Why do people openly criticise decisions to send your kids to a private school?

[scotmum1977]

I sent my Son to a private school (Glasgow) last year for various reasons and it's working out really well. There is the cost but we just do without expensive holidays etc. I can't think of a better gift for my children than a good education. I was so surprised at how offended people get when they ask which school he attends. They think it's ok to criticise you openly and make bitchy comments here and there. Surely how you spend your own money is your own business. Anyone else have this experience?

I disagreed with youflossie but that was because of your broad brush and incorrect analysis of Scottish society.

You have shown a complete lack of understanding of the nuances of the Scottish experience, and yet write as one who is explaining it to us poor jocks.

Thankfully we don’t rely on folks like you to give us the gift to see ourselves as others see us 😉

DerRose- that is only your opinion. I am entitled to mine just as you are yours.

Flossietoot Mhairi Black (from the city of Paisley) Really? Hahaha you're analysis of Glasgow is hillarious. Billy Connolly, Kevin bridges, Mhairi Black, big Irish families with loads of children, old firm fights, poverty everywhere, a poster of social stats with no credibility. The only thing you've missed is Bagpipes, supergran and trainspotting. Oh but you wouldn't mention trainspotting would you as you claim to have worked in "the wealthiest area in Scotland" which must be Edinburgh and that squashes the myth. Thanks for telling us all who we are and how we live. Not condoscending at all.

Flossietoot sorry "lived in the wealthiest area in scotland" but "worked in the most deprived areas" aw bless hopefully you will be knighted for escaping the posh parts to help us poor poverty stricken areas in Glasgow for a few hours each day.

(I worked in Glasgow for about 2 minutes 2O years ago and know that there are more than 2 private schools.)

I don't get why people would be rude about privates but (willfully?) ignore the inequality within the state system, not to mention some of the nonsensical schemes our state schools spend some of their cash on.

I can't see a moral difference between paying for private or paying for an expensive house in a better catchment. Only that the "private" parent pays tax and pays for a school place on top. (If you are not already in the "club" sending your kids to private schools won't them an in.)

My kids go to a state school to give my comments some context.

Scotmum- like I said- attack is the easiest form of defence. It’s reallh quite sad that you are unable to take on board any opinion that differs from your own.

Yes, but only one of us has a real understanding of what it’s like to a.) be Scottish, b.) live in a much broader number of areas and experience growing up with Scottish sectarian crap as well as being one of Jock Tamsin’s bairns, and c.) study Scottish language and culture at one of our ancient universities.

Get that up ‘ye!

No I won’t get it up me. Arrogance is a terrible trait. I admit I don’t know everything but am at least able to take on board the opinions of others without saying ‘I am right because I am scottish and you aren’t’ and I have been to an old university so therefore I must know more. It’s akin to saying I went to a private school so I know more isn’t it?? How nice.

Flossietoot you are hillarious. It's like here is a video of a chap from London called Nigel Farage. This proves everyone from erm birmingham is racist and go fishing a lot. Now I can say this because I worked in Birmingham 15 years ago (in one of the most deprived areas you know) so I must know what I'm talking about and I'll tell those people if birmingam just how it is there. hahahaha

And believe me I know more than you can possibly imagine about ‘sectarian crap’, that’s particularly insulting.

It's not about how you choose to spend your money though.
Majority of people aren't going on holidays, buying big houses or cars and they still could never afford private schooling. It's silly to make out it's just about money choices as if you don't realise you are in the top percent of earners.
Buying smaller class sizes is still buying privilege. It's buying more one on one teaching.

Buying smaller class sizes is still buying privilege. It's buying more one on one teaching.

So is tutoring, ballet lessons, trips to the theatre etc etc. Not to mention buying a property in an expensive area for the good schools.

The ‘privilege’ (if that word is even the right one) is that of money, not the availability of fee paying schools.

No, I am right because I have more experience and relevant education.

There is a huge amount that I don’t know about, but I won’t accept assertions about Scottish children and Scottish society by someone who has lived here for a short time. Access to Google does not make you one of Jean Brodie’s girls.

Ps my kids go to private school. And they both do fencing. 😁

@Ruffina
Well obviously.
What's your point?
Wealth means you can send them to private school. If you don't have wealth you can't.
Children get no choice in the matter.

Hi there everyone,

We know this is exactly the type of topic where people can have strong views, but we've had to delete an awful lot of personal attacks from the thread - it would be great if you could all stick to talk guidelines, or we will have to delete the thread.

itsbetter

Er, my point is that you’re not really objecting to fee paying education, but to differentials in wealth.

Do you think private tutoring should be outlawed? Or that where you can buy a house should be strictly controlled?

The only solution to inequality of opportunity for children is to make everyone’s level of wealth the same and to make all parents spend the same time doing the same things with their children.

Private schools are just a useful taboo for some.

Wealth means you can send them to private school. If you don't have wealth you can't.

Except that every private school has a scholarship programme. My parents were not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination but managed to send me to a private school.

We're not in the top percentage of earners but could send DD if we made different financial choices. Private schools aren't solely the preserve of wealthy people.

I think yabbers fees of £40k+pa per child are completely outside the reach of anyone but the very wealthy. And scholarships are in many schools only a very nominal amount or nothing at all, just a prestige thing. The financial reward once associated with scholarships have been replaced by means tested bursaries and these bar a few big names are still scholarships in all but name as they are often only rewarded to those who are at the top of the intake for that year. Few schools are wealthy enough to offer massive bursaries to all who apply.

Coming back to Glasgow (we really ought to start a separate thread) for years I lived in one of the most deprived boroughs in London we had the two poorest council estates in Europe once described by a academic as the only place in the UK where the under class could actually be found, murder particularly gang related shootings were a regular event and all on my doorstep so I know what a deprived area looks feels and smells like. I regularly visit Glasgow I’m not denying that there’s areas of poverty and that historically there’s been a lot of poverty and unemployment (although not of course during the Victorian times) but the overall impression is a city very much on the up with money being put into it theres loads of building etc going on, lots going on, shops are busy, amazing restaurants (food seems to be an obsession) it’s really buzzing.

Ruffina, well put.

Privately educated are the privileged minority. Many people have chips on their shoulders and the fact that privately educated are outnumbered makes them easy game.

I have no personal experience of the private school system whether in Scotland or, where I live in the London area. I have no objection to people choosing to send their DCs to private schools. What I do object to, though, is those who decry any form of selective school in the state sector who then choose to send their own DCs to private school. Politicians seem particularly adept at this, though within my own family there are a couple of relatives who are keen to spout their left wing political views and talk about how divisive grammar school systems are, whilst educating their DCs privately yes SIL, I am looking at you IME, people tend NOT to be rude about your education choices unless they perceive some negative judgement from you because they have not been in a position to have the same choices.