Play date with mum who agrees with education tax

[BonnuitMy]

Please let me know if I’m overreacting. I recently overheard a new mum at school talking about a local private school closing down due to the education tax and how this is somehow a good thing. She’s now invited my DD for a play date, would you accept?

@tortoise18 - I will happily send my kids to the houses of people who are Muslims, Jews, Hindus, tolerant atheists but no, I won’t be sending them to atheists who think they get to dictate whether I bring up my children in the faith or not. I will happily send them anywhere. But not to bigots who think they can dictate how we think and bring up our own children and think they have a right to our children. Or want to tell me that insert, church schools, any schools of faith, single sex schools, grammar schools, private schools, SEND schools are somehow not “inclusive”.
Sod of with your one size fits all, no place in modern day Britain to dictate to anyone else how to think and what choices they make over something as fundamental as their own children’s education.

You don't own your children either. Really quite chilling that you think that you have the right to "remove them from the future market". Poor kids.

I’m not jealous. I just don’t think it’s an equitable system.

They are not poor kids. They are complete free thinkers who will contribute to whatever society they choose to be part of. But it won’t be one shaming them for going to a Catholic primary school or a grammar school or telling them they are elite etc - they will be most welcome pretty much anywhere else. You really do not need to worry about them.

How does her reaction to a school closing down as a result of a government policy equate to hate speech against children. Are you always so drama-prone? Its a ridiculous reach but i dont think there is any hope here.

If you ‘remove your children from the future Labour market’, @Araminta1003, how are they going to support themselves as adults? Are they always going to be dependant on you? I am baffled.

I have three adult children, all of whom have degrees and good jobs, and can support themselves - dh and I are proud that they are successful adults who don’t need to depend on us.

I just mean the school is really into inclusion, not bullying etc. especially if the prejudice is coming from a parent I’d imagine. Relishing in a group of children’s misfortune because of the school they went to wouldn't go down well.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius , there are other counties in the world. People aren’t going stay where they or their children aren’t wanted, not for long anyway.

Many families, and children, are looking at leaving the UK. I know my children and friends are looking at universities and careers abroad. I will certainly be encouraging that.

You realise that accusing private school detractors of classism is like accusing civil rights protesters of racism? Have you seen the gap in life expectancy, overall health, mental health, income, quality of life etc etc between the poorest and richest in this country? And then one of the major tools of upholding that inequity is supposed to be not only applauded but also subject to a tax exemption? Make it make sense.

Not sure this huffing off to other countries will work out as most other countries have issues too. We looked at Spain for Dd as she loves going there had an eu passport and doing a Spanish and law degree but they’ve got 25% youth unemployment - not good.

Araminta you sound like you need a cup of tea and a lie down!

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius - obviously we are looking at other more tolerant and inclusive countries.

Hate is hate, whether it is for someone below or above you on the privilege scale, riches etc.
I could not believe the hate on Meghan Markle either, for example. It was really shocking to me. I am not some fan either. This has become a very nasty divisive society here and anyone condoning someone celebrating children having to leave their school needs to take a long hard look in the mirror.

It’s not about “huffing off”, it’s about going to countries with great opportunities, to countries which recognise and appreciate hard work and talent. Increasingly, teens and young adults (and their parents) are disillusioned with the UK and its attitudes. I speak as someone who has spent a period of time working abroad.

@TheaBrandt1 - yes of course Spain have issues too, but I know a lot of people with Spanish roots returning right now. It is currently a much more hopeful country overall, whether there is unemployment or not. At least there is generally still a strong community spirit there.

My worry has moved on from schooling - as long as the school is essentially decent and your children fulfil their potential and are broadly happy with nice friends I really don’t care.

The real worry is what jobs they are going to do and AI. Fretting about education is abit like like stacking deckchairs on the Titanic…maybe your kids are younger once they out the other side with the grades they need school fades into irrelevance and new worries take over!

Or I can give another recent example. When they announced the new cast of the Harry Potter series and there was an online pile on on that beautiful lovely young girl playing Herminone because she had a slight tan. Absolutely disgusting and shocking behaviour.

Anecdotally I know numerous graduates state and private with excellent degrees but no jobs. No one (media) seems to be talking about this.

That’s precisely why many are keen to get the best education possible. Our children are competing on a world stage. They can’t rely on being able to get a decent job in the UK.

No @TheaBrandt1 - I have older kids too and one is a big techie and has been offered a huge permanent salary already in a different country so it is definitely not that. I am just sick and tired of the self harm and hate on anyone doing better or doing anything etc and the pile on. It does not do any of us any favours.

I’ve noticed firms aren’t taking on the number of graduates and juniors anywhere near like they used to, in my industry’s anyway (financial technology). I’m firmly putting AI as the reason for this.

Any firm that relies on AI without human oversight and validation is absolutely bonkers. It makes so much stuff up and eventually will end up creating the narrative it feeds itself without intervention. It's not clever, it's just really big sums. It's a useful assistant at best but no where near ready to make decisions or even write a decent proposal in my experience and I use it daily. It always needs a lot of input. It's not bad at writing code but again I wouldn't trust it without checking

I agree, but it seems specifically junior positions that are disappearing. Not sure what will happen down the road when there are very few experienced professionals available, as they couldn’t get their foot in the door.

But aren’t there labour markets in other countries, @Araminta1003? Surely, wherever you live, you children will either need to find gainful employment or will remain dependent on you.