Independent Leyton Orient Forum

Private schools shouldn’t just lose their charitable status. They should be banned entirely.

They are the central institution that enshrines and enforces Britain’s unofficial caste system.

Getting rid of them would advance the country 100 years with immediate effect. Said a guy on X. I can't see any issues with it.

Where would get our Prime Ministers from? Eton is a wonderful establishment.

Convert them into pirate schools, I say.

Teach the pupils how to say "ooh, arrrrr!" and confidently wear an eye patch whilst hobbling about on a wooden peg.

Friend or faux wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 1:58 pm Where would get our Prime Ministers from? Eton is a wonderful establishment.

You seem to be labouring under the assumption that private school pupils are overrepresented in elite professions because of the superiority of their intellects, rather than the effectiveness of the Old Boys' network.

Dunners wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:02 pm Convert them into pirate schools, I say.

Teach the pupils how to say "ooh, arrrrr!" and confidently wear an eye patch whilst hobbling about on a wooden peg.

Thank you for this Farrago of Assininity.

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:03 pm

Friend or faux wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 1:58 pm Where would get our Prime Ministers from? Eton is a wonderful establishment.

You seem to be labouring under the assumption that private school pupils are overrepresented in elite professions because of the superiority of their intellects, rather than the effectiveness of the Old Boys' network.

My three grandsons are/were in private schools. The education and discipline are good but networking is clearly where it's at, like it or not. The problem is partly that teaching staff gravitate towards higher salaries, better conditions, better infrastructure, better equipment, nicer environment.....
The socialist in me agree with Max but that's not how life is.

Dunners wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:02 pm Convert them into pirate schools, I say.

Teach the pupils how to say "ooh, arrrrr!" and confidently wear an eye patch whilst hobbling about on a wooden peg.

Remember when Somali pirates were the in thing? Whatever happened to that?

If ever there was an example of an ordinary person struggling financially to give the best for their child (unlike Diane Abbott on a huge salary) is the poor NHS mother of the murdered teenager yesterday who sent her daughter to a private school . People like this parent like thousands of others are not high flying executives or MPs’ but Nurses , Police Officers, Builders, Service Industry employees and so on. They do without new cars and holidays. To add 20% on is politics of envy.

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:48 pm

Dunners wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:02 pm Convert them into pirate schools, I say.

Teach the pupils how to say "ooh, arrrrr!" and confidently wear an eye patch whilst hobbling about on a wooden peg.

Remember when Somali pirates were the in thing? Whatever happened to that?

Still a thing, but has declined since 2013 due to the introduction of armed private security on ships and a significant US naval presence in that region. Basically, they started getting getting shot back at, so have largely fallen back to other opportunistic enterprises, such as drug smuggling, people trafficking and illegal fishing. Bunch of quitters.

Dunners wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:54 pm

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:48 pm

Dunners wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:02 pm Convert them into pirate schools, I say.

Teach the pupils how to say "ooh, arrrrr!" and confidently wear an eye patch whilst hobbling about on a wooden peg.

Remember when Somali pirates were the in thing? Whatever happened to that?

Still a thing, but has declined since 2013 due to the introduction of armed private security on ships and a significant US naval presence in that region. Basically, they started getting getting shot back at, so have largely fallen back to other opportunistic enterprises, such as drug smuggling, people trafficking and illegal fishing. Bunch of quitters.

The US addiction to guns claims another victim, sigh.

Interestingly we are considering schools atm even though my son isn’t 3 yet and there’s a few private on the list - which I’m slightly uneasy about but nevertheless.
From a selfish point of view, this may push us out of being able to afford it. And it won’t touch the truly rich .

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 4:34 pm Interestingly we are considering schools atm even though my son isn’t 3 yet and there’s a few private on the list - which I’m slightly uneasy about but nevertheless.
From a selfish point of view, this may push us out of being able to afford it. And it won’t touch the truly rich .

Well if you can't afford to send your kids to private school if the fees go up, maybe you shouldn't have had kids in the first place.

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:25 pm

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 4:34 pm Interestingly we are considering schools atm even though my son isn’t 3 yet and there’s a few private on the list - which I’m slightly uneasy about but nevertheless.
From a selfish point of view, this may push us out of being able to afford it. And it won’t touch the truly rich .

