Why is private education so taboo now?

[DoMyBest]

When I was younger I was privately educated as were most of my friends. Now we all have children and almost all of them have decided to send their children to state schools. Whilst for most of them it was a question of money, for others it really wasn't: they believe that every child should have the same educational opportunities and if parents like them start giving their kids exclusive treatment then the system won't work. Some of these parents chose local 'outstanding' state schools, but one couple with enough money to buy every private school in town admirably chose their worst local state school and work hard to improve it.

I listen to these stories with interest, sometimes admiration but mostly respect for their choices & views.

So it's with some alarm, now we have chosen a private school for our son, do discover the hatred this decision engenders. Private education has, it would seem, become taboo.

So here's my question: is it morally right for people to get angry with parents who privately educate their children?

"Now address my point: if abolishing private schools is so important to you, do you at least vote for a party which promises to do that?"

If there was one, I would. All other things being equal.

Can you address my point? Why are you assuming that only people who can't afford to use it have an issue with private education?

I've already addressed your point Martorana:
Nobody on these forums ever says that they can afford private education but they think it's morally/socially wrong.They do say however, that private education isn't worth it because they can always "top-up" if necessary or that they prefer to spend their money on nice holidays and new cars. Everyone actually opposed to private education adds that they couldn't afford it anyway, apart from Paul McCartney that is.

Martorana: The UK communist party would abolish private schools-do you at least vote for your convictions? www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/man/comm97.htm

I don't think only those who can't afford private schools are against them: that was one of the main points I made in starting this thread.

No, I am not a communist. As I said, if there was a party that wanted to abolish private schools I would vote for it, all other things being equal.

It is utterly bizarre to think that not supporting private schools means you are a communist.

It is your decision - your right. Personally,I'd just avoid hostile people.

""suppose what I'm saying is, if you want to change the system, don't take it out on those of us you think have more than you"

DoMyBest- it was the above than led me to believe you think only those who can't afford them oppose private schools. An understandable interpretation, I feel.......

I don't oppose private schools and we can't afford them.

An colleague of mine couldn't get his son into the local primary school and the other school choices weren't great so he sent him to the prep school but he would have rather he went to the local primary as it was so expensive.

The school where I worked was mainly an Asian intake as many of the families at the school preferred single sex education. This isn't offered in any comprehensives. The grammar schools have this as well.

The UK Communist party would go the further in ironing out inequality (including abolish private schools) than all the other parties and yet they don't do well in elections. I realise this is a whole new debate, but do any of the parents who expressed broad criticism if the current system (banker bonuses, private schools, private healthcare) vote communist? And if not, why not?

Maybe a read of animal farm might be helpful?

" do any of the parents who expressed broad criticism if the current system (banker bonuses, private schools, private healthcare) vote communist? And if not, why not?"

Because they arn't Communists?

Do communists vote?

Yep. "vote early, vote often" :)

Alemci that made me laugh :)

I think the Communists need to rebrand themselves: many of the views I've heard on Mumsnet and elsewhere about the need to abolish inequality in general and private schools in particular are reflected more in the UK Communist Party manifesto than in any others. I suspect (despite being an economic liberal myself) that if more people read it they'd get way more votes and inequality would be erased sooner.

ranbitstew - the state does not decide what food DC eat. There is a huge range of foods for parents to choose freely between.

Anyway, I very happily took my DD to a holiday revision course at one of the UK's most expensive boys' schools this morning. Open to all, not very expensive... And chock full of DC from local prep schools. Attempts to share facilities with the local community are valiant but take up among the less privileged is impossible to enforce...

Migsy1 that made me laugh too! This thread was in dire need of some humour, thanks :)

you are never going to abolish inequality. I suppose Jesus had a similar approach in Sermon on the mount.

communsism doesnt work and demotivates people. you need to look at Russia or Eastern Europe.

I met a lovely Yugoslavian? I think lady on holiday who had emigrated to the Usa. she had a professional job in the former Yugoslavia or it may have been Hungary but a communist country, nothing to buy in shops, anything there was available was extortionate.

why would you want to inflict that sort of existence on people. the party members would do ok but quite scary for the rest of us.

Getting silly now. Shame-it was interesting. Hey ho.

My views are much more economically liberal, not communist (although we're moving back from a country where the communist party is a respected and credible one, where income tax is one of the highest in the world, and where many of our friends didn't know that private schools even existed - I'll let you guess where) :)

I just thought I'd point out that many of the things on some of the mumsnet parents' 'wish list' are in the UK communist party manifesto, but not in the other manifestos. Worth a look at if you want to permanently eradicate inequality, surely?

Test for potential communist.

1. List all your possessions, including your house.

2. Find other people (rich, poor, anyone).

3. Share all of the things on your list with those people.

In fact, all those things on your list are not yours to share. We collectively own them and you only get to use them if you demonstrate that by using them we all benefit more than if anyone else is using them.

True communism is hard. Whilst it will be impossible to prove and people can "say" anything, I bet not a single person on this forum could ever really be a communist, despite talking a good game.

The closest I have ever seen to communism today is in Cuba. In years gone by in Hungary, pre-westernisation. It isn't pretty, no one is happy, no one likes it.

Nobody has said they are,nor aspire to be a communist. Domybest is doing that really annoying thing that some people do when you express any but right of centre views "I suppose you all want us to live in a communist state then?" Doesn't half spoil the conversation but, as I have said before, explains why she perceives hostility in her real life social circle.

But banning access to any education that isn't provided for by and controlled by the state is a central tenet of communism.

Or am I missing something?

What did you say your stock response was, word? Ah I remember "Yes, you're right"

Yes, thank you mart I'm know I'm right . Glad you see it.

Yes, MarriedDad, Communism did seem to suffer a bit from a lack of prettiness. Goes back to my point about all the things we gawp at in museums and the stately homes we wander around - great beauty created out of great inequality, making it difficult for the average communist to live with. We still haven't managed to work out a system where everyone feels that life is both largely free and tolerably fair, because we can't all agree on what we think is worthwhile, what "fair" looks like, or what we expect others to do to contribute towards a "fair" society.

Bonsoir - of course the state has a massive role in food policy. We're constantly having tiresome and wrong messages blared out at us about what it is healthy to eat, whether we should have specific nutrients or chemicals added to our food and water, what hygiene standards restaurants should meet, how long shops can keep perishable foods on the shelves, how much salt should be allowed in processed food, whether genetically modified crops should be allowed, whether farmers should receive subsidies, whether food security means we should grow more food at home, whether we can import and eat bush meat, whether we can steal eggs from birds' nests, whether we should promote "healthy schools," whether all KS1 and reception children should be entitled to free school meals etc, etc, etc. What we have on offer to us is the choice we have left, not unlimited, unfettered choice to poison ourselves and others in any way we fancy, or starve ourselves as a result of our own failure to plan for the future. It would actually be quite alarming, given the massively swelling world population, if there weren't people out there thinking about more than their own immediate personal interests and stomach.

wordfactory - isn't there a subtle difference between the state providing the cash and the state controlling it? The Tories seem to think so in their education policy - they happily hand out taxpayers' money to organisations government and the taxpayer appear to have no control over whatsoever.