Allow a play date where mum unapologetically supports children’s education tax

[GigglyOrange]

Just this really, our local independent prep school closed due to the education tax earlier this year and has caused absolute chaos for lots of families, including my own. My dd (6) has been invited for a play date with a girl she seems very friendly with and who seems very sweet, but I’ve since found out from another parent that the mum is an ‘unapologetic education taxer’. My instinct is to cancel the play date, AIBU?

YABU. Get a grip

How silly.

As a parent of children at an independent school, I am still able to accept that others might have different views to me and get along with them.

Did ye, aye?

Is this serious? I doubt it. If it is you are being utterly ridiculous!

Many of us have absolutely no problem taxing luxuries.

It’s not an education tax - what an idiotic thing to say

Just getting some popcorn. BRB

Grow up

Rage bait incoming.

Agree.

God forbid the plebs should have opinions.

You want to upset your daughter and keep her away from her friend because the friend's mother has a different opinion to you? Agreeing with VAT on school fees isn't an extreme view.

Clearly your head would fall off at an invitation to my house. I think private education is unethical and should be banned.

Me too.

That’s pretty narrow minded. It’s not a ‘tax’ on education - it’s VAT added to luxuries and taking away the dodgy tax breaks around business tax that these businesses were given.
The next step is to remove the ridiculous charity status many have.

I doubt the mother is going to be getting into the details of private versus state school with your 6 year old - you’re clearly upset at the disruption but many private schools are closing because they’ve put their fees up by 6-10% each year for years and pushed out their own customers.

I went for a job interview at a private school and it was very obvious money and profit was key and the education provision was just “there” as it were.

Even if we had the money, no way would I send my kids to private school not a chance!

Yes

You are not being unreasonable. I can't tell you how many play dates I've had to turn down because of the parents' view on the the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and the bureucracy around changing permitted usage.

Do you think her daughter is going to influence your child into believing the same by playing together? I doubt the topic will even come up with the mum!

We don’t know how you were educated, OP, but it’s a pity that your education didn’t give you an interest in experiencing other peoples’ point of view and thinking about them. It’s a pity that your education (and it seems the word must be used loosely) gave you an intolerance towards people that don’t think like you. Perhaps you were state educated and didn’t get the benefit of a thorough private education that might have broadened your outlook? Or not.

Obviously you wouldn’t want your daughter to experience different political views and opinions . Goodness knows where that might lead. It’s difficult when you want to live in your own bubble of like-minded people, I agree. Have you checked her views on Brexit, the NHS, private medicine, immigration and of course welfare; whether people on universal credit are workers or shirkers?

Perhaps a multiple-choice questionnaire would help? You can get the answers computer assessed to save time and then you could pass it to all potential acquaintances.

I should let your DD go: you might find that this other mother has a similarly limited outlook to you on most other matters, to the extent that this aspect will pale into welcome insignificance.

You need to go outside and touch some grass.

It's a lot quicker, and more accurate, to type 'VAT'.

My child goes to a private school and I wholeheartedly agree with the abolition of the VAT exemption. My child would have pretty much no one to play with if a parent's views affected play dates. Your focus should be your child and their friendships, not your politics!

If you get angry at people who don’t believe that private schools should exist you’ll be fighting with everyone OP! 93/94% of us don’t use private businesses to school our kids… that’s a lot of people who don’t give a stuff when they close because people can no longer afford them.

The children aren't likely to be discussing the pris and cons of different models of educational provision and funding ate they?

Most adults are capable of accepting others have different views, and can talk about the weather or something instead. I don't think it is a reason not to have a playmate. Obviously if it turns out children or parents are raving on about things you find unacceptable through the playmate, then you can choose not to have a repeat, but I would be surprised if it comes up at all.

I agree with you OP. I wouldn’t want a play date with some performative-“down with the working class” arsehole who supported this nonsense, either.