How do you reply to this? Private school hatred.

[Elec]

Ds goes to swimming, in the class is another boy who he likes. I was chatting to this boy's mum, who I have not spoken to before. She asks me what school ds is at so I tell her. It's a private school and she replied - I don't agree with private schools.

What should I have said? I cannot believe how socially acceptable this sort of prejudice is, she just said it in earshot of plenty of other people so clearly she didn't mind who heard.

I imagine if this had been the other way round and I asked her what school her ds went to and then said, well I don't agree with state schools (not my view obv!) that she would have had a go at me and probably so would people overhearing!

Yes, I have always thought that saying is a manifesto for apathy and a rather passive agressive way to try to silence opinion to be honest.

Sod wisdom. I prefer heads on sticks and bodies against a wall.

I think it is interesting as to whether people who use private schools would prefer instead for ALL children (if there was a way) to have EQUAL chance in education/life-if they ALL could have great quality education OR if they wouldn't like that idea at all as then their child wouldn't have an advantage?

I would absolutely want everyone to have an equal chance. No question. I would actually be much happier with private schoosl becoming academies or free schools with children who couldn't afford to pay going free. [My DD is at a private school].

Wallison - I;m surprised about your City law firm comment. I know firms routinely dismiss anyone without a 1st or 2:1 but don't know of any Magic Circle/ City firms who only take from Oxbridge

At a time when the welfare state and NHS are being dismantled by a bunch of privately-educated wankers who have never done an honest day's work in their lives and who are only able to do what they do because they had a private education, I think it actually somewhat distasteful for people who buy an education for their little darlings who couldn't possibly cope with being educated alongside the vast vast majority of the country (94%) to be all "Ooh, some prole was rude to me; doesn't she understand that I am to be venerated". Suck it up, deal with it and move on.

So bitter. What's the matter? I really don't think every single person who sends their child to a private school is like this at all There are parents at my dds super trendy, exceptional state school who are much more vile than this about their choice of school. Of course they didn't move into the huge houses in the 2 foot sqaure catchment area on purpose or rent one of them for a couple of days or use grandmummys address- oh no.. I have encountered more snobbery there than anywhere else to be honest.

amillionyears: [God] grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference

Thanks Elibean!
oops,got it a bit wrong.

It's kind of a cock-eyed way of looking at it though, isn't it?

Everlong, as you know perfectly well, I live in an exclusively selective area, I have one child at grammar school, and one at a selective school. I have been very vocal about my loathing of the grammar school system for several years. I am also opposed to private education. I have never made a secret of any of these facts, so your attempt to "out" me is just a little pathetic.

How far would you have to travel to find a comprehensive?

"so everyone should be able to go to school only with 'motivated' students - ie., ones whose parents are motivated to pay.... I spot a flaw. "

I'm not sure why you think that motivated students (i.e. motivated to study) are only produced by parents who are motivated to pay.

But yes, there is an obvious flaw - not all students are motivated to study, and in my opinion if a school has large numbers of such students that is the biggest problem.

OP I woulkd have been tempted to say 'no really, they do exist.'

As for people not being in favour of them, I will engage in that discussion, which, despite using private schools myself, I think deserves respect...depending on how hypocritical or not said person not in favour appears to be.

I won't be lectured by someone with no locus.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions but to have to feel embarrassed about your choice of school because it's not 'left wing' enough is ridiculous. As I said upthread, my dd's current school might as well be a fee paying one, the way some of the parents act, but they are aghast at the thought of private education. If they hadn't go their children into this particular school, they would, almost without exception I reckon, be sending them to the local prep, and justifying it in some other way..

Poor child. To have a mother with zero social skills won't make for an easy life.

Everlong- as I said, your attempt to "out" me on something I am completely open about is a bit pathetic.

Amillionyears, about 30 miles, I think. And we woud not get a place.

30 miles, wow. I was somehow under the impression that you lived in London.

I'm afraid I would have said "I'm sorry, I appear to have misled you. I was just answering your question, not inviting your opinion."

Isn't it great we live in a country where we can have opposing opinion but still have choice

She might not have meant to be rude.

She might have thought "If I say that my DC goes to State school this lady will think I am POOR. Therefore I must explain, as quickly as possible, why my DC doesn't go to a private school." And blurted it out.

She may only have meant that she didn't agree with private school for HER DCs and be cringing as we speak.

And no, it wasn't me.