How do vocal socialists justify private school?

[EachandEveryone]

I often think it about gobby musicians and lately I’ve noticed friends who vehemently believe in equal opportunities for all sending their little ones to private school even though there are outstanding primary schools nearby. For the sporting opportunities was the reason. I have never

Seems to be 'Do as I Say' not :Do as I Do'. Totally hypocritical.

“Seems to be 'Do as I Say' not :Do as I Do'. Totally hypocritical.”

Any examples- except Diane Abbot?

Lots of reasons - maybe their catchment school isn’t as good as they would like, maybe they want smaller class sizes. One of my friends has quite socialist views but is posh and comes from generations of private school - his catchment school is not good and he has the money. I don’t have the money so my kids are at state school like me, but I think if money were no object I’d definitely consider it. If we lived in a grammar area I would probably consider that enough. I will happily send my kids to state schools if that is the very best I can provide them with, but if I could provide them with better I would. But that doesn’t stop me wanting more opportunity for everyone else, or wishing that the education system was better overall

Good question, we have lots of Labour-voting friends who send their DC to private schools... it does make me chuckle.

“Good question, we have lots of Labour-voting friends who send their DC to private schools.“

Do you though? Really lots?

Chakrabarti,

And Emily Thornberry’s children go /went to a grammar school. That’s two and a half. Any more?

Polly Toynbee’s a classic.

Yes Bertrand, lots. How shall I prove it to you?

No need to! Just wondered. The overwhelming majority of my friends broadly share my values, rhat’s all. I can’t imagine having lots of friends who do something I consider hypocritical.

My DC were privately educated from reception through to the end of sixth form. One of the biggest surprises was how many of their friends had parents who taught in the state sector or had parents who were very vocal about their socialist leanings. I can think of three families amongst their friends were one or both parents were Labour councillors.

I'm assuming it's the nursery class of a private school and once you're in you're in. I'm also guessing that if you work long hours and earn lots of money it makes sense to have them in a childcare/school setting that is set up for parents who work long hours. I'd do the same if I was in their position for the same reason I send my child to a grammar school even though I'm against grammar schools, because the opportunity is there and the education system (where I am) isn't currently set up for fully comprehensive.

I've known that happen but always because of schools not being so good in their area. Yes, they want to work to change our education system and improve it for everyone but they cannot sacrifice their child's education for the parent's ideals. I don't think it's easy.

The other thing I've known happen is parents pushing their kids to get into a good grammar school which they often do, even though they live miles away and require transport to be provided. The grammar schools near me, Newstead Woods and St Olave's in Orpington, have had pupils who are children of politicians.

What’s a “vocal socialist” anyway?

Presumably, because they believe good schools should be freely available to all, but in the mean time are living within the system they find themselves in?

I pay for private dental treatment for dd - the nearest NHS dentist who will take her on is 30 miles away, and it would cost me more to take time off work to get her there than the Denplan fees. Does that make me a hypocrite - I believe there should be good dentists available to all on the NHS.

Similarly, I spend a lot of my life campaigning for affordable, local, sustainably produced food to be available for everyone. In the meantime, I'm grateful that I can afford to buy good quality food for my family. I don't feel the need to live on cheap processed alternatives, even though many people have no option but to do this.

I'm actually really sympathetic to Diane Abbot specifically in this instance. Black children, and particularly boys, suffer massively from institutional racism in this country. Why the hell shouldn't she choose to level the playing field just a tiny bit for her son, the same way she probably pays for dental treatment for him or makes sure he has decent food. She's worked hard throughout her life to try to get good opportunities available to all black children in London, it's not her fault that so far she hasn't succeeded.

What’s a “vocal socialist” anyway?

One who bores on endlessly about their social justice credentials while often doing the opposite when it affects their personal interests
Do you really think people are taken in by faux-naive questioning?

“Do you really think people are taken in by faux-naive questioning?”

Nope.

Any more than anyone is taken in by the “my social circle is absolutely packed with hypocritical socialists” posters.

Corbyn son grammar school, Blair dc, selective comp highly regarded told off for selection. Abbot, polly.

We have it in my family some staunch far left labour, all for comps, down with grammar, nasty, sent their own kids to bloody boarding school and top private schools! Unbelievable.

However I do reserve small sympathy for them because I do believe it's parents job to do best for dc as they are not our possessions. If they would be happier in private or grammar or wherever its our job to increase their happiness and large portion of day is spent at school.

Nasty nasty to force your dc into unsuitable school when you could send them elsewhere but you choose not to because of your beliefs. Especially if you the parent had a good, pleasant education!!

Nasty. So in some respects I do understand.

Why the hell shouldn't she choose to level the playing field just a tiny bit for her son, the same way she probably pays for dental treatment for him or makes sure he has decent food.

Because she wants her family to benefit from the choice of an excellent education while her entire professional career has been based on taking that choice away from others. It’s the worst sort of hypocrisy favoured by de haut en bas socialists.

Sadik I would slightly agree re Diane but I thought recent studies said it was poor white boys who are most disadvantaged.

“Corbyn son grammar school, Blair dc, selective comp highly regarded told off for selection. Abbot, polly.”

To be fair to Corbyn, he was overruled by his ex-wife on the grammar school issue.

Empty vessels..

That he was and Blair's children went to the Oratory which is a selective grammar school.

Now I wouldn't say Diane Abbott has taken good schooling away from anyone. She's anti grammar school I assume, but so is almost anyone who knows anything about education (certainly going by teacher comments on the subject on here - can't think of any teachers who support them).

And I'm not sure anyone would class Tony Blair as a socialist!