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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:
northerner · 05/02/2006 23:55

Yes LadyS I agree. Applicable to any town, not just this one.

Where I grew up, I was unlucky, went to the local sonk school. Fortunatley was bright and had fab parents, did OK. Am not bitter. My schooling made me who I am.

Original poster
soapbox · 05/02/2006 23:56

jco - the work right was in inverted commas!

Why do you assume that I am the perpetrator of these ills rather than the recipient!

Perhaps you need to consider your own prejudices!

OP posts:
northerner · 05/02/2006 23:56

Sink school not sonk.

Skribble · 05/02/2006 23:59

My children will hopefully go for professions where their talents, skills and personalities count for more than their supposed class.

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 06/02/2006 00:00

I am under no illusions at all that sending my children to the state sector is "levelling out" privelege. And I'm not sure many people who feel strongly about state education would be naive enough to think that. My kids are hugely priveleged and there's not a lot I can do about it - I'm certainly not going to level down. However supporting and believing in state education is not about my kids - that's the whole point. It's about all kids. It's about acknowledging the vast differences that exist in opportunities and privelege and believing that there is one thing that can be done to redress it a little - and that's to give all children the same - high- standard of education. It also has the potential to help a bit in ironing out social differences too - look at Scandinavia.

LadySherlockofLGJ · 06/02/2006 00:00

at sonk not sink...........

Had hoped to be in HG 2 next weekend, but it has all gone pearshaped, so as and when it is rescheduled, I will shout you, if the timetable allows............

If that is OK..........

Socci · 06/02/2006 00:01

Message withdrawn

jco · 06/02/2006 00:01

Because soapbox by subscribing to this attitude you are indeed a perpetrator. Don't you see that these attitudes need to be left behind us. If people continue to adopt this prejudices then they will continue

I have no prejudices, i judge people for who they are not by which class they come from

northerner · 06/02/2006 00:02

Of course LadyS! Would love to meet you.

Are you visiting friends?

northerner · 06/02/2006 00:04

'I have no prejudices, i judge people for who they are not by which class they come from'

Well said jco. Lets not forget shitesters come in all shapes and sizes from all social backgrounds.

Socci · 06/02/2006 00:05

Message withdrawn

LadySherlockofLGJ · 06/02/2006 00:05

Well/Yes and No......... DH is seeing a company at Hornbeam.........they used to be very friendly to homes but after that we will be on friends patrol.

Original poster
soapbox · 06/02/2006 00:07

Socci - I think I have been fortunate to have a Scottish accent, without that I don't think I would have reached the point I have. It is incredibly rare to hear any regional accents at all, but somehow the Scots are indulged a little!

TBH - at the point in my career where I am now, I think that class is so much more influencial than sex. There is a clear network that I am not privvy to. You know the lunches where you are in a minority if you haven't got an OBE or CBE or aren't beknighted.

It is all very well saying you wish your children would choose a career where class wasn't viewed as an important differetiator. For a long time I thought I had - my recent experiences suggest otherwise. In teh circles I now mix in professionally the middle aged white male with a plummy voice rules!

OP posts:
northerner · 06/02/2006 00:08

I know who you mean.

Let me know when you are coming and we'll see what we can sort! THat's if I am the correct social class of course

jco · 06/02/2006 00:08

indeed they do notherner, even from the so called upper classes!

Original poster
soapbox · 06/02/2006 00:10

Jco - why do you assume that I subscribe to these views - on what basis would you say I am a perpertrator. You say that you judge for who a person is - but you have no idea who I am or how I might be working to try and change the way the system currently works.

You might think you are not prejudiced, but your posts suggest the opposite to me!

OP posts:
Skribble · 06/02/2006 00:11

My kids are hugely privileged, papa is a joiner and not a CEO. He will happily spend hours helping DH and DS to make things in his hut Granny was nurse not a doctor but still gives excellent advice at 3am and has spent many afternoon making cakes or watching disney films with them.
I have no degree from a top university but take my children to museums, concerts, events, woods, national parks and castles and can tell tham all about it.
DH is a not a director but a manager, he travels the world and comes back with tales of meeting the Dali Lama and Paul McCartney and can still help with homework and getting to the next level on the playstation.
What a terrible life we have .

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 06/02/2006 00:11

just read some more posts. can I ask for any evidence taht anyone has about contacts getting you into Oxbridge? How many city-workers do you know soapbox? I know quite a lot and not one of them is there because of their accent. they might be tehre because they have had opportunities that not all children had - ie because they are priveleged and able to use their skills to get into good universities and go onto get Phds but I can tell you accent counts for nothing. And anyone who wasn't upto the job wouldn't last a minute in the city - whoever daddy was.

jco · 06/02/2006 00:16

"'However, I would say that class is a huge issue"

"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!"

these quotes by you are why i believe you to be a perpertrator. I would be interested to know in what way do you think i am prejudice soapbox

jco · 06/02/2006 00:17

skribble, your life sounds wonderful and very priviledge, your children are very lucky!

Original poster
soapbox · 06/02/2006 00:17

Well I know loads of accountants and lawyers in the City! As I said for a long time I thought I was in a fairly non-classist place. However my experience lately has been an eyeopener. The City of London Club, the 100 FD forum, the exeutive of the ICAEW, the FSA, the FRC, hell the top bods at the DTI, the Bank.

Now I am not saying that they have not achieved what they have achieved on merit - but surely in a true meritocracy you'd expect a few less plummy accents and a few people whose families don't have estates taking up acres of Scotland!

OP posts:
Original poster
soapbox · 06/02/2006 00:18

But jco - they were about barriers to entry faced by me not barriers I have put in the way of other people!

OP posts:
northerner · 06/02/2006 00:19

Well girls, it's been fun, but I really must go to bed now.

Good night.

jco · 06/02/2006 00:19

so challenge them instead of accepting them!!

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 06/02/2006 00:20

hmmm yes but you are talking about the top - what age group are you talking about?

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