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Original poster

"Mumsnet hate private schools"

200 replies

Swedington · 01/12/2009 21:31

I read this in the newspaper recently. (I think maybe it was a quote of Justine's.)

I know there are some posters who are to Mumsnet what Bob Crow is to the London Underground (hope you saw him on HIGNFY), but I don't think there is a huge anti private school thing going on here is there?

OP posts:
Original poster
Swedington · 01/12/2009 21:43
OP posts:
mistletoemulledwinemoodlum · 01/12/2009 21:45

no, I don't think so. Just people on both sides of the electric fence.

flashharriet · 01/12/2009 21:45

I think maybe MN is skewed in terms of how many people on here privately educate their children - I'll bet it's more than the 7% national average.

ra29needsabettername · 01/12/2009 21:47

I hate private schools.
Perhaps I AM Mumsnet...

CertainAge · 01/12/2009 21:48

I believe that Mumsnet is a collection of individuals with no corporate identity, but I do believe that there is a vocal element who detest private schools.

They want to abolish them, so obviously have no respect for civil liberties our cherish our nation as 'a free country'.

Ugh, state control makes me want to heave.

traceybath · 01/12/2009 21:48

No more than in RL.

As long as you don't put the words 'prep school' into a title - its fine .

I did see Bob on HIGNFY - was he chewing gum?

Totally off topic - did you get your DS the Stella for Gap military jacket? They never came into my local store.

Original poster
Swedington · 01/12/2009 22:01
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scottishmummy · 01/12/2009 22:04

MN has no collective ethos,there is no "we" there is collection of diverse and vociferous opinions,which is fun

and i like Bob crowe and his ability to steadfastly back his members,and generally secure good wages

ABetaDad · 01/12/2009 22:11

There is a small but very vocal left/liberal group on MN who do not like private schools so their view is more heavily represented than their number warrants.

On the other hand there are lots of private school parents here who just do not feel the need to make a fuss and so their voice is not heard much in comparison to their number.

The relatively more vocal 'anti' group makes it feel like an MN bias which is not really there.

SlartyBartFast · 01/12/2009 22:15

this is may be where you read it?

scottishmummy · 01/12/2009 22:16

25% of children in edinburgh are educated privately. so the demographics vary across uk

flashharriet · 01/12/2009 22:21

Wow really SM? Can you link to where you got that figure, I'd be interested to see the percentages for the rest of the country.

scottishmummy · 01/12/2009 22:27

one in four children in Edinburgh attend private schools ? the highest rate in the UK 25% edinburgh children attend private school Around one in four children in Edinburgh attend private schools ? the highest rate in the UK

dont know about rest UK

scottishmummy · 01/12/2009 22:37

links wont open but google scotsman 25% private secondary education edinburghone in four children in Edinburgh attend private schools ? the highest rate in the UK 25% edinburgh children attend private school Around one in four children in Edinburgh attend private secondary schools ? the highest rate in the UK

my original source link wont open- sorry

piscesmoon · 01/12/2009 22:38

I don't see how anyone could say that-many people do a mixture and you don't have to be either/or. I have used state, but in different circumstances I might have used private.

zanzibarmum · 01/12/2009 22:57

There's is a mix of views which is what makes it interesting. Probably more anti religious schools than anti private. It's the ones who want to abolish schools that get my goat - usually people who go private (abolish faith), go faith (abolish grammar), go grammar (abolish private - and don't the prep kids into grammar),abolish community schools (those who go private, faith and or grammar), damn on all schools (home educate). Fun and interesting?

NotanOtter · 01/12/2009 23:00

i don't think they do at all...

i have a child at a prep school atm and it is jolly good

they teach manners

NotanOtter · 01/12/2009 23:01

there are some feisty posters condemning the 11+ and state grammar system

Morosky · 01/12/2009 23:04

I guess I a part of the leftie vocal group although I always very polite and measured. I wouldn't say I hate private schools I just don't like things that cause more social division.

But I don't see this place as private school hating, every third person seems to have their child in a private school.

VengefulKitty · 01/12/2009 23:06

Actually, I have been wondering about this. I have been thinking that most posters appear to hate private school, but ABetaDad makes a good point that I stupidly never thought of

I freely admit that I am more than happy with my own state education and with DS's (although he has only just started reception), but if I had the money I would send him to private school. In fact, I did look at one, but the £1300 per term fees are just too much.

bibbitybobbityhat · 01/12/2009 23:07

Its funny because from my perspective (anti) I feel outnumbered by very vocal pro-private schoolers on Mumsnet. I no longer get involved in the threads though. But there does seem to me to be a disproportionate number who choose to educate privately and are very visible on the boards. However, I fully accept that my perception is probably skewed.

Morosky · 01/12/2009 23:09

£1300 is a bargain Vengeful.

NotanOtter · 01/12/2009 23:12

i do agree seem more prominent pro private than anti

scottishmummy · 01/12/2009 23:13

£1300? i pay more than that a month for nursery.what is a term 10-12 wk?

Original poster
Swedington · 01/12/2009 23:14

Morosky - Social division at a bargain price .

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