Vicar wants to send his dd to private school even though he is the Governor of lovely inner city school

[iamnotaprincess]

I am really disappointed and angry about this. Ds goes to a CoE primary school here in inner city London. We were all expecting the vicar, school governor, to send his dd to the school, but no, apparently he is thinking of sending her privately. I feel outraged. It is a good school, very inner city, but a good school, the children in ds' class are thriving. How dare he? And he is a vicar!

[purpleturtle]

Private education is not part of the package, MintHumbug. Although, I do think that there may be a case for the independent sector being better placed to provide stability for children through what could be multiple housemoves.

And while a CofE school presumably requires a member of clergy on its governors, that does not mean that every vicar will be a governor.

[cory]

No, but it is expected in many parishes, and not only for CofE schools but for many state schools too. Refusing would upset people and be a very strong statement.

[MrsGuyOfGisbourne]

The vicar aready supports the school twice over, without receiving any direct benefit,by paying taxes and by giving up time to be a governor.

[islandofsodor]

It is very possible that the vicar knows that in a few years time he will have to leave the area to move to another parish meaning his child would have to change schools or any 2nd children may not then get in as out of catchement. Private school may negate this.

Or maybe he wants a school that has a reputation for offering something specific. I chose a school for my children that had specialist music teachers from primary for example.

It is absolutely none of anyones business and if yo are as angry about this as you seem to be then you have a very sad life with not enough to do.

[emy72]

OP I haven't read all the threads but I empathise because he clearly doesn't rate the school good enough for his child and that makes anyone a little nervous.

We have a similar situation where my DD's teacher has moved out of town to a small middle class village in order to get her child into that (very oversubscribed) school rather than the one she lived in/ teaches at.

Whatever the reasons, most people who have found this out have raised an eyebrow as that teacher clearly knows the school well and has decided that it is not good enough for her child. That doesn't fill anyone with confidence.

Clearly it is his business and you can't say anything or do anything about it, but I would be a little concerned and baffled too.

[iamnotaprincess]

So basically if you educate your kid privately, you agree with the vicar.

[SethStarkaddersMum]

I don't and I agree with the vicar.
TBH I think he probably doesn't want his dd to be at school with the children of mad busybodies who will comment on every aspect of how he brings her up.....

[Blu]

Perhaps his DD does not meet the admissions criteria? Have you SEEN her in church every Sunday?

[StillSquiffy]

As a representative of Christ in the community, I not only expect my vicar to send his children to mix with the commoners, but I also expect him to share his Sunday Roast with the Big Issue sellers and to get his feet washed once a week by my mate round the corner with the long hair extensions.

This has to be the funniest thread of the week. I wish we had more of the OP-type in our church, would brighten up the community no end.

[islandofsodor]

Actually being a school governor (I was one before we moved house) played a big part in deciding to go independent (it was a choice betwen that or home ed) as I was appalled by the level of hoops/state interference etc that schools and teachers had to go through.

My neice is perfectly happy in her state primary school, it fits with the ethos that her family were looking for. it would not suit us at all. We are very lucky to have the choice, many don't. Dh is a teacher though and would not want our children educated in a school where he worked, childen need that distance from their parents, it doesn;t do them good to be known as x's child

[zanzibarmum]

While the language of OP is clearly not shared by many the general point that teachers, governors etc in state schools not choosing state schools for their children is something of a vote of no confidence is aspects at least of the education of the state sector. Parents have the duty to do what they think is best for their children (vicars included) but on the basis of that old feminist slogan that: 'the personal is political there are issues raised.

For me it would become hypocritical if the reason why opting out of the state sector (say absence of 3 sciences, the teaching of latin, or say lack of sport) were not being promoted by the said governor or teacher in the state school being avoided for their child.

[zanzibarmum]

Issue is sending dc to a non state school if you work in state sector - not sending them to the same school where you teach or are a governor

[QueenofDreams]

My dad is a minister in the Methodist church. I had a lot of problems with bullying in secondary school - some of it centred around being 'the vicar's daughter' and some of it around my country of origin. In the end my parents withdrew my brother and I from the school. Ultimately I ended up at a private school affiliated with the methodist church. THere was a discount on the fees because of my Dad's position as a minister, and I got a bursary on top that. In addition my Dad took out a loan to pay the remaining percentage of the fees. Reading this thread, it's lovely to think now that there were people (not knowing the problems we'd had) that were sitting back judging and calling my dad a hypocrite for sending me to a private school to do my 'a' levels.

[Hulababy]

But zanzibar - why is it an issue?

As someone already said, there are many many reasons that people chose to use the independent sector.

[zanzibarmum]

Issue as raised by the OP - no issue no discussion

Fair enough vicar may not have chosen to work in the school but his private decision may have public consequences both in his role as a Minister and a governor. His right as a parent to do what's right for his DC does indicate perhaps a certain lack of confidence in state schools just as it would a Tory or Labour politician or a teacher union rep in a state school making the same decision.

Certainly my decision to do the same would so indicate.don't you think no matter how many times I might say we did what is right for our DC

[prayingforababy]

On the whole private schools practise more Christian faith than even Church state schools plus they are free to not teach evolution etc so he's probably sending DD there so she can get more "God" rather than the watery, contradictory science/God messages they get in a government controlled curriculum.

[ampere]

Actually, I am with the OP.

Particularly as a minister- in that calling I think you have a moral obligation to put your money where your mouth is, or you DC where your educational obligations lie, perhaps.

It is the very reason why I cannot vote Tory: Battallions of middle class, public-school educated people who themselves, let alone their own DCs have never and will never darken the doors of a state school telling the rest of us how to do it.

There is this odd English idea that one's DCs are utterly sacrosanct and therefore completely ring fenced from the politics, religious beliefs, financial fortunes etc that we profess to practise in our public lives.. 'Oh, it's OK, because he's doing what's best'... as a parent of a DC in his own school I'd be feeling rather aggreived, too. We also see it in private parents who fall upon hard times: It's unthinkable that Tybalt should have to go state just because daddy's business has failed! How unfair! But we don't see those people campaigning to send Tyson private when HIS daddy goes bust from his council teaching job.

[ampere]

And surely there's a world of difference in being a teacher rather than a govenor at a school??

[tartyhighheels]

Nothing to do with you

[MattSmithIsNotMyLoveSlave]

So far as what Jesus would have thought, the parables of the prodigal son and the workers in the vineyard suggest that he would have thought that you should keep your nose out of the details of other people's arrangements. Your DS is at the school, is thriving, and you are happy (as the elder son was the beneficiary of the whole of his father's remaining estate and the workers hired at the start of the day were perfectly happy with their negotiated daily wage). He was clear in no uncertain terms that it was none of the elder son's business what his father decided to do in relation to the younger son, and none of the first set of workers' business what the vineyard owner offered to others.

I can think of several reasons why, all things being equal, a vicar in this position should send his or her child to the local state school. I can think of several potential reasons why all things might not be equal in any particular case so that it might not be the best thing to do. It is absolutely none of my business which of these factors do or do not apply.