We had a lovely evening in with the new neighbours last night and saw the New Year in in style, well, drunken style. We spoke to my brother in law just after midnight to wish him Happy Birthday and I did ny usual "when are you going to marry her then" faux pas!
Anyway, as usual at these momental moments in time, we reflect on the past and pontificate on the future... This years topic was education: Public or State, that is the million dollar question.
I was privately educated, hubby wasn't. Has it made a difference? Sadly, I think so. I don't think that public education made me brighter or helped me do better in exams. Where I do think it made a difference though was with the opportunities it gave me and my true belief that I could do what ever I put my mind to.
We all seemed to agree that if we could afford it, we would choose to privately educate our children. The controversy arose though around what it actually costs and how much you need to earn to cover it. New neighbour's husband seemed to think that to educate 3 children you need to earn £200k a year. Really? Hubby and I have a combined salary of £100k and I thought we might be in with a chance!
I'd really like to hear your thoughts/experiences on the whole subject.
Happy New Year! X
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7 comments:
Happy New Year! I think public schools have the edge unless you can find a really good state grammar school. My husband went to public school and I went to a shockingly bad comprehensive which I hated. I would love to educate my children privately but we have three. I think most public schools are £3-£4k a term. And we have three children and one salary, hmm... !
Happy New Year! I was educated at a state school and then FE college for A levels and it didn't do me any harm academically (I went to Oxford). However, there was a big difference in terms of confidence between those who went to state and independent schools. Many of the people educated privately just had more of a sense of entitlement, more security about their place in the world. I know that's a massive generalisation, but that's how I saw things at university, and I noticed it afterwards from fellow graduates on the graduate development programme I was on.
On saying that, I don't think I would educate her privately, unless there was a very good reason. We couldn't afford it easily in any case!
Great question. I went to a state grammar school, but was really lucky to live in the catchment and be bright enough (!) to get in. My sister's both went private. I am more of a business person than they are (I'm a big grown up MD) and they respectively own a pub and are an artist. I think we are just different people and it's got little to do with our education though. My husband too is state educated and is scarily bright. Our girls will go state, we are moving to be in the catchment of a good school. We can't afford private, but we both had good state experiences so we're happy with that. Good luck with it though! x
By the way I have linked this from my blog because i think it's an interesting debate to continue x
Thanks all for your comments. The debate continues. I was all grown up and emailed a few private schools to organise show rounds, so I'll let you know how they go. Back at home again now too, so won't be going AWOL :-) xxx
or home education. it can be possibly the most expensive private education you can get, if you have to give up a salary to do it. then it's called a lifestyle choice. great fun though. and brilliant for a family life.
(and for the uninitiated, it takes place everyday in society.) x
Really interesting debate. It's going to occupy my mind this year because we have to choose a secondary school. I was educated at an all girls (that's another topic!) private school, my husband at a comprehensive. We met at the BBC which was full of Oxbridge graduates and I do think private education gives you a sense of self-belief in some ways - but that is a big generalisation I realise. It also really depends on your parents encouragement and giving you that self-belief and confidence. I always swore I would never send a child of a mine to a private school on principle, and so did my husband, but we are doing the whole 'when it comes to my child' middle class wavering thing. Having gone to see some schools, the mismatch in distribution of facilities is scandalous.
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