I send my child to private school because....?

[jabed]

Well, I don?t actually, I just work in one. But it seems to be a constant source of questioning on MN and given the current news articles (I have been reading the DM and Tory graph online) about how many of our left wing leaders hypocritically claim to be egalitarian and socialist whilst buying education for their children , or have had education paid for by their own parents. I just wondered, what is it we expect from education, and why is it some of us are willing to pay for whatever that is and how they see that as worthy of their money.

There you go. :)

piano.... the average family income is £21500. That is £413 per week

I actully was on less then half of that income when I send my DC1 to private school on scholarship.Still was struggle to keep him in uniform. But worth it.
He is a very productive member of society, not sure if he is robust and well rounded enough but he contributes both through his taxes and nature of his work.

"a charismatic leader"
I seem to recall we've had one of those statistically the system hasn't got nay better for those at the bottom of the pile. We are living in a capitalist society the rich and powerful have all the influence which they have no intention of letting go of. What ever government we have cannot buck the system or the for that matter the market even the Chinese realise that to survive you need a capitalist economy. It is inevitable that our society will become more divided the principle of I'm rich because your poor applies particularly to the developing world but if this government continues with its policies it will apply to those at the bottom in the UK as well.
The problem is that I cant see any white knight coming over the horizon with a viable alternative or am even able to work out what changes could realistically be made to create an viable and sustainable alternative. So like perhaps those described by the OP: "left wing leaders hypocritically claim to be egalitarian and socialist whilst buying education for their children" I'm no leader and left of centre but am afraid I too take advantage of our situation and pay school for an education that is just not available in the state sector and that those less lucky than we are can only dream of.

Yeah right. Fucking nazi!

Sorry, that was in reference to the bizarre assertion that by saying a musical child may benefit from joining in with other stuff, seeker was proposing a totalitarian state.

Is it because I is a Guardian reader?

I can see I am not winning any battles here. Good bye cruel MN. I leave alone and misunderstood ... Back to dusting I guess.

happygardening it's the "I do something others can only dream of" attitude that pisses me right off. I don't "dream" of sending my DCs to private school. I choose not to. I do not aspire to be you, sorry.

I dream of many things. Some kind and lovely, some a bit more cruel (especially the ones involving George Osborne). Private schools, no.

I don't see what all the fuss is about tbh. As long as you are happy with the choices you make. What does it matter what others do? If somebody wants to delude themselves that money definitely buys a better education its up to them. I too have seen what goes on behind closed doors at both indie, state, church, vol aided, steiner, Montessori, and a number of other types of schools. They are all the same, in that they have positive and negative aspects. I haven't found one type particularly offers more benefits to us personally. So we don't use schools anymore, which was the best option for us. I wouldn't say it was the best for others though. If you are in a position to offer your dcs "something others can only dream of" you are very fortunate, but just for the record it hasn't cost me anything

Same as Mominatrix, I want a bilingual school for DS, so it will probably be a private one.
Next reasons are also because 1) I can; 2) I want what I consider the "best school" and it turns out it is a private; 3) this one is a bit silly but non negotiable with DH: because it is family tradition.

Please don't think we are all dreaming of private education! We aren't. Honest!

Pianomama- you might possibly be winning battles with me. Unfortunately, as I have no idea what you are talking about, I don't know whether you have defeated me or not!

I dream of a world free from private ed, does that count?

Morethan, seeker, exotic and all the other private school haters, if what you have (state Ed) hasn't cost you anything, you are very happy with it and those who pay for private are 'deluding themselves' why do you care so much? its their money they can flush it down the loo if they want. And as for those who can afford private but choose not to for self righteous reasons have you considered perhaps donating your money (or some of it) to your state school? If your school is perfect and its basically killing you to level society you could give it to another state school needing help. I think this will help massively.

My sons soon to be ex state school always ask for donations (building fund) every year. And every year they never quite make the required amount. I live in a semi rural area with lots of wealthy/middle income people and they do hold the same views that are been expressed here about users of private education.

It think we have said repeatedly why we think private education perpetuates class division and entrenches privilege. That's why it matters so much. It's about the society we would like to live in and the world we would like to leave to our children.

.. yep, enough words, time for action.

Iyatoda, I don't hate private schools at all. I have visited some very good ones as well as bad, they provided me and dh with a good income for a long time.
I can say the same for state schools as well. I don't use state education anymore neither.
I think its important to remember though, that just because somebody pays for education it doesn't mean they are necessarily gaining a better education. It is dependent on many factors including dcs ability to learn, teachers personality, ethos of the school, and especially the dcs interests etc. I know that there are few dcs getting a better education than my dd because it is custom built 1 to 1 tuition. My point is just because you don't pay doesn't mean you can't afford it, are envious, or aspire to.

Seeker there is a lot more than private education that perpetuates class division. Besides I think anyone born in this country is born 'priviledged'.

Ok morethan I hear what you are saying but the honest truth is that I have stuck with the state education for 3 yrs now. I am leaving it for private because I DO think that what I have found is better for my DCs. A lot of parents are happy with my DS's state school and I doubt if I start a campaign to try and get some of the things I want that I would be successful.

I probably should'nt be commenting on these thread being a 1st generation immigrant. I just sense a lot of bitterness and pointless stone throwing.

Iyatoda, welcome to mumsnet, lol.

I too have left the state sector for similar reasons, in the whole was happy with the school but dd has a dream, vision etc that quite frankly no school I have found could provide. You are doing what you think is right for your dcs though not suggesting that because you are paying you are better or the education per se is better. There is a huge difference. Some on here think that private automatically means better but ime it doesn't always.

Thanks morethan. If the stats xenia quote is right about 7% using private and you think SOME not ALL who use private automatically means better then the % of people that are making so many people so mad is not worth the amount of animosity.

Well EvilTwins seeker and all those others you may not be dreaming about sending your DC's to independent schools and are under the misapprehension that states schools are equally as good. But it would seem from reading only the last few posting and I'm sure many more that many are not only dreaming but actually sending their DC's to independent schools hoping believing and in many cases knowing that they are better.

Iyatoda, it is one of those things not worth arguing over because we are all looking for something different. For my dd it is music and although there is good/v.good provision in schools, luckily she is in a position to gain excellent/second to none through the choices we have made. Not even specialist schools can compete. But our choice wouldn't be right for the majority of people regardless of income, school choice etc.

Equally good is so subjective though isn't it? Am not under any misapprehension that my children's school grounds are nicer, or their library more impressive... But there are so many factors one might place above others that I don't think y can say one is overall objectively better any more than you can say there is no difference.

Seeker - 'muddied oars and flanneled fools': is it a quotation? I googled it but couldn't find anything.
If you invented it then I salute you.

muddied oafs