To think private schools should be banned?

[BethanyBoobs]

Why should someone have a better education just because their parents have money? Why should someone have a better chance of getting into university because their parents paid for their education? It makes me feel uncomfortable that people can buy their kids an upper hand when it comes to education.

I feel the same way about private health care too.

IMO private schools should be banned. Everyone should have the same chances when it comes to their education.

[BethanyBoobs]

So should I inform my sister that (unfortunately) there will be DC with gay parents at her school (or maybe even be gay themselves ) and kids with disabilities there too?

I don't think she'll be too impressed

[jonicomelately]

It isn't fair OP but sadly, that's life. Please refer back to my post about my DP's health that we've shelled out thousands to try to resolve. That isn't fair either. The truth is though, so much depends on the support children get from home. A motivated parent who takes an active interest in their dc's education is worth far more than a private education IMO.

[Bowlersarm]

Life is unfair Bethany. It's a lesson all of us have at some stage. You do sound like you need to grow up a bit, rather than stamping your feet shouting "it's not fair"

[Iggi101]

I agree with you OP but you're on a hiding to nothing posting that on mumsnet.

[Quinteszilla]

RaRa, I mean financial burden, in the sense that education is not free just because you dont pay. The state pays, so in that respect every child (mine included) are a financial burden to the state system, in the same way as every person who needs health care is a burden to the nhs.

Maybe cost is a better word than burden.

[Wantsunshine]

Btw you don't necessarily get a better education at private schools. There is a lot of discrimination against those privately educated clearly. If you are clever you will do well regardless.

[jonicomelately]

Please don't joke about children with disabilities. It isn't at all funny.

[BethanyBoobs]

Bethany it's a shame that your children may have to attend a not so good school. Why not put your energies into campaigning for an improvement to state funded education instead of being envious?

Oh I will.

Not yet though. I'll start that tomorrow after I've had my chance to let off steam tonight.

[LittleBearPad]

If private schools were banned those parents would make sure that the state system improved which is what is required to give a fair playing field to all.

No, Garcia, they wouldn't. They'd focus on the school their children went to! not the system as a whole. All state schools are not equal, and property prices reflect this.

[Tweasels]

It would never be a fair playing field. You only have to read the drama about Grammar schools on here to see that.

The rich would just raise house prices around good schools so less well off families couldn't live in the catchment area. Just as is happening now.

I agree that it's shit. The poverty gap and the implications of it in this country is crap but banning private schools won't help that.

[exexpat]

What planet is your sister living on if she thinks private schools are a gay-free zone?

I thought most (bigoted) people's views of private schools included an expectation of compulsory mutual masturbation in the fourth form, as preparation for being buggered by the choir master in the lower sixth. Or did I read the wrong books/newspapers in the 1980s?

If your sister exists and actually has those incredibly homophobic views, she may be shocked to learn that many of the best teachers at private schools are gay, there are definitely gay pupils and parents, and not everyone is white, middle-class and well-off.

But I suspect this thread is all about the bunfight.

[BethanyBoobs]

jonicomelately if that post was aimed at me I wasn't joking about children with disabilities, I was joking about my sisters attitude to stuff like this. Otherwise I would have been joking about gay people/people with gay parents too and I wasn't.

I am actually disabled myself BTW but it's a hidden disability and not obvious so my sister can ignore that.

[Boaty]

So OP will home education be banned too....?
The private sector doesn't just select by ability..there are schools to match all ability levels including special needs.
Your Dsis may just get a shock...my dc all went private..we live in a council house on a council estate..and at the time we were on benefits...my dc all had scholarships and/or bursaries.
Would you like a piece of fish to go with the chip on your shoulder ?

[jonicomelately]

Not all state schools are equal. Especially the one they've just set up in Westminister where it will cost £90,000 a year to educate each pupil That's state funded folks. And guess who'll get the benefit? All those politicians on both sides of the spectrum who have grace and favour flats in Westminster. Their kids will get an outstanding education and they'll be able to boast how they're state educated.

[BethanyBoobs]

How would we improve the state system?

[daisychain01]

Wow, I'm really a shit person, I went to a private school and it was a church school.

I need to crawl under a stone in shame, I'm that bad

[jonicomelately]

OP. If that wasn't your intention I think you need to take more care about how you word your posts.

[Caitlin17]

OP could you just cut the crap about private schools discriminating against gay parents and children and children with special needs.

You could if you tried make a case on economic and policy grounds-I wouldn't be persuaded, but your comments about discrimination are factually wrong and not in the least bit funny or clever.

[126sticks]

I thought that it would be unworkable. But if it is outlawed in Finland?

How long has it been illegal? I should imagine that they are rapidly working round it as we speak?
Exclusive schools in some other way for example?

[DamnBamboo]

OP, you will need to get involved in the school your kids go to.
That's the quickest way to improve things.

Volunteer for classroom reading, help fundraise, help out on school trips, organise school plays, get involved in activity days etc..

It's not hard

Become a governor if you're brave.

[RaRaTheNoisyLion]

'Bethany it's a shame that your children may have to attend a not so good school. Why not put your energies into campaigning for an improvement to state funded education instead of being envious'

This would be substantially more effective is state provision had the votes and the time, money and investment of those parents who currently fund private schools and shrug at the plight of those fighting for decent states.

[BethanyBoobs]

Nah, I just think you need to learn to read.

My previous posts about my sisters attitude and the fact I used smiley's should have indicated that I was making fun of her.

Funny how you've just zoomed in on the disabled part though and you haven't accused me of being homophobic/anti-gay even though they were both mentioned in the same sentence.

[BobCrow]

RaRa, what you say is not true.

1. Before anyone whinges that they save the tax payer money by not using state schools they really don't. They take their money and influence away from schools who could do with their invested interest. You also reduce the economy of scale.
   

If there were no private schools and all children were obliged to attend state schools there would not miraculously be more money for those schools. The majority of parents who send children to private schools are higher rate taxpayers so are already paying a fair share of the country's tax burden. Do you think they should hand over even more money for something that's been forced upon them?

1. 
   

And private schools get a wad of taxpayers money anyway as they are allowed to call themselves a charity. I imagine the tax relief is substantial given the prices of some.

Err, no they don't get given a wad of taxpayers money. If they have charitable status they don't have to pay tax on any profits, a bit like Amazon (except of course they aren't a charity). In any case a large proportion of private schools don't set out to make a profit.

[DamnBamboo]

^
This.