Starmer's stubbornness

The funding to state schools have been cut drastically over the last 14 years. At least in the Blair years there was far more money in the system for schools to hire SEN support, TAs, sports coaches and the like. Now so many state schools are struggling . Let’s hope if LP gets in they improve funding for state schools so children can get the help they need, plus services such as CAMHS and Ed Psychs have their funding restored so there are not lengthy waits for assessments.

It isn’t skill that’s lacking. No, its about every child in every school achieving their full potential.

Though Olympic Size swimming pools help!

GrauntyHelen

It's outrageous that private schools have been treated like charities this far They are lucrative businesses. There are already protections that except disabled people from Vat with regards to products and services related to that disability that can be used I'm no fan of the red Tory that Starmer has become but I will take him over Rishi and his many hopeless predecessors who have got us in to the state we are in !

Not sure if you can use disability exemption from VAT in this way - it’s not a blanket exemption and has to be on goods and services which are disability related.

Funny though isn't it that most footballers are working class and attend state schools although they are recruited by the major teams at an early age and attend Football academies. Some of them go on to be major league players some don't. But it isn't the private schools that provide the majority of players. The Premier League clubs invest massively in this of course.
The class system it seems in still active in sport.

keepingquiet

I prefer the so called politics of envy to the very real politics of exploitation.

For me private schools have rarely been about education (they can choose other examination systems which are not as rigorous as GCSEs for example) but about getting a lift up the social ladder.

Some Tory Prime ministers are a case in point... not really that clever are they?

We have to be very aware of the roots of that term, "the politics of envy" (no criticism of you, Keeping Quiet 🙂!)

“The politics of Envy” is a Right wing meme originating in the 1990’s in the USA, and appears as the title in 2 books, one by Anne Hendershott, another by Doug Bandow.

Both writers draw on right wing think tanks to use the expression on anyone who seeks social justice or equality.

Both use toxic and dramatic terms - almost apocalyptic - to draw in a psychological term into a political viewpoint that suits a narrative to try and silence by accusing them of a “deadly sin”.

It’s ow being adopted by the right here in order to try and shame or shut down opponents. It’s a cowardly and toxic way of personally attacking someone.

…… and doesnt match the politics of any GN I’ve read in here or the many people I know who want to make the world a better place for the many.

Being accused of envy when one wants equality for all is just another attempt at gaslighting.

Glorianny

Funny though isn't it that most footballers are working class and attend state schools although they are recruited by the major teams at an early age and attend Football academies. Some of them go on to be major league players some don't. But it isn't the private schools that provide the majority of players. The Premier League clubs invest massively in this of course.
The class system it seems in still active in sport.

Glorianny but some people really hinder their children by wanting them to do useful and meaningful work. Research engineering, medicine and jobs needing years of study and application. For the greater good?

ronib

Glorianny

Funny though isn't it that most footballers are working class and attend state schools although they are recruited by the major teams at an early age and attend Football academies. Some of them go on to be major league players some don't. But it isn't the private schools that provide the majority of players. The Premier League clubs invest massively in this of course.
The class system it seems in still active in sport.

Glorianny but some people really hinder their children by wanting them to do useful and meaningful work. Research engineering, medicine and jobs needing years of study and application. For the greater good?

Are these the parents of children in private or state schools? I've always thought a parent's job was to encourage a child to develop and use their talents and abilities to the full, whatever they were.

Glorianny yes I used to think that. I think it’s maybe a bit misguided? The middle classes might be struggling a bit to make ends meet…

vegansrock

Being accused of envy when one wants equality for all is just another attempt at gaslighting.

Yes it is- I suppose this is the answer I should have given!

However I still believe private schooling is more about social climbing than education...

Anything wrong with social climbing, or should we all know our place and stay there?

There’s nothing wrong with social mobility. That’s precisely why a system such as private education, which mitigates against it, is a problem.

Germanshepherdsmum

Anything wrong with social climbing, or should we all know our place and stay there?

No, but people claiming it is about education are being disingenuous.

We all know we live in a society where what matters isn't what you know but who you know, a life lesson I learned all too late in life after believing in equal opportunities...

I got where I did by what I knew, as did my son and his wife. There never has been such a thing as equal opportunities in my experience.

If people think that independent schools are exclusively the domain of the wealthy and social climbers, then they are very wrong. It's just a perception, as not many improve their social position by just mixing with those of the upper classes. There's a lot more to it than that. Namely, at private schools, pupils are encouraged to be at the top of their game and to build on their own strengths. They, and their parents, really don't fixate on hierarchy.

they and their parents don’t fixate on hierarchy
It’s hot, which may be slowing me down but what does this mean?

Germanshepherdsmum

I got where I did by what I knew, as did my son and his wife. There never has been such a thing as equal opportunities in my experience.

Well, there should be. It isn’t about social climbing but about every child being able to fulfill it’s true potential.I remember back in the day when we did the 11+ kids were made to feel like failures at the age of 11. In fact, we had a two tier system even before that with the school putting those of us they thought would pass the 11+ in a different class. Not sure what it was like in other parts of the country but I had a better education than my classmates that went to the local comprehensive. Albeit having to put up with being ridiculed about my fathers job ( he was a labourer) something I’ve never really got over.

I guess I mean social hierarchy. Trying to climb up the social ladder in order to gain higher status in the pecking order.

Being accused of envy when one wants equality for all is just another attempt at gaslighting

Agreed👏👏👏

When one is accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.

I’ve posted this previously; no-one has yet argued against it🤷‍♀️

Thanks Joseann for clarifying. My sister in law was horrified we were sending our 4 and 5 year olds to the local primary school. “You won’t know who they’re mixing with”. Yes o will, was my response, they’ll be mixing with other children from our neighbourhood. Like they do at Rainbows and Brownies and when we go to our local park.
Her snobbery was extraordinary. Her children went to private schools of course

LizzieDrip why would you want equality for all? It’s unattainable given the present structures in society.

Why wouldn’t we aspire to a
More equal society? Some children are so disadvantaged it ensures they’ve little if any opportunity to build a better life. That’s shameful

Iam64 life is not so black and white. Not every disadvantaged child will become disadvantaged in adulthood and vice versa.

Germanshepherdsmum

Anything wrong with social climbing, or should we all know our place and stay there?

Like Angela Rayner?

I can never understand people like your sister in law, Iam64, they obviously don't get the whole ethos of a private education. When people asked where my children went to school, I just used to say Taunton and let them think what they liked. Same as when I was Head of a prep school and on holiday I was asked what I did , I just said something vague until they put two and two together.
To me, children are children whatever, and people are just people, whoever.