Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

To be privileged is about far more than just a private education - discuss!

158 replies

soapbox · 05/02/2006 22:13

I get a little bored of the endless private vs state education threads, as to my mind private education is a fairly minor part of a privileged upbringing. I don't think it makes as much difference as the opportunities that mixing in the higher social circles brings!

I thought perhpas some honest views might explain further!

Some things that spring to mind:

Socialising with judges, doctors, CEOs, FDs, MPs etc mean that finding a summer placement job is not going to be a problem.

Always knowing someone who can get tickets to the latest sports game or must see concert.

Never being unsure which knife or fork to use!

Knowing exactly what you will get when you order 'posh' food in a restaurant.

Travelling extensively and seeing history where it took place and getting plenty practice of speaking languages in their native lands.

Not having to worry about how to pay for your first car, ditto the deposit for your first city pad!

What have I missed?

[Just to make clear - being privileged doesn't mean being better - or being happy and I do realise that my children might choose to be hippy drop outs - which of course they are perfectly entitled to be]

OP posts:
Socci · 05/02/2006 23:39

Message withdrawn

jco · 05/02/2006 23:40

The state school i went to was considered to be the worst in my town. After leaving school i went on to have a successful career as a police officer with great manchester police before leaving to have my children. My brother who also went to the same crap state school went on to study a degree, master degree, and then a PHD at Keele university, He now has a very successful career and earns a pretty decent salary, and all this from such an underpriviledge upbringing

Original poster
soapbox · 05/02/2006 23:41

Socci - as I said below though - if two candidates have equal qualifications, who will they choose?

OP posts:
LadySherlockofLGJ · 05/02/2006 23:42

OMG

Where did you find that ?????

That is disgraceful.........

Original poster
soapbox · 05/02/2006 23:43

jco - the school I went to wasn't terribly hot either!

I am not saying that there are no exceptions to the rule, but rather that the older I get, the more I realise how rare it was to break the mould!

OP posts:
northerner · 05/02/2006 23:43

I don't think a private education is a guarantee of a job offer over and above a state eduacted person with same quals. Maybe I'm niave, but I'd like to think the right person would be selected on merit - personality, work ethic etc. Nothing to do with schooling.

jco · 05/02/2006 23:44

Soapbox, i don't mean to appear rude but you are wrong. You are assumming that employers are narrow minded snobs who will only employ somebody because they went to the 'right' school. Maybe some are like that but I suspect they may well be the exception

Original poster
soapbox · 05/02/2006 23:44

Northener, that is exactly the point I am making. It is not the education you choose that is important! However, I would say that class is a huge issue IME!

OP posts:
LadySherlockofLGJ · 05/02/2006 23:45

X Went to John Fisher or St Aidan's

Y never made it off Monkey Island in Starbeck..........

Socci · 05/02/2006 23:45

Message withdrawn

jco · 05/02/2006 23:46

You might find soapbox that 'class' isn't as huge an issue for most people as it obviously is for you

northerner · 05/02/2006 23:46

???Eh LadySherlock ???? Don't get your point.

Thick emoticon. But tis late.

Original poster
soapbox · 05/02/2006 23:47

JCO - many, many employers, are exactly like that!

Perhaps not so obvious at the initial stages, but in the professions promotion to the higher echelons are very much about class, I am afraid to say!

OP posts:
Original poster
soapbox · 05/02/2006 23:48

jco - I think you are presuming things about me, that might not be the case!

OP posts:
jco · 05/02/2006 23:48

Can I ask you how you know that? or is it an assumption?

northerner · 05/02/2006 23:48

Oh, 'In the professions' well us state educated folk wouldn't know about that........

Original poster
soapbox · 05/02/2006 23:49

jco - I have said time and time again, that it is not very much to do with the 'right', school. It is more to being of the 'right' class!

That is why (bored emotion) I have said that the private vs state education is a red herring!

OP posts:
WestCountryLass · 05/02/2006 23:49

I think that if you are generally a nice person and work hard you will go far as you want to. Maybe I am naive?

Original poster
soapbox · 05/02/2006 23:50

Northener, many state educated people do indeed - myself included!

OP posts:
Skribble · 05/02/2006 23:50

Quite glad I don't want to work anywhere where I would be judged by my class.

northerner · 05/02/2006 23:52

Tongue in cheek soap box, tongue in cheek.......

LadySherlockofLGJ · 05/02/2006 23:52

It is about perception ???????

Kids from Aidans or JF would be perceived as "lucky"...........from Monkey Island, not so lucky, they would the recepients of the gangsta paper, and to my mind all it does is serve only to reinforce prejudice.

LGJ

Socci · 05/02/2006 23:52

Message withdrawn

Original poster
soapbox · 05/02/2006 23:54

Socci - I used to think so. My experience of late has really shaken my views on that TBH.

OP posts:
jco · 05/02/2006 23:54

That's even worst 'right class'!!! I can't believe i'm hearing this!! I might as well sign my kids up for unemployment benefit now seeing as we obviously come from the wrong class, after all they don't stand a chance do they?. i'm sorry soapbox but you're attitude is archaic, snobbish, and belongs in the dark ages. Try living in the real world