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Secondary education

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Original poster

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

999 replies

scotmum1977 · 26/12/2018 16:01

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
scotmum1977 · 26/12/2018 19:43

Of course I did. A wee council house with 18 of my Irish brothers and sisters. It was like Charlie and the chocolate factory except we shared a deep fried mars bar every Sunday after mass and before our good old old firm fisticuffs with the rangers supporters. No I'm not from Glasgow.

OP posts:
flossietoot · 26/12/2018 19:45

I can assure you I most definitely did work in Glasgow, as well as three other of the most deprived areas of Scotland, and lived in one of the wealthiest. I have friends in Scotland from a wide variety of backgrounds and a good understanding of the tensions around private schooling.

flossietoot · 26/12/2018 19:46

You said you came from nothing. Now either you made that up to get sympathy, or you really did, in which case your attitude is appalling.

Original poster
scotmum1977 · 26/12/2018 19:48

Flossietoot course you did Wink

OP posts:
happygardening · 26/12/2018 19:48

"as soon as you get off the train in the centre of it you can’t miss the poverty"
flossie have you ever been to London? I used to live there and now only visit rarely but unless you're blind you cant miss the homeless living along side the mega wealthy the moment you get off the train.

happygardening · 26/12/2018 19:49

Look at Grenfall. Poverty alongside wealth.

flossietoot · 26/12/2018 19:50

Yes, I made it up. I can only assume I have hit a nerve and am very sorry that you are insecure in yourself that your only way to respond to criticism is to diminish the opinion of the person criticising you by saying they are a liar.

Original poster
scotmum1977 · 26/12/2018 19:51

Happygardening you are right. It's in every city. Sad but true. Edinburgh is particularly awful

OP posts:
flossietoot · 26/12/2018 19:52

Happy- my point was that there isn’t the extremes in wealth in Glasgow as you see in London. There are pockets of well off areas such as the West end or further out of the city (not walking distance), but it isn’t anything like London or even Edinburgh.

Belindabauer · 26/12/2018 19:52

I don't have issue with anyone sending their child to private school.
I do take issue with people who have the attitude, well everyone can afford it, just cut out one foreign holiday per year and drive a five year old car instead of having brand new every two years.
If you believe this then you truly are stupid.

Original poster
scotmum1977 · 26/12/2018 19:52

Flossietoot go away. Your comments are personal and irrelevant to the debate.

OP posts:
happygardening · 26/12/2018 19:52

"Grenfell Tower is in North Kensington, Inner London, in a mainly working-class housing complex surrounded by affluent neighbourhoods in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)."
flossie just in case you missed the news around Grenfell.

Ethel80 · 26/12/2018 19:52

I'm absolutely opposed to people being able to buy advantage and that's what private education is. I'm also opposed to free schools, academies, grammars and faith schools.
You just shouldn't have the option frankly.

Every child should have a fully funded, quality state education including higher education. People should be fighting for that and not opting out.

flossietoot · 26/12/2018 19:55

My point of annoyance is that the OP seems to be oblivious as to why people around her in one of the most deprived cities in the UK might be less than fans of private schools. And she still seems to be oblivious to this or refusing to show any level of humility what so ever, and actually feels the need to run down anyone that criticises her. Not at all nice, compassionate or intelligent.

flossietoot · 26/12/2018 19:57

Green fell is in a Tory led council area. There aren’t many tories floating about in Glasgow

scotmum1977 · 26/12/2018 19:58

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happygardening · 26/12/2018 19:58

"People should be fighting for that and not opting out."
I agree with the principle but the reality is that all the fighting in the world isn't going to change it fast enough for our individual children. Hoiking up taxes to pay for a better NHS lost one labour party an election and Im afraid when the chips are down Jo Public wants any spare cash to go to the NHS over everything else so hoiking up taxes/increasing spending for education is never going to happen.

Original poster
scotmum1977 · 26/12/2018 19:59

Happygardening that's true. If I thought it would change I wouldn't be spending money on a school. It's not something i really want to be doing but I feel I have too.

OP posts:
happygardening · 26/12/2018 19:59

Any way many on here consistently tell us that state ed is at least as good as independent ed if not better so why does it need money?

flossietoot · 26/12/2018 20:02

It absolutely is relevant!! I am pointing out that Glasgow electorate are not generally likely to be supportive of typical Tory policies like selective education! There are only 8 Tory councillors as opposed to more than 70 SNP/ Labour!!! The fact you can’t see how the political leanings of the city are relevant just shows how out of touch with reality you are.

Original poster
scotmum1977 · 26/12/2018 20:04

Flossietoot ok more google searches thanks for that. what does the ratio of Tory to other party mps have to do with me asking why people openly criticise others for choosing to send their kids to private schools? Nothing. Irrelevant and random.

OP posts:
NotYouAgainGrrrrr · 26/12/2018 20:07

Education is compulsory and free. You are making a very public statement that what's good enough for 93% of children is not good enough for yours.

flossietoot · 26/12/2018 20:10

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Original poster
scotmum1977 · 26/12/2018 20:11

Notyouagaingrr I would be yes if I went around boasting about it but I don't. I don't bring it up in conversation and it's only when other mums start asking questions that they learn. I am humble about it and feel like I'm almost apologising and excusing myself for my decision - explaining myself. The comments I get are unbelievable. Even on here there are comments getting made. Flossietoot demanding to know if I grew up in a council house etc.

OP posts:
Ruffina · 26/12/2018 20:11

I get the argument that the state should provide all education. I don’t agree with it - largely because it would be gamed by parents, just as it is now, and would be futile as a social measure - but it’s a respectable argument.

I don’t get the money/wealth objection though. There are rich people in the country. Why should I care what they spend their money on, or whether they send their kids to Swiss finishing schools?

I think private education is just symbolic for the left. It’s a way in to rail against injustices that it has nothing to do with.

FWIW mine all went state. I couldn’t possibly have afforded private.