Cameron - a "shrewd & malevolent psychopath"?

Well, talking as one who did have a boarding school education all I can say to your 'one friend' is 'elitist twaddle mate'!

That's to your friend FarNorth not to you

Of course there's 'boarding school education' such as Eton and other Public School then there's your run of the mill boarding schools such as the Convent of Motre Dame, where you were most unlikely to consider anything except survival

Motre Notre.

I think you are quite right, Anya. The friend did have the more 'elite' type of boys' education.

The TV series 'Seven Up' was very interesting. At one point, the 'posh' boys were unhappy that the impression had been given that their path into well-paying professions had been easy.
Of course, they had had to work for their qualifications but they had been guided into the paths to take, by their parents and schools.
In contrast, many of the other children, and probably their parents, were clearly completely unaware of how to get qualified as doctors, lawyers etc, and didn't even consider those kinds of possibilities.

It is so easy to find out how to become a doctor lawyer etc. school careers advice may be better than it was in my day but the internet is there. Do you perhaps mean that high achiever parents have high expectations and low achiever parents have no expectations? If the young person is able then they can make a go of it. I know far more high achievers who have come from very poor backgrounds ( think parents who left school to go down the mines and not a book in the house) than I know high achievers with parents who were themselves high achievers.

The "Seven Up" programme started many years ago and followed several children as they grew up. It's participants would now be in their late 60s, I think.
So there was much less info available to them.

Stansgran I think the statistics show that the tide has changed in more recent generations. The grammar school system combined with far fewer university places and fewer courses, plus generous grants acted for a few decades to select and nurture bright kids from poorer backgrounds into university and then on to professional careers. There has also been a growth in wealth that allows more families to access private education.
My niece went on an art trip with a group who had nearly all been to posh public school. She said they considered themselves failures if they had not secured an Oxbridge place and would not even consider a non-Russel group university.
Now the average level of state education is vastly better but the number of universities, subjects and courses, plus the financial realities combine to have a different effect. A lot more go to uni but poorer kids don't necessarily get into the courses like medicine that lead to a prestigious professional careers. And they drop out more often.
Getting to uni if you have a supportive family who know the ropes far easier than if you come from a family where nobody has a degree and nobody understands the point. I know someone who was determined to become a nurse. Her mother could not understand why, given that she already had a job, she wanted to further her career in this way.

Back in 1967 I wrote a thesis for my Dip. Ed. entitled Arnold's Guardians, arguing that the rulers of empire produced by the 19th century public schools were modelled on Plato's guardians in The Republic. My personal experience in 1967, based on attending one of those schools, was that things had moved on and were continuing to do so.

A lot of commentators still seem to be indulging in the class war of earlier decades, when the world has moved on. Sweeping generalisations about people who have been to boarding school add nothing to reasoned discussion; or should I make a plea on behalf of "the boarding community"?

Anyone fancy getting back to the original topic?

Not if it involves taking Frankie Boyle seriously.

Oh I don't think he is a shrewd malevolent psychopath. I think he is a self interested rich kid who realised him and his best mate (once called Gideon now better known as George) could con the public into voting for them, flog the Royal Mail and a bank off to their friends, introduce some very dodgy legislation and get paid for doing it. Following the example of another PM he could them move into well-paid public posts and become even richer. On second thoughts - he probably is a smp just not the first. Could it be that the British public gets the leader they deserve?

Trisher they keep reading those Murdoch newspapers without asking themselves why on earth they believe everything printed in them.
Gideon? Really?

He was christened "Gideon" changed his name to "George" at 14, was apparently known to his friends as "Giddy" Almost makes you feel sorry for him doesn't it?

Almost but not quite. Parents must have thought it was a good name for someone destined to run a wallpaper empire.

Why make fun of a name?Would it be better if he had been called Wayne?

I echo what Grumppa says, especially with reference to Frankie Boyle!

Why not make fun of a name? Incidentally Gideon means (depending on which site you look at) a hewer down, a destroyer, one who cuts off.
Now we know why he changed it!!!

Well, you can't blame him for changing his name, can you?

At 14 too! Sensible boy!

Someone I know who went to boarding school said pupils were always being reminded that they were 'one of the 7 percent' by which was meant special.

Incidentally, I don't think that percentage has changed all that much over the years.

I live near a well-known public school and the pupils are often to be seen strolling around the town.

I do get the impression that they regard themselves as just a bit superior to the children who go to the local comprehensive!

Oh no. Very smart move. Still quite funny though.

Lots of people have names they don't much like, so change them or use their second names, so what? or is this a' Ooh look, he has a posh funny name har -har' situation Trisher?

Does it count if you went to a boarding school as a day girl? Does that make me one of the 7 percent!?

They might actually be superior petallus!

petallus, have you ever considered, since their uniforms mark them out, that these children/young adults feel as if they stand out and are a bit defensive because of it, or are people going after children now, blaming them for 'posh uniforms and names' because that is what it sounds like.Not very edifying on Gransnet.