Corbyn, vat, private schools

[NoisingUpNissan]

So... Just worried about corbyn and private schools.

I'm naturally labour but couldn't vote for him with this.

We have two kids in prep, couldn't really afford any extra cash. As it stands we have a leaking bathroom (no bath for a year) and old unreliable shitty car, certainly not entitled or priveledged people. Not that it should matter.

Very annoyed as they are only there because ASD and they had 33 kids in their classes!

So, just wondering... Does anybody think this is a real risk?

I don't care if I come across as being all out for myself, I'm all out for my kids. My son is just too autistic to deal with a big class size and needs the extra work as he's v bright.

Listening - that is true but as a pp has said, Since parents generally choose their dcs’ schools then why all the sneering at the privately educated.
On mumsnet and elsewhere ‘old etonian’ and ‘public school git’ are popular generic insults.
Incidentally, if the Labour Party ever manage to ban private schools those insults will be obsolete and new ones thought up - though there’s always ‘posh’ I suppose.

People cannot be held accountable for where their parents send them to school unless they are Boris Johnson or David Cameron or anyone else who I don’t like, in which case they should be barred from public office and made to eat shit for the next decade.
I think that’s more or less the size of it?

“You have to practise what you preach, or you're a hypocrite.”

I agree. Absolutely. As most of us in the left would.

And I don’t criticise individuals for having been sent to private school. I criticise the culture that means people from a particular background always seem to end up in particular jobs.

Yep, that's right LloydBraun!

Although, personally I hold greater disgust for those who have CHOSEN private or selective schools for their own DC, while supporting the call to ban them. That truly makes them unworthy of public office IMO. Corbyn is a Marxist idiot, but I don't honestly think he can be held responsible for where his DPs sent him to school aged 7-11.

“On mumsnet and elsewhere ‘old etonian’ and ‘public school git’ are popular generic insults.“
I can’t answer for people who do that. I don’t. As I wouldn’t hold you responsible for calling people plebs or chavs.

I come from a family of trade union activists/leaders and communist party members, I spent my childhood in the homes of high up member of "the party" all to a man lived in large bijou flats in exclusive parts of London or big houses with swimming pools etc. all championed the working man but at the same time looked down their noses at them for their lack of education and appreciation of the finer things in life. Admittedly few sent their DC's to private schools but instead sent them to trendy comps like Holland Park (we're talking the 70's here).
I haven't totally abandoned my roots as I have definite left leanings and in particular when it comes to our NHS, and Im sure friends sometimes think "I'm a bleeding heart liberal" championing the rights of those most disadvantaged in our society. But I chose to pay for education. I cannot justify my decision, no terrible state schools where I live just outstanding high achieving comp. I do believe that it isn't right that so few should have so much. But I did what I feel was right and this makes me a hypocrite but aren't we all hypocrites somewhere in our lives? We are after all only human. Half of me admires those who stick to their principles come what may regardless but the other half thinks if life and luck provide you with an opportunity and it's good opportunity and it will benefit those who matter to you why don't you take it? Life is rarely if ever black and white.

Only if you support their abolition happygardening, while cheerfully availing yourself of their services for your own DC.

It’s all a bit “but her emails” isn’t it? Two prominent Labour politicians sent their children to private school 16 years ago- most people on the Left agree that this is deeply hypocritical. Prominent Tory politicians use public money like a personal cash machine. Guess which makes the headlines.

As Harold Wilson said, “The Labour Party is a moral crusade or it is nothing”. If Labourites choose to set themselves up as models of sanctimonious piety, they shouldn’t be surprised if that earns them extra scrutiny.

that Sounds like a police matter, Bertrand? What are you referring to? Do you know something we don’t?

I know it’s behind a paywall but you get the gist. More detail on the Guardian website, which is free- but I thought you’d prefer the Times.

Just wanted to say i admire Bertrand coming back after thise rather unpleasant digs earlier. Surely we can disagree politically without personal slurs?

I see no point banning private schools, as wealth will still buy priviledge, whether through catchment, tutoring, or groups “home schooling”. Far better to put more money into state ed.

So you have just proven that those stories do in fact make headlines!

Prominent Tory politicians use public money like a personal cash machine

I am guessing that there will be more headlines about that tomorrow...

?bertrand?
This has been making headlines since the weekend - as you’ve just established.
Even by your standards this is sub par

Surely we can disagree politically without personal slurs?

You evidently haven’t been on the Brexit threads

zafferana I don’t support their abolition because I am uncomfortable with the idea of abolishing things just because some don’t agree or like them, although if I became prime minister I might abolish private health care even though I have on one occasion used it myself, more hypocrisy.
Tanaqui is right wealth and let’s be sensible here we’re not talking about you average wealthy MC family will always buy privilege, abolishing independent schools will not stop this. The so called “old boys network” isn’t what provides connections (and privilege), those cheerfully stumping up £40+k pa per child have the connections already, they work with them dine with them holiday with them, sending your DC to the certain schools may deepen the connections already made but they will still be made whatever you do or say. It’s just the way the world works.

In an ideal world i’d like them abolished- but there are plenty of things I’d like to see abolished first!. But the charitable tax breaks really are unjustifiable. Eton should not be a charity. And yes I know not all private schools are like Eton. But still....

but there are plenty of things I’d like to see abolished first!.

Yes, let’s start with the Labour Party!

“Yes, let’s start with the Labour Party”
In its current form, I might agree with you!

Let's also abolish the peculiar form of democracy that is British politics, especially the voting system. I'd also abolish the media "watchdog " if it ever even existed.

Bertrand are you comfortable with the idea of abolishing things. The older I get the less comfortable I am with this. Just because you don’t like something should we abolish it,? (assuming it’s not illegal).
There are things in life I don’t like or agree with but what makes my view on them more valid than those who like them?
Is abolishing things we dislike a sign of an intolerant society or maybe a knee jerk reaction often based on misinformation or lack of understanding. For example I used to work in the dairy industry the rubbish I here people spouting about it stagers me. So many base their views on not even a little knowledge but no knowledge at all.
Perhaps I spent too much of my childhood in the drawing rooms of wealthy communists and trade unionists but I don’t think I want to live in a world where those who who are in a position of power are able to abolish what they don’t like often using the excuse “for the good of people”.
I

“Bertrand are you comfortable with the idea of abolishing things. The older I get the less comfortable I am with this.“
Actually, I’m the other way round. The older I get, the more exasperated I get, and the more I think just chop faith schools, selective schools, private schools. They are destructive and bad for society.

I am good with ending zero hours contracts and an increase to minimum wage, but I am seriously baulking at the ending private schools and sequestering their assets - seriously wtf? Also only 7 % of private school pupils permitted in university admissions irrespective of their grades? Fuck off! - dd may have been privately educated but she has dyslexia and was failed by the state sector. SEN is a bigger barrier than private school is an advantage

But Bertrand you might believe faith schools (for example) are “destructive and bad for society” and even though I know little about them as a died in the wool atheist would probably agree. But others clearly wouldn’t. Who decides who is right? Surely the way forward is for their to be viable choices I would emigrate to Mars rather than send my DC to a RC school but I appreciate others would put an RC school as their first choice. That’s fine by me as long as I have a viable alternative live and let live.
This current Brexit debacle clearly demonstrates what happens when one group take such a firm stance on something and won’t listen to those who don’t support and accept their view.