Well if you can't afford to send your kids to private school if the fees go up, maybe you shouldn't have had kids in the first place.

OR not bought all those fags and flat screen TVs

StillSpike wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:27 pm

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:25 pm

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 4:34 pm Interestingly we are considering schools atm even though my son isn’t 3 yet and there’s a few private on the list - which I’m slightly uneasy about but nevertheless.
From a selfish point of view, this may push us out of being able to afford it. And it won’t touch the truly rich .

Well if you can't afford to send your kids to private school if the fees go up, maybe you shouldn't have had kids in the first place.

OR not bought all those fags and flat screen TVs

This is ridiculous.The average private school fee in the UK is £15,200 pa. That's a huge sum of money and way beyond the reach of the vast majority of families in the UK.

Which is why just 7% of kids go to them.

Lets not pretend that it's normal.

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:47 pm

StillSpike wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:27 pm

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:25 pm

Well if you can't afford to send your kids to private school if the fees go up, maybe you shouldn't have had kids in the first place.

OR not bought all those fags and flat screen TVs

This is ridiculous.The average private school fee in the UK is £15,200 pa. That's a huge sum of money and way beyond the reach of the vast majority of families in the UK.

Which is why just 7% of kids go to them.

Lets not pretend that it's normal.

Me and wife had average jobs and sent my three to private as our local schools were rubbish with huge classes. We never had holidays abroad, old second hand cars, no new furniture and second hand TV’s. It was worth the sacrifice as they all have decent jobs , well two work for themselves, none went to University, so saved themselves all that debt.

Loin Cloth Lenny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:05 pm

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:47 pm

StillSpike wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:27 pm

OR not bought all those fags and flat screen TVs

This is ridiculous.The average private school fee in the UK is £15,200 pa. That's a huge sum of money and way beyond the reach of the vast majority of families in the UK.

Which is why just 7% of kids go to them.

Lets not pretend that it's normal.

Me and wife had average jobs and sent my three to private as our local schools were rubbish with huge classes. We never had holidays abroad, old second hand cars, no new furniture and second hand TV’s. It was worth the sacrifice as they all have decent jobs , well two work for themselves, none went to University, so saved themselves all that debt.

The whole private school debate shows how much individualism has rotted our brains.

Everyone assumes that if private school is good for one person, it must be a good thing.

No one considers how private schools systematically entrench the privilege of one class over another.

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:12 pm

Loin Cloth Lenny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:05 pm

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:47 pm

This is ridiculous.The average private school fee in the UK is £15,200 pa. That's a huge sum of money and way beyond the reach of the vast majority of families in the UK.

Which is why just 7% of kids go to them.

Lets not pretend that it's normal.

Me and wife had average jobs and sent my three to private as our local schools were rubbish with huge classes. We never had holidays abroad, old second hand cars, no new furniture and second hand TV’s. It was worth the sacrifice as they all have decent jobs , well two work for themselves, none went to University, so saved themselves all that debt.

The whole private school debate shows how much individualism has rotted our brains.

Everyone assumes that if private school is good for one person, it must be a good thing.

No one considers how private schools systematically entrench the privilege of one class over another.

I was raised in a council estate in Leytonstone, went to schools there and in Leyton. I didn’t want my kids to endure the misery I suffered in those schools. My only option was to to move to a village somewhere or put everything into private schooling in Essex. It was not an easy decision but I know we made the right one in the circumstances.

Loin Cloth Lenny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:24 pm

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:12 pm

Loin Cloth Lenny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:05 pm

Me and wife had average jobs and sent my three to private as our local schools were rubbish with huge classes. We never had holidays abroad, old second hand cars, no new furniture and second hand TV’s. It was worth the sacrifice as they all have decent jobs , well two work for themselves, none went to University, so saved themselves all that debt.

The whole private school debate shows how much individualism has rotted our brains.

Everyone assumes that if private school is good for one person, it must be a good thing.

No one considers how private schools systematically entrench the privilege of one class over another.

I was raised in a council estate in Leytonstone, went to schools there and in Leyton. I didn’t want my kids to endure the misery I suffered in those schools. My only option was to to move to a village somewhere or put everything into private schooling in Essex. It was not an easy decision but I know we made the right one in the circumstances.

It wasn't your only option. That is a lie.

