Eton College apologises after allegations pupils jeered visiting state schoolgirls

[sunnydaytoday0]

If true, why has no one been expelled?

www.theguardian.com/education/2022/nov/18/eton-college-apologises-after-allegations-pupils-jeered-visiting-state-schoolgirls

Private school sanctions a number of boys after investigation into misogynistic language and racial slurs.

Eton College has apologised and “sanctioned” a number of pupils after allegations that a group of girls visiting from a nearby state school were subjected to misogynistic language, racial slurs and jeering.

The boys’ private school near Windsor, Berkshire, told the BBC that an investigation took place into the incident which occurred during a speech by Nigel Farage last week.

A person, who said they were a parent of one of the girls who attended the speech, wrote on social media anonymously that the students were booed inside the lecture theatre and were subjected to “racial slurs” and “generally misogynistic comments”. They said of the private school pupils: “Their behaviour was awful.”
The poster also said that Eton boys had cheered Farage’s “worst comments on migrants and Covid”.

The college told the BBC it had apologised “unreservedly” for the “totally unacceptable” behaviour.

I bet Farage loved it all as well.

Farage should not be invited to speak anywhere as he is a vile and disgusting human being who always encourages people to be the worst of themselves - I have never heard or read anything that he has said that encourages people to be the best of themselves - vile vile excuse for a human being

Did the boys learn from their parents in the first place?

Of course there is. By inviting him, you legitimatise him FFS. It’s not the BBC with its misguided attempt at balance.

But you have to trust people to form their own decisions by being exposed to balanced debate across all political parties. You have made your own judgement based on what you’ve heard him say, so why wouldn’t you trust others, approaching adulthood, of deciding that what he says doesn’t align with their own values? Some think the Tories are vile, or that Brexit supporters are disgusting, but that’s no basis to ban them from speaking at a public forum. At least if he’s there speaking in person, they can question and challenge him, because let’s be honest they will still see him or hear him on social media, or on the news anyway.

Is Eton one of those places that's going to be under water in a few years due to rising sea levels?

Just curious.

I have family friends who sent their four sons to Eton. They're beautifully mannered and respectful boys, their parents are not typical Etonian parents, but the stories the family have told us about what goes on there is mind blowing. Absolutely mind blowing. So much is kept under wraps…

Well. It's not an act of radicalism to invite Farage to Eton.

It would be more interesting if they invited anyone else.

Challenging a few preconceptions - how about Angela Raynor??

@Herejustforthisone do share...

I'm trying to get my head around any school inviting Farage to speak to pupils....and they also invited state school pupils to attend (probably a tick box exercise for their charitable status)....and then state school pupils actually rocking up to listen to Farage. Just no.

the family have told us about what goes on there is mind blowing. Absolutely mind blowing. So much is kept under wraps…

I don't think I'd actually be shocked by anything. The last few scandals I can remember reading in the press was the exam questions scandal, and a different case of the jailing of a teacher for sex offences.

Yes, @Herejustforthisone, do share. I'm sure Etonian's do have lovely manners. It's their morals I would question

It is a very posh dump for boys, yes good manners for certain people but not others. That is the whole point of it.

I’m a little bit surprised that anyone is surprised.

This school is known for educating over privileged, rich boys from old, white families, where having an heir and a spare has been the aim forever. They’re literally famous for having an old boy’s network where who you know is far more important than anything else.

Why would anyone think it was churning out pupils who firmly believed in sex and race equality? I mean, I’m sure there are plenty of absolute delights, but I suspect that more simply know when to keep their mouths closed. These boys didn’t.

Who bothers with Eton these days? It is a very backwards school. Stuck in its ways and very far from producing true innovators. Besides which, don’t know what they are jeering about. A huge number of pupils at Eton are on subsidised places as they can’t afford the fees. Insecurity showing its true colours maybe.

They have always had a sort of passive aggressive perfect manner. The sort of 'chaps' that you catch your self thinking did he mean to sound like that? And the answer is almost certainly yes.
I regret not pushing them in the Thames as a teen. I have no idea why the local schools don't get together and call them out.
The school have a sort of nuclear war siren that accidentally went off terrifying everyone a couple of years ago, for miles around - totally ignored. The EHOs are powerless but as a side note apparently their kitchens are minging .

@Livelovebehappy By inviting NF to speak you legitimise his views. It doesn't matter that the pupils will see him in the media etc if he's considered important enough to invite him to speak it's as if he is someone who SHOULD be listened to.

Is it any wonder these boys behaved in such a disgusting manner if this is the level of disgusting speakers they are presented with.

If this is how boys / men speak about women in earshot of them, imagine what they say about them in total privacy.

It's fucking terrifying.

Especially as statistically boys from this particular school are more likely to end up in positions of power and influence than 90+% of other schools.

Why are they racist or misogynistic? Genuinely asking as they’re a very diverse bunch in terms of ethnicity and sex.

Entitled and privileged, yes.

I think there’s a lot to be said for this yes. I think a lot of posh white boys feel threatened these days that the ‘good old days’ are drawing to a close, and they don’t hold the balance of power that they used to.

this exactly

TAKE THEIR CHARITABLE STATUS FROM THEM - they are inward looking self serving self self seeking - complete antithesis to any charitable objectives ☝️☘️☘️

There was a good programme on BBC3 by Zara McDermott called "Uncovering Rape Culture", following up on Everyone's Invited and talking to students from state and private schools.

IIRC her boyfriend made a very strong statement about his own experience of going to private school, and the way the sense of superiority deliberately fostered by the school manifested in the boys as entitlement over women.

It's still available to view: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b23rrf

Sadly what I expect from the school that produced Cameron and Johnson. Eton produces arrogant incompetents with no regard for anyone else.

It's a shameful school that needs investigation.

I think of all the people you could invite to speak to inspire or broaden the horizons of a group of children, and then I think of Farage, and I just think if that had been suggested at my ds's school I'd have pulled him out for good. Presumably Tr*mp was busy.

Luckily at ds's comp the teachers are moral, interesting people from many parts of the world who know how to model appropriate behaviour, and not bored provocateurs who think they're radical and edgy by inviting a past-it racist bore to speak.