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?

Most people don’t give a shit - and that’s the truth. The school didn’t close down because the plebs were picketing outside demanding equal education for all.
It shut down because it was a business that didn’t manage it’s finances properly and/or couldn’t attract enough customers and/or has likely been hiking up the prices they charge for YEARS.
A 6 year old is going to get over a change of school pretty quickly so long as the parents don’t make a big deal about it and tell them ridiculous lies like her friends mum wanted her school shut down and is somehow responsible!

Independent school parent here, our best friends (mine the mum & DD’s the son) are ardent supporters of education tax. The mum went to boarding school, so was independently educated herself. I was state and independent schooled so see both sides. I think it’s important to grapple with different points of view regardless of your individual stance. I’ve realised those who are most offended by the tax are those who can least afford the school fees (I include myself in this). I don’t personally support tax on education, just because it offers less choice for parents.

Yep. Everyone's been very quiet on that one.

Are you saying this mum actively campaigned for the closure of your DD's school, or did she agree via the ballot box with Govt policy of VAT being paid on private school fees by simply voting Labour? Because there's a huge difference!

Results in from Scotland is ….surprise surprise…. It’s a net tax loss. We’re literally tax funding closing schools and putting people out of work. It was entirely obvious this would happen, madness.

finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/vat-raid-scottish-private-schools-114649298.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAK_x6yCYPSdez8JmaQ-8RH7Vio3PsKVaLsUhmeFt-cABWQLwByuSGCZsTD2wTaSgoyNJszRaafYmXQXXNYBKA3jFKBb44QW0Pfh7uLHDdkMEnRtVz_ops3t55tgXsyRReE7DgnNwNpy_SCtAfyNCRuQzdjWAe0is9y99_ltL3VDg

We could have easily afforded private education for our children, but chose not to. They did very well at their state comprehensive (got into Oxbridge because of their top exam results).

But the main reason was that we didn’t want them to get a mindset like yours, OP.

You mean taxing of private schools as businesses rather than charities? Costa which the businesses which are the schools choose to pass on to the parents using the business? Parents who have an option to use a state funded service if they don't wish to pay those costs? That tax? That business tax on businesses?

Have you thought about channelling your anger into being more supportive of your child so they thrive at a normal school rather than needing extra help?

Nobody cares. I don’t care if it doesn’t raise a penny. I do care when the wealthiest people and business tax dodge so it’s good that this one has been dealt with.
I would have supported loss of charity status first TBH.

But it's quite likely that people who can afford private live in catchment for at least a decent primary, based on 'middle class sharp elbows' theory (which I find really patronising to other parents, that they need middle class parents to 'save their school') which had been mentioned above.

Or did your child go to a 'requires improvement' (or below) school? My guess is they went to one rated good or outstanding, but happy to be corrected?

In all honesty, if these parents had to send their child to a failing school, I think many may put their morals aside, and this wouldn't be wrong of them. I'm completely against grammar schools, but I'm not going to stop my daughter going to one, it's her life, her hard work, not mine.

I see where you're going with that but yes I still support it.
Round here many smaller private schools have closed because they cannot remain viable. The larger ones have weathered this and even gained pupil numbers.

I'm not anti private education. Far from it. In fact I think it's a far more transparent of parents to pay fees rather than pretend to go to church or move into catchment of the right state school in order to avoid 'the wrong type of children'

Normal school? Extra help? It was a play date invitation.

Who fucking cares. Just let the kids play.

THE single most important thing - proved over and over - for a child’s successful education is their parents engagement in it. Regardless of background, household income and type of school.
Not how much money you pay a business to do something that’s available for free. Not the status of the kids they mix with.

Go on then….what personality type does supporting VAT on private schools indicate?

So if a child doesnt thrive at a state school, it's because the parents aren't supportive enough?

I don't agree with OP's perspective at all, but that's a pretty harsh statement, given that we know lots of children are struggling at school not due to parents not trying their best, but because our educational system just doesn't work for many children.

Yes YABU! “unapologetic education taxer”, never heard that one before. It has a certain ring to
it

Now my DGCs school as did all independent schools have added VAT up to 20% to school fees. I say up to because my DGCs school as did some others did not apply the full 20%.

I think you should cancel the play date because you clearly judge this woman. She may judge
you also because you send your DD to independent school.

But she has invited your DD, so maybe she doesn’t have a problem but you certainly do.

You're ranting about an indy closing and the host of the playdate supporting VAT on independent schools.

It's your thread. You really need to know what you've written.

Running too many random rage bait threads for you to keep up with?

Honestly, what harm do you think your DD will come to when the girls play together?

I think we can safely say none. There is really nothing to shield her from. She'll have a nice time with a friend.
What harm will come if you stop the girls playing?
Two small children will be sad.
What type of person do you want to be? Do you want to make small children sad to make some kind of point?

Me clearly.
DOIs (all that randomly come to mind)
Privately educated. Earn over 100k. Professional job. Large house.
My kids in state but many of my good friends with kids in private school.
Unapologetically left wing.
Free Palestine.
Eat meat
Watch porn
Single mum but seeing someone else now. I have a good relationship with my kids' dad.

Shoot me!!

OP - you’re doing your kid NO favours with this ‘ people wanted your school shut’ narrative particularly when it’s not even true!

Woolworths didn’t go out of businesses because people wanted it gone, it went out of business because it didn’t have enough customers. Your school is exactly the same.

Well your original support was based on generating revenue yet you will still support it if it is a net tax loss.
The smaller schools simply can’t weather it, they are non profit and exist simply to provide education to children at cost. Evil bastards I know. Small school of say 100 kids, 10 -15 parents can’t afford it anymore and that’s it..school gone.
I have absolutely no doubt this will be reversed once Labour are out, but it’s caused so much needless disruption for children, certainly hardened my political views and those 300 year old schools now being turned into flats aren’t coming back.

Figures based on a projection from a report issued by ... The Scottish Council of Independent Schools. Ok then.

Tax is a practical measure surely, rather than a moral one? It's there to fund public services, so if it doesn't raise money it's pretty pointless.

I really do care that it hasn't raised any money, as state schools really need more funding.

You know you can be friends/have conversations with people you don't agree with right?