To think people who say that they wouldn't have children if they couldn't afford to educate them privately are ...

[seeker]

.....bonkers?

And before anyone says that nobody has ever said that, there have been plenty of threads on here with people saying they stopped at one, or advising people not to have a 3rd because they can't afford private school for more. So presumably they wouldn't have had any if they could not send them to private school.

Yabu for criticising people for doing something positive. Choosing to have the number of children you can afford to raise to the standard you want is not unreasonable as its nothing to do with you you don't pay a penny towards their children. So it's none of your buisness really and get that chip of your shoulder.

How about turning this around and saying that people who carry on having children when they know they can't afford them and will have to claim from the state are bonkers?

How well will that go down?

Seeker - what your argument seems to boil down to is that people should just keep having children until they get too old to do so.

Surely restricting the number of children you have on the basis of your preferred education choices is no more or less 'bonkers' than restricting the number of children you have on any other basis? It is the personal choice and priority of a couple who have made lifestyle decisions and have created a family that fits with those decisions. Non existent children DO NOT CARE that they will never be born. Parents and existing children do care if their lifestyle dramatically changes. Everyone you have asked (I think) has said that they would still have had children if they couldn't afford to send them to private school, and that if they accidentally fell pregnant would re-think their plans. I don't see anything wrong with choosing how many children you have for whatever reasons you have. Unless you don't believe in contraception...which is again fine as a personal choice.

I went to a grammar school and appreciate that I was very lucky to do so and had a great education. It is an unfair system which discriminates on grounds of success at certain tests. Wouldn't stop me sending my children to a grammar school.

Seeker- yes, I do really think that. I think they are being done a grave injustice. It's not up to standard and it could be. Arts subjects especially are mockeries.

TOSN, I don't think you got my point. Never mind.

Sorry, what was your point then?

You're not basing all your amazement on this girl you knew, are you? Because that would be a bit silly. Tell me how my daughters are being failed, why don't you?

Bonkers or not, having children you can't provide the basic things for is injustice to the child.. Private education is not everybody yard stick to have children but is what some would seecas a basic need for their children. Proverty is not a joke... So not planning ahead shouldn't be tried as a joke either.

So only 7 children out of every 100 in the country are getting any sort of decent education? What are you basing this on?