State school teachers sending their own children to private schools

[abitwobbly]

AIBU to think we are not immoral or anti state and that we have just chosen the right school for our child??

We are teachers in state schools and our DC go to state schools - which we are very happy with despite living in inner London.

However, I couldn't care less where my children's teachers send their children - all parents try to make the best choices for their own children and it is nobody elses business what they choose.

I am only concerned about how well they do their job of teaching my DC.

I know that Redcardigan, but I keep on being told it's the only reason anyone would be happy with a state school.

JoanofArgos - Teaching is a JOB. Jobs and the teacher's lives/decisons/aspirations for his or her family are separate, and not tied in on a bloody contract.

I think it's a job to the people who are shit at it, probably.

Just because you're commited to getting the best from what you have, does not mean it's the best there possibly is though.

3 different ofsted teams said my teaching was outstanding. I love my job, I'm good at it and I give up a lot of free time to get the best I can for the children in my care. That doesn't mean that with another £100 a head, I couldn't do even more not in terms of my ability as a teacher but with facilities and experiences.

what is the crae system? Sorry never heard of it

It is more than a job. Otherwise I wouldn't put in so much time outside school hours and spend half my life there at certain times of the year.

But I have no political inclinations attached to it and it is not my entire life.

Yes, it's not like I think teachers ought to go around thinking 'everything about my school, my teaching and the system generally is perfect and beyond reproach'. But it's a massive vote of no-confidence to send your kids private - it's ALWAYS a statement about the state system to do so anyway, so for a teacher to make that statement, is, I think, a bit shabby.

All the other arguments probably belong in a thread of their own about why I disapprove of private education (before we get into wraparound care, accents, uniforms, eBaccs, Russell Groups and all the rest of it. Or we could do.... can't be long before Xenia fetches up on this thread to say all state school teachers are cretins but for very different reasons.....)

Shall I use my powers of invisibility for good or evil....

crae = state?

Excuse me? My life is divided into two main areas..my job (which I am not quote, 'shit at')+ my home/real life.

Care.

oh i see , thanks

Joan still waiting for your take on my situation (should really take this invisibility cloak off...)

Teachers are also parents so they have every right to choose any school they see fit for their DC's

I keep seeing comments on MN that say that local state schools provide a greater social mix than private schools. What is this 'social mix'?

The uniforms are a PITA, tbh. I'd far rather they had pollo shirts and sweatshirts than starchy shirts and wooly jumpers. No difference in accent that I'm aware of. I think accents only come into play in the old public schools. They're elitist (in my mind) and stuffy and usually boarding which I don't like so would never be for me. Though I have worked with a TA before whose children board at Repton and both she and they seem to love it. I don't think she was paying their fees on her salary somehow!

JoanofArgos - tbh if you felt less of my teaching skills just because of where my child was educated, well, tbh - tough.

I know I do a good job. I know that, when I was a teacher, I was a good, nay, very good teacher. I know that I am now a very good TA. I know I do my very best for the children in my care and give over and above every day for my class. I give up weekends and afternoons, and after school for the children in my class. I get paid a pittance pretty much and work so many unpaid hours for the benefit of the children I work with. My collegaues know what I give. My head teacher and governors know too.

So tbh the prejudices of one parent would mean very little to me at the end of the day and tbh I would probably end up judging your own inability to see beyound your prejudices even more than you could think less of me. But you know what, despite me thinking less of you as a parent for judging me so begatively with no reaon too, I'd still have your child at the heart of my work and still do my very best for your child.

And as I said before and noone picked up on - does my Dh not get a say in here our child is educated either?

My local state school (our catchment) has a much less diverse ethnic mix of children than DD's prep school andtbh the social mix is not much different either. So that arguement doesn't hold with me either.

Applauds Hula!!

Nicely put Hulababy

Yes, as I said earlier, I think the social mix thing only holds true in very urban areas. In expensive suburbs with small catchments the social mix argument is mute.

" JoanofArgos Mon 14-Mar-11 11:57:00
I think it's a dreadful message about how you feel about the system you work in, if you won't send your kid to state school. I mean, I do despise all users of independent schools, but state teachers especially.
"

Ah I see. This makes sense then. Nice person and all that How you can despise people you don't actually know I have no idea. But tbh with such a poor attitude your judgement of my teaching abilities, or anyone elses, definitely would be irrelevant! TBH most of your comments regarding the systems would be.

I so assume your child goes to the local comprehensive, bottom of the league failing school? So that you can be shining example parent who is going to ensure all children get the fair equal deal. I assume you have not moved to a good catchment area to get into a good school. And I assume you have not sought a grammer school if they are in your location? And I assume you have not employed any form of tutor or too many extra curricular activities to enhance your child/'s learning? I assume you also do not agree with any other form of "buying" your children a better education. because tbh, unless your children are at the worse school in your borugh an you are volunteeering and helping very very often your judgements don't really hold with me now.

I didn't for a moment think a teacher would care whether I thought less of them for that! It's fine. The thing is, you can send your kid private, you can give them the school you want, you can be happy it's the best thing for them - but you can't also expect everyone to agree with you, can you?

Norfolk, I'm sorry I didn't see your post. The thing is that lots of people seem to think they have the one smoking gun reason why, in their particular case, even the staunchest advocate of state education would have to bow their head and say 'yeah, I'd do the same'. But I wouldn't, and I don't agree with what you're doing, as I should have thought was tolerably clear from everything I've said about private education. Not sure what else I can say.

Goodness, well done Hula. I'm state teacher with state educated DC but still have found some of these comments offensive.

Imagine the Doctor who works for BUPA..can he not rush into his local NHS A&E at midnight with sickly child?