to wonder why David Starkey thinks a private schools conference is the best place to tell teachers what to teach ethnic minorities?

[ethelb]

Just that really.

Surely ethnic minorities are fairly under-represented in private schools?

And those that do attend are not exactly disenfranchised by the system?

sorry, link: www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2012/may/10/starkey-comment-gang-sexually-exploiting-girls

Why do you assume that?

My parents were immigrants (as was I - we came here when I was 3) and spent every spare penny sending me to private school.

I am now looking for a private school for my DC in North West London. They all seeem to have huge ethnic minority representation.

Infact, when I went round to see Habs boys school, the white British boys were definately the minority.

TBH looking at the kids pouring out of our local indy, I'd say they were about 40% Asian.

I know some go to private schools, obviously. But the top end is white white white. And surely they are not the disenfranshied ones.

Because he's a dick?

Though I take your point about those that attend private school being disinfranchised by the system.

And also in my view private schools already do a very good job of teaching history - one of the reasons by my DH (also of immigrant stock) and I are very keen to send our DC private.

I suppose I am just objecting to your assumption that ethnic minorities are underepresented at private schools - I believe that the opposite is the case.

Haberdashers boys is certainly a top end private school.

And on my recent visit there - I would say that is about 50% asian.

But to be fair, that's why he says practically everything he says.

My children go to private school, and there is a FAR higher proportion of ethnic minorities there than there was in her village school. Mind you, in the village school they were considered furriners because they are English, not Welsh. Every other child in their classes was white and Welsh.

plus, they need to be taught to be english men.

Women can go hang in David Starky world.

He is a dick.

seeker has it.

m.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17823860

So no - ethnic minority children are not underepresented in private schools

does anyone have any figures about ethnic minorities? Or this is going to turn into that 'why do people go on about diversity the more elite a school is' thread. Either way, it's an odd group to lecture on this surely.

How many ethnic minorities attending private school are likely to feel 'left out' of British society in the way he seems to be suggesting?

Huge proportion of ethnic minorities at DD's private school.

Maybe it was his first speaking engagement since the trial concluded.

thanks @mybigfat

ethelb. I think the premise of your OP is wrong. Ethnic minorities in private schools, good, bad or indifferent, are very well represented.

@thebest I accept that suggesting that ethnic minories are underrepresented in private schools in inaccurate. However, the one's people in private schools are pretty unlikely to be affected by the culture that D Starkey italkign about, no?

Loads of ethnic minorities at the boarding school DD is due to start. In some A level subjects (maths and sciences) Asian kids predominate. Don't see what David Starkey can offer. His stint as a teacher on a reality show a couple of years ago was pretty dire.

ethelb
^Women can go hang in David Starky world

He is a dick^

Seconded. The man was disgusting in his abuse of the '''fat''' boy in his class on Jamie's Dream School too.

An idiot of the type well-represented in our so-called 'top private schools' hence the state of so many of our 'top politicians'

The issue here is surely not whether there are ethnic minorities in private or public schools but rather than Starkey is a vile little racist who should just shut the fuck up, preferably about everything but particularly about race, and, after he was shown to be so utterly clueless in the classroom last year, about anything to do with education.

Ethnic minorities are not under represented in private schools.

The BBC report linked above is based on the school census figures which show that about 1 in 4 private school pupils are from ethnic minorities (and the figure is higher if you remove overseas pupils).

I think there is quite a lot of stereotyping going on, rather than using available data.

The working class a have lived alongside ethnic minorities for centuries now, but comparatively recently some are attending private schools and moving into middle class areas, so now we all have to be preached to by snobby types who think they have to tell us how to get along.

I think he has a point - understanding your country's cultural and political evolution is surely a good thing? For everyone, whether you're newly settled here or been here since before the Normans.

It's impossible to say whether what Starkey says will or will not be relevant to ethnic minority boys in private education, prior to knowing exactly what he's going to say however chances are it could be a load of old bollocks

My experience of independent schools in my LEA, is that there are far more ethnic minorities in those, than in the state schools (10 to 15%+ as opposed to less than 5%).

Perhaps it depends on where you live?