to think private schools having charitable status is taking the piss

[zanz1bar]

Most private schools have their charitable status as an accident of history. Does a school like Eton really deserve the same financial status as the NSPCC.

Can it really be justified by a few subsidized places.

But most people whose children would benefit from "choosing something other" don't have the "choice".

So it isn't a "choice".

It would make far more sense for a variety of "choices" to be on offer in a more flexible, responsive, free-at-point-of-use state system. (Yes, I know we're not going to get that in my children's school lifetime. That doesn't stop me making the point.)

I have primary school age children.

Yes you must come too Greeny!

I know this has gone on. I do find these threads interesting, especially when they get more thoughtful and less general, because it does make me think about my decisions and question them. I find it helpful really. I wish at the end of all these MN threads we could devise one shit hot fair and just education system for this country though

That was in response to your and Morloths snippy to and fros Green, which I found tiresome. Onward with ahundred's social planning project!

We already do something a bit like your suggested exchange UQD - it's called fostering. I thoroughly recomment it. As do my kids.

Threadworm "Just out of info, do most of you have sec age children? My experience is that the frustrations of state schooling don't hit till then." I totally agree.

yy I agree to that -- there is social injustice. The moral political and requirement is better state schools. But meanwhile, it can be rational and reasonable to choose private.

You KEEP saying it because you miss the 'my' bit.

I have a choice. I exercise it. It's mine, all mine

Fostering as in being a foster parent? Or am I missing some other meaning?

My DD arranges her own 'exchange program' herself - spends all the time she can with the neighbours' kids who all go to the local state school. The only observable difference is that DD doesn't ever get coercion from the Head to attend church on a Sunday (and she gets more homework, of which the other parents though not their children are jealous).

Sadly not everybody wants that 100x, some people are more than happy paying for the social apartheid that currently exists.

My boys are primary aged too. Although as an aside my Aspergers 6yo is working at end of KS2 level and I am already having silly remarks made to me about taking him out of his lovely primary school, where he is happy with all the children he has known since toddler group, andm sending him to a private school where he can be stimulated better

I think his teachers are doing a bloody fantastic job, even if the school is on the edge of a large counsil estate [shock horror]. And he needs his friends more than he needs to know how to parse Latin sentences. He's a little boy, not a hothouse tomato.

Sorry zazizoma I love arguing. Can't help myself, thank goodness for the internet - I used to have to have people over for this sort of thing. Much easier on the wine cabinet to do it online.

if you stopped attacking PS parents you will get a lot of reasoned debate. Haven't heard much snobbery (if any) on this thread of late. A lot of nice peopel actually send their kids to PS. Lots of very average earners at prep school near me. Many see it as an insurance of a minimum standard, wrongly aor rightly. Greater london might be be diff to the shires

Yeah - being a foster parent.
I think it has been the single most challenging thing we have done as a family. It has also had the single most impact upon my children than any of the other stuff folk worry about ( schooling, extra curricular activities, holidays).

me too Morloth

am stuck at home with swine flu

zazizoma, if you're not happy with the standard of debate, I'm afraid it's tough. Unless you want to set up an independent parenting website with your own selection criteria... you caould ask to see evidence of bank statements as a condition for entry, that'll weed out the undersirables

Er, Greensleeves, you don't really think private primary school kids parse latin sentences do you?

Well, Shakespeare wrote his plays for the people, and to have them performed - not for A.C. Bradley and co. to pontificate about and for students to sweat over.

I doubt he'd have given a toss if his audience knew what iambic pentameter actually was. You don't actually need to know that in order to enjoy his plays and be made to think by them.

Studying Shakespeare in school probably does more to put people off than to get them interested in him. There's no substitute for seeing a good production.

that was a bit tongue-in-cheek

but I find it rather shocking that because my son has academic ability in some areas I am being encouraged to send him to a private school. There is nothing wrong with his school. It is simply prejudice and erroneous assumptions, and it's sad.

But there is still a diff between being taught Shakespeare badly and being taught it well.

Tell you what though, this thread has resulted in me using an online dictionary more than most. I wouldn't know an iambic pentameter if it bit me on the arse.

UQD, I don't think anyone will disagree with that!

Greensleeves, who is encouraging you to send DS to private school? Is it other parents or (surely not) his teachers?

I don't really want to say because I am quite identifiable on here

sorry

Sorry greensleeves, didn't mean to pry! Was just interested...

That reminds me UQD, when I was 11 my Mum was hospitalised in Leeds. It was three buses away so my Dad decided we would do the day and evening visiting. In the gap in the middle we went to see The Merchant of Venice. I t5hink my Dad thought it was a musical, but he was pretty pissed and fell asleep so it didn't matter. I loved it. Didn't undertsand hardly a word. But the sound of it!!!! That magical language.
I'm still hooked.