And let’s close the private dentists, private health, private physiotherapy, private taxis, private cars …

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 7:41 pm

Loin Cloth Lenny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:24 pm

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:12 pm

The whole private school debate shows how much individualism has rotted our brains.

Everyone assumes that if private school is good for one person, it must be a good thing.

No one considers how private schools systematically entrench the privilege of one class over another.

I was raised in a council estate in Leytonstone, went to schools there and in Leyton. I didn’t want my kids to endure the misery I suffered in those schools. My only option was to to move to a village somewhere or put everything into private schooling in Essex. It was not an easy decision but I know we made the right one in the circumstances.

It wasn't your only option. That is a lie.

It was my only option at the time. I was very unhappy with the local schools. My eldest had started a state school for one term. I was horrified when the teacher told me that each pupil has a maximum of two minutes undivided attention with her each per day for particular difficulties. I was offered a way out and chose private. I was not able to home school either. This is becoming very popular now apparently. No lies.

Loin Cloth Lenny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:39 pm

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 7:41 pm

Loin Cloth Lenny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:24 pm


I was raised in a council estate in Leytonstone, went to schools there and in Leyton. I didn’t want my kids to endure the misery I suffered in those schools. My only option was to to move to a village somewhere or put everything into private schooling in Essex. It was not an easy decision but I know we made the right one in the circumstances.

It wasn't your only option. That is a lie.

It was my only option at the time. I was very unhappy with the local schools. My eldest had started a state school for one term. I was horrified when the teacher told me that each pupil has a maximum of two minutes undivided attention with her each per day for particular difficulties. I was offered a way out and chose private. I was not able to home school either. This is becoming very popular now apparently. No lies.

Really not your only option.

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 12:09 am

Loin Cloth Lenny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:39 pm

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 7:41 pm

It wasn't your only option. That is a lie.

It was my only option at the time. I was very unhappy with the local schools. My eldest had started a state school for one term. I was horrified when the teacher told me that each pupil has a maximum of two minutes undivided attention with her each per day for particular difficulties. I was offered a way out and chose private. I was not able to home school either. This is becoming very popular now apparently. No lies.

Really not your only option.

Seems to me that it has become a 'middle class' thing to do. It sets their children as 'above' those children whose whose parents expect the state to provide age appropriate education to all. Also those private schools tend to charge big money for providing fewer teaching days than state schools.
Also what about the cost of school uniforms: are they more expensive the more 'elite' the school is?

E10EU wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 1:39 am

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 12:09 am

Loin Cloth Lenny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:39 pm

It was my only option at the time. I was very unhappy with the local schools. My eldest had started a state school for one term. I was horrified when the teacher told me that each pupil has a maximum of two minutes undivided attention with her each per day for particular difficulties. I was offered a way out and chose private. I was not able to home school either. This is becoming very popular now apparently. No lies.

Really not your only option.

Seems to me that it has become a 'middle class' thing to do. It sets their children as 'above' those children whose whose parents expect the state to provide age appropriate education to all. Also those private schools tend to charge big money for providing fewer teaching days than state schools.
Also what about the cost of school uniforms: are they more expensive the more 'elite' the school is?

Uniforms at school my kids went to broke the bank. There was a second hand shop run by the Parents Association where I and many others used. I would imagine places like Eton where they had a bigger range of required attire was vastly more expensive. There were parents there who could easily afford the costs but I found most parents there were struggling to pay like I was . All done though now. All my kids fine, have their own places to live, achieved by themselves. I can see the sacrifice was worth it. Best thing is they made very good friends at these schools.

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:12 pm
The whole private school debate shows how much individualism has rotted our brains.

Everyone assumes that if private school is good for one person, it must be a good thing.

No one considers how private schools systematically entrench the privilege of one class over another.

Correct. Even I - a right wing, metropolitan elite, champagne socialist, fascist - gets this.

Despite the gentrification of many London boroughs, parents who can stretch to afford it are increasingly opting for private schools. Deteriorating classroom conditions and the tendency for some pupils to be a bit "stabby" is also contributing to this. It can become a vicious cycle and entrenches the divide in communities.

The recent interest rate rises may help to halt this trend however.

The real issue here is that we need an adequately funded and resourced public education system which would reduce the need for parents to consider private schools.