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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder what the fuss is regarding Private Schools?

469 replies

peppapigandhumf · 21/01/2011 15:11

A friend has 2 kids at a local prep school. She doesnt really bang on about the school to me etc but i wonder why bother pay for education when schooling is free.

Is it really just about small class sizes and fancy expensive uniforms?

OP posts:
LadyBlaBlah · 23/01/2011 20:21

There is a fine line between having confidence and being arrogant.

People at private school are told that state schools are hell holes and then they develop an expectation that all people who go to state schools do not know how to behave, will never achieve anything and are a little bit thick, or at best rough.

Private schools have to peddle this myth otherwise no-one would go there.

LadyOfTheManor · 23/01/2011 20:22

Urm... I care about the mess that state schools are in, I care so much I'll be paying for my son to steer clear of them, and the rif raf that seem to loiter around the gates.

I care for his future and the opportunities available to him.

I care that he may want to go to university and therefore should have the best education there is to ensure he gets there.

I care that one day he may want to be in a career that requires more than 5 GCSEs.

Angry
GORGEOUSX · 23/01/2011 20:24

LadyBlahblah How do you know that?

JoanofArgos · 23/01/2011 20:28

the 'it is envy' line is wishful thinking, I suspect. Life would be easier if you could just shoe-horn everyone's ethical objections into a convenient corner by saying 'ah, they're just jealous'.

Betcha John O'Farrell could've afforded private.

Normantebbit · 23/01/2011 20:34

'... I care about the mess that state schools are in, I care so much I'll be paying for my son to steer clear of them, and the rif raf that seem to loiter around the gates.'

"'I don't feel bad that my son will be privately educated, nor will I feel bad when he's paying a fortune in tax to cover "benefits" to the likes of people who "moaned" about better off kiddies getting that opportunity."

Shock and Angry

Those are extremely offensive statements. I can point any number of my state educated peers who are decent hard working people.

Sorry but Angry

LadyOfTheManor · 23/01/2011 20:36

I bet you can't point to any state educated surgeons or perhaps politician or perhaps banker? The odd solicitor, I imagine, at a push you could...

LadyOfTheManor · 23/01/2011 20:37
  • add plurals where necessary
poshsinglemum · 23/01/2011 20:41

Ladyofthemanor; my peers weren't from the same background. I was middle class. the rest were either just rich, very rich, mega rich or billionaire rich.

There are many shades of stinking rich. being middle class was NOT enough.

I think that it's good for kids to mix with those from different backgrounds; and that includes the ruffians from the local council estate too! I just don't get the fear that the poor little darlings are going to be ''corrupted'' by the poor kids. Utter snobbery bollocks.

poshsinglemum · 23/01/2011 20:43

My private school didn't give me any confidence and I doubt my parents would say I have polish! I can put it on when it serves me nowadays.

poshsinglemum · 23/01/2011 20:45

It is the old boys network Normantebbit. It really got on my wick at school. It is elitist and believe me; they are VERY choosy about who they allow in. It's quite despicable really.

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 23/01/2011 20:46

Saw today in the Sunday Times (paper copy - can't link as it is now subscription only) that Eleanor Mills (leftie columist, previously rabidly anti-'private') has now - (wot a suprise!)come out as the latest hypocritical leftie to send her DD to an indie school (cf Diane Abbot, Will Self..) Interestingly, lots of self-serving negative comments about state schools in general, not anything specific as to why she made the decision in her daughter's case.

Normantebbit · 23/01/2011 20:47

Lady - you are demonstrating admirably why private education is to be avoided.

For the record, hand on heart, among my peers is an advocate, speechwriter for Gordon Brown, childrens book author, consultant paediatrician, dentist, channel 4 journalist, KPMG company secretary, 2 football coaches, and many others who are teachers, PA's business people etc.

Oh and some failures, you know, cardiac nurses, A&E nurses, educational psychologists, gas fitters, electrivians, and a film actress who earns more in a few months than your son will ever earn in a year.

poshsinglemum · 23/01/2011 20:48

There were no fights at my expensive private school. Just ostracism, bullying if you couldn't afford designer clothes, verbal bullying and sexual harassment from the boys.

LadyOfTheManor · 23/01/2011 20:50

Well done to the woman who slept her way to the top - we all know what a casting couch is.

Oh Gordon's Brown speech writer? So he's unemployed atm I imagine.

And of course a handful of medics, there are always a few who escape the net, and good for them. Now scour the list of medics in the country and see where they were schooled.

Biscuit take that to sweeten the deal.

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 23/01/2011 20:52

GB speech writer! Bet s/he's not too proud about that...

Normantebbit · 23/01/2011 20:54

alright, alright you are taking the piss.

Have another g&t

LondonMother · 23/01/2011 21:00

LadyOfTheManor, you are not helping your case by making these ridiculous claims.

State educated prime ministers: Gordon Brown, John Major, Margaret Thatcher, Harold Wilson, James Callaghan - and there are plenty of state educated senior politicians in all the main parties too - William Hague, for example.

I know quite a number of successful headteachers, academics and NHS consultants who were state educated.

And what's all this rubbish about actresses only being successful if they sleep their way to the top?

GORGEOUSX · 23/01/2011 21:01

Mrs.G LOL! Just read that too, and yes, I was surpirsed it took so long.

lovelyopaque · 23/01/2011 21:02

Lady of the Manor, you are just sounding as if you lack manners now. I would have hoped private school would have covered those.

Normantebbit · 23/01/2011 21:03

They don't seem to teach feminism or equality at private school.

Normantebbit · 23/01/2011 21:06

And my speechwriter friend has a very influential job now.

But what wit!

LadyBlaBlah · 23/01/2011 21:06

Equality is struck off the curriculum - that would fuck things right off

poshsinglemum · 23/01/2011 21:07

I don't know if I would have prefered to have had a crap time at a state school or a private school. I just know that I felt comfortable and accepted at my state school; and never felt that way when I went to private school in year 9. My private school started at year 9 for seniour school.

It's so very sheltered imo and I want my dd to get some other skills aswell as grades in academia and piano etc.

I am just very grateful that i have seen both sides of the coin and know that state schools are not horrid pits.

I have worked in some rough comps up North and was astounded by the great teaching I witnessed. The not so rough comps were very good indeed.

SoupDragon · 23/01/2011 21:08

"I bet you can't point to any state educated surgeons or perhaps politician or perhaps banker? "

I can.

And if my children ever develop an attitude like yours I will give them a right mouthful. In fact, before DS started I gave him a long lecture on how he was never to feel he was superior to anyone because of his education and that he is extremely lucky that his state educated father has a high paid job in the city.

GORGEOUSX · 23/01/2011 21:10

LadyoftheManor I was with you until your last few posts - I fear you may have had a few too many.

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