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'd have loved to have done Latin at school but accept I may be in a minority.

How is it a barrier? No private school or university I have heard of has it as a general entry requirement. You'd have to go back in history a bit!

Exactly, user. Latin is not a barrier to entry to anything. It's a long time since Latin was a required subject for entry to law, Oxford or anything else. Private schools do it because it's a brilliant subject. If it also has cachet among a certain type of parent, then so be it. Same with niche sports. Look at Steve Redgrave - proof that you don't need to go to private school to excel at a niche sport. Things like Latin and rowing and shooting aren't inherently posh - it's just that private schools are where there is usually an opportunity to do them. Which is a bloody shame. But it's odd to me to say 'I wouldn't send my kids to private school because I don't want them to have the opportunity to do Latin and shooting'.

I’ve been in and around state schools for a long time and in the past ten years or so there has been a lot of upgrading to the estate - I cannot think of any school I’ve visited that did not have ramps/lifts etc to make all areas a child needs to go to accessible to them. I fully accept that won’t have been the case further back. And I’m talking about the east coast - perhaps the west hasn’t caught up though I’d be very surprised if it hadn’t.

I would not want my dc to learn any sport that involves guns, why would I? I suppose if they find themselves in a zombie apocalypse type situation in the future it could be useful. More useful than Latin anyway (in pictura est puella Romana)

Slides in to say I know of Latin being taught as a club (up to a reasonably 'serious' level, alongside clubs in a range of other languages up to GCSE) in standard state primary + comp.

I would not want my dc to learn any sport that involves guns, why would I?

That’s a different argument (and one I agree with, for children at least). But surely shooting is an option? I doubt any school has compulsory double shooting periods.

Mind, if you blunder into the preppers board you might well find some firearms-in-the-curriculum enthusiasts. Not that that’s any recommendation of course.

How many state school students get on to Classics courses at Oxbridge? Is havjng studied Greek and Latin a route to a Classics degree at Oxbridge?

For fun, because it is a good foundation for other languages taught - French, Spanish, Italian - and because the MFL department / primary have someone able to teach it, not because it's 'exclusive'

Is havjng studied Greek and Latin a route to a Classics degree at Oxbridge?

It’s a route to a Classics degree anywhere.

If it also has cachet among a certain type of parent, then so be it. Same with niche sports.

That's my point. It's not an explicit barrier, obv (well, duh). It is the cachet it has amongst a 'certain type of parent' (and their offspring). You know, the certain types of parents that interview for places at Oxbridge (or the other kids you meet at the open day that ask "what school did you go to?"), the new graduates for the Magic Circle law firms, the ones that dish out the Big 4 jobs and the ones that employ interns at the top newspapers.

@Ruffina - yes. I would rather spend my money on moving home to an area with good schools than on private education.

DD did Latin GCSE at her comp
she has found it very useful for taxonomic classification in her science degree
DS did not do Latin at their comp because the teacher had retired by then
but there is less taxonomy in his degree so he's chilled

I did Latin at my private school
I hated it

You know, the certain types of parents that interview for places at Oxbridge

I don’t understand that sentence.

Fair enough, pyjamas. I don't deny that that attitude exists. But to me, choosing not to do Latin because some people are snobby about it is, to me, the ultimate in cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Jill - I did.

I don’t understand that sentence.

Sorry, I pressed send too quickly but I am sure you can figure out what I meant without me having to spoon feed you

And mistressiggi, the guns argument is a distraction. Substitute sailing or archery if you like. As for Latin not being useless, that probably sums up the reason why quite a lot of people privately educate. Education is /should be about so much more than what you might use in your job on a day to day basis.

I haven't read whole thread cause I'm waiting to catch a bus!
The thing is it is personal choice, but you need to be prepared that some people disagree, parents are deffintly going to get defensive if comments like smaller class sizes, want to do the beat thing for my child etc. come up because it's implying (not saying you are saying it) that they aren't doing what's right for there child and it can male parents feel bad for not having the wage the opportunity etc. I do agree that area comes into a lot of your in an area that dosent have good provisions for your child of course you look into, but just remember that not everyone has that opportunity. People have a right to get definsive as you do and on that note if you come into Mumsnet with a question you need to be prepared that not everyone will agree with you, you need to listen to these people not just battle and critisie if not there was no point in you posting.
Private education works for some and really dosent for others, one of my DC got a bursary/scholarship to a good private school, he was doing okay for a bit before some kids found out he didn't pay fees, he got horrendously bullied because of it and the school was hearing non of it and didn't even disapline the boys for pushing him over shouting him in a locker and a lot of verbal abuse for not being rich, for being poor not having the correct stuff etc. Eventually we got the police involved and moved him to the local state where he flourished. I'm not saying this is your child or your child's school but social elitism does happen.

But to me, choosing not to do Latin because some people are snobby about it is, to me, the ultimate in cutting off your nose to spite your face.

It's not about Latin, or small bore shooting. If a school offered those things in addition to all the other stuff I think are important, great!

@DreamOnandOnRon I think that's a fair decision and you do whats best for your child - but it wouldn't be acceptable for others to openly criticise you for taking this decision. Your motivation is the same as a lot of people going private who don't have the option you have. (My house price would double if I moved to an area with great schools thus it's not an option) But the stigma around private schools seems to make people think it's ok to criticise. I understand their reasons but I don't understand why it's ok to openly criticise.

That's my point. It's not an explicit barrier, obv (well, duh).

a) that’s not what you said, b) the rest is bollocks.

No employer - apart from the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches or schools or universities - could give a shit whether a candidate has done Latin.

If some knobs want to show off about their knowledge of Latin more fool them. But plenty of knobs show off about their knowledge of French, art, English Literature etc etc. Do you object to those subjects?

People do seem to forget that small bore shooting or rowing or archery or cubbing or skiing or whatever are provided at private school because parents pay for them. State school parents could pay for them too if they could afford it and wanted to. It doesnt mean private schools are necessarily better- it just means they are richer!

Mandarin is the new Latin.

Shooting is a good option because it is enjoyable. DC often join the CCF or Air Cadets etc to do it - they spend all their bloody waking hours doing it in CoD anyway.

YY to Mandarin

You are fantastic at missing the point, @Ruffina.