to hate it when people talk about "indie" schools

[gobehindabushfgs]

in an attempt to make it sound cool, edgy and alternative? it isn't. it's private education. it's a right-wing, ultimately selfish decision.

"indie"

I think this might have touched a nerve with a few people

manicbmc now I want to listen to the Charlatans, I think they were on Beggars Banquet. Well, I am alone in the office, so perhaps I will...!

I think using a car and taking unnecessary flights is selfish too - of course it is

we all do some selfish things, it's a question of personal threshold

private education is far, far beyond the pale IMO, and it also produces some pretty unpleasant social results.

What about state funded independent schools (there is one in the next county to me) or specialist SEN/music/dance etc schools.

Everything you do in life in selfish. Is it selfish that dd goes to ballet and piano lessons becasue I can afford them, she wants a career in performing or teaching, only possible if you pay.

Or is is selfish that my brother takes my neice goes on holiday abroad which we can't afford to do.

UnfortunaTELY life is unfair and I wish that everyone had exactly the same opportunities, but they don't so we all do the best we can within our means.

any school that demands payment is right wing as true socialism dousnt agree with fee paying schools.

yes indie schools is an annoying term

But nobody has any need or justification to fly on holiday at all.

Whereas, it's not that simple with regards schools. For some people, SEN provision is paramount. For others, accepting a bursary and getting their child off the sink estate is far more important and wide ranging than flying to Malaga.

Not everyone who uses the private sector do so to avoid other kids or because they are snobs. Many in the private sector have started in the state sector and moved when things became horrific.

So, actually, they would agree with your final sentence.

That was to GBABFFS.

Gobehindabush, you can deny it all you like, but there is one mahoosive chip on your shoulder.

Private education being 'beyond the pale'? I ask you. Can't you find something that really is 'beyond the pale' to worry about? You don't like it and you don't use it even though you could afford to (cue vigorous halo-polishing). You are lucky enough to have the choice - unlike people who are condemned by their postcode to send their children to crap schools because they can't afford a private alternative even if they want to use it.

And you're fretting about the use of 'indie' as shorthand? Cripes.

By that I mean they would argue that a bad state school has far reaching social consequenses too.

Thats all schools then knittedbreast, especially in secondary.

no chip, and I am not "fretting"

your children may develop a chip though, when they leave school and realise that you bought their qualifications, the world isn't a perfect place and all the nasty "sink estate" people you shielded them from are still there, in the workplace and everywhere else.

I know what the op means, and I have used and do use both independent and state.

On the other hand, there is a concerted effort to run down/play down the whole private/indep school system because it IS so blatantly unfair (and better on the whole).

Is it, I wonder further beyond the pale, to buy a house in the catchment for an excellent state primary when the cheapest house in that catchment costs around 500k?

Is that ok? Because surely those parents are effectively paying for that school too and ensuring only a certain type of child can attend.

This was exactly the case where we have just moved from.

I'm not paying for my child to get off the sink estate. But being in SW, I see many parents who actually live their who would do anything to get their child into a better school.

Why do you think schools like Manchester Grammar have such a huge intake of boys from Moss side?

YABU

OP, if it's right wing, why do Labour politicians choose it (Lord Falconer, Diane Abbott et al).

Absolutely, BettyD.

Gobehindabush: where exactly did I say that my children are at indie schools? (Or are you thread-stalking me? )

gravity-what do you mean? i apologise for being slow today is not going very well and i feel like shit.

older - you cite Lord Falconer and Diane Abbott as representative of the left wing? You think all Labour politicians are really committed to socialism?

oh dear, oh dear

I can see indie is an irritating term but only in a mildly cringe making way. However I think there are benefits to schools to have -dare I say it- middle class parents supporting them and sending their kids there and not to private schools. I can't afford private and was nervous of sending my child to his local primary as 'middle class' parents tended to slag it off and avoid it . However, he is happy and thriving and meeting children of many different cultures/backgrounds. So far it is great. He is starting life seeing everyone of equal worth and naturally accepting difference. So - in my opinion the op is not being selfish sending her child to the local state school rather than the 'Indie'.....[tis a wanky term!].

I'm interested to know what you think about my post re catchment.
And why you think all those MS parents with bright lads want them to go to MGS.

labour politicians use it because partly A most of them are so right wing is an insult they are even part of the labour party and B they worry that because of what they do and how important they are (allegedly) they need to send their kids somewhere with good security where they will be safe.

also most labour politicians were also privatly educated and so it continues the trait of privilidge

State schools are always asking for money for one thing or another. My cousin was "encouraged" to set up a direct debit for a voluntary contributiuon, voluntary, but they expect it paid. And thats before we get into their ridiculous uniform costs for secondary.

And I'd like to know where I said that mine were at indie schools!

I don't approve of parents who move into very affluent areas to get their kids into cut-above state schools either. And I wouldn't do so myself, not least because the ethos of such schools tends to be almost as bad as the private sector - LOTS of anti-social snobs with mahoosive chips on their shoulders

I was addressing you as a defender of private education - I don't much care whether I was referring to your children or hypothetical children

(And now I've re-read Gobehind's post again, I'm another one who'd love to know how someone has 'bought their children's qualifications' by paying for indie school, but hasn't bought them by buying a house in a vastly expensive middle class catchment area).