Tag Archives: public schools

Top of the class divide

Private education is the very antithesis of the moral arguments that can be traced back through time. The US Declaration of Independence, based largely on the writings of  John Locke, states that we  may treat basic moral and political equality as a fundamental moral truth that is self-evident. Kant argues that it is the human being’s rational nature unconditionally that leads to his famous dictum that human beings, all human beings, are ends in themselves.

Posted in Op-eds | 34 Comments

Horrific Labour conference motion on private schools proposes nothing less than theft

Christ's Hospital Dining Hall
Christ’s Hospital school, Sussex, which has been admitting mainly pupils from less privileged backgrounds since 1552

There has been much debate following the Labour conference’s motion to “abolish private schools”.

When explaining the rules of cricket to the average American, one sees their eyes glazing over even before one reaches mention of “deep square leg”.

It’s the same when you try to explain to them that, in the UK, public schools are private schools. You may reach the point when you feel further explanation is pointless. Why not, instead, try explaining to them that Scotch whisky has no “e”, but Irish whiskey does. It may be easier.

Anyway, I went to a public school. Or, if you prefer, I went to a private school.

Posted in Op-eds | 52 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • cim
    As far as voting complexity goes, there's two separate bits to that. 1) How difficult it is to understand how to vote? Closed List is exactly equal to FPTP, ...
  • Iain Donaldson
    As we are neither a member of the EU, nor likely to be in the near future, I won't comment further on Tom's observations other than to say that with the excepti...
  • Jennie
    Tristan: ah, so anyone who has had their ovaries removed or gone through menopause is no longer a woman? Thanks for clearing that up. It'll blow your mind to...
  • Simon
    The Greater Manchester Mayor has devolved powers of the NHS for example than the Greater London Authority and it's Mayor have....
  • Geoff Reid
    Two very basic questions for community politics practitioners with respect to Focus leaflets... Does this leaflet leave any space to say, however briefly, why w...