the opposition, this together with so many decisions by the governement that have subsequently been withdrawn, or muddled through.

OP posts:
whitewave · 01/05/2012 16:19

Purits

I am afraid that you have missed the point I was exploring a couple of areas that may or may not have informed the present government. I am not talking about nor interested in class, underclass etc. I am merely trying to make sense of a government that appears to be totally inadequate. It could be that many of the cabinet were too young and inexperienced.

OP posts:
trifling · 01/05/2012 13:34

spot on

rabbitstew · 01/05/2012 12:47

My dh went to a public school and is lovely. He doesn't seek power, though. And we don't agree on everything in life, but wouldn't it be dull if we did?

rabbitstew · 01/05/2012 12:43

People who went to public school are, of course, divided off from others in many ways. We spend our lives dividing ourselves off from others, choosing who we will and won't mix with, who is and isn't a good influence.

rabbitstew · 01/05/2012 12:39

I'm sure she thinks that no more than anyone thinks that there is an "underclass" of people who are virtually inhuman.

purits · 01/05/2012 12:07

What a nasty OP. Do you really think that toffs are some sort of 'other', an inhuman sub-species that totally lack EQ? Hmm

rabbitstew · 01/05/2012 12:01

I think it is the effect of power. There is absolutely nothing to say that a public school boy cannot go on to become a great leader. I do think, however, public schools do prepare children for power in ways that are more likely to lead to a certain type of leadership.

rabbitstew · 01/05/2012 11:58

My parents have always felt they withdrew him too late.

thirdhill · 01/05/2012 11:53

I'm sure your DB had the ultimate defence of withdrawing his son.

thirdhill · 01/05/2012 11:52

Perhaps it is the effect of power, and it is the rare person who can restrain themselves?

rabbitstew · 01/05/2012 11:51

My db's prep school worked very hard to squash the parents out of him.

thirdhill · 01/05/2012 11:49

rabbit prep usually starts about 8+ and most nowadays are not boarding. By 8+ you can see the parent in the child. At state and independent schools.

EdithWeston · 01/05/2012 11:46

We have had a few state school educated PMs: Wilson, Heath, Callaghan, Thatcher and Major. Are you saying they were inherently better?

rabbitstew · 01/05/2012 11:44

Since when does prep school not count as the preparation ground for public school?

rabbitstew · 01/05/2012 11:43

Maybe whitewave has a point, flatpackhamster - there was an awful lot of inflated self-belief in the last government, too. Tony Blair was so inflated with his self-belief, I'm amazed he never burst.

thirdhill · 01/05/2012 11:42

Public school starts at 13+. By then most boys will have absorbed their family values. IME that, rather than the school, has more to do with individual boys' ego and maturity. No direct experience of what the current Government were like at school though, they are all too young.

flatpackhamster · 01/05/2012 11:24

There were just as many public-school educated ministers under Blair. Would you say we were better governed from 1997 to 2004?

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