The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[Seanjd]

Absolute nonsense.

I went to a private school, whose examination results are consistently leaps and bounds ahead of the national average. In 2013 A-Level results, 45% of grades attained were either A* or A. The national average was 26%. Parents send their children to said school because the education is superior, not for some kind of 'prestige'.

Don't tar every private school with the same brush as if they're all Eton or Harrow. I wouldn't act as if every state school is a failing joke just because some are.

Well in that case, I'm pleased that you got to have the privilege of a 'far superior education' which the vast majority of people can't have. I would not argue that the educational experience of a private school is better. You would certainly want it to be with the amount of money spent. Money can buy you smaller class sizes, better resources and the opportunity to learn with people of a similar social status. This will equate to better grades. I absolutely refuse to believe, however, that private schools have better teachers than state schools.

I wouldn't expect you to act as if every state school is a failing joke, because some private schools are too.

Ultimately, money should not be able to buy you a 'better' education.

 

[Brennan]

Well in that case, I'm pleased that you got to have the privilege of a 'far superior education' which the vast majority of people can't have. I would not argue that the educational experience of a private school is better. You would certainly want it to be with the amount of money spent. Money can buy you smaller class sizes, better resources and the opportunity to learn with people of a similar social status. This will equate to better grades. I absolutely refuse to believe, however, that private schools have better teachers than state schools.

I wouldn't expect you to act as if every state school is a failing joke, because some private schools are too.

Ultimately, money should not be able to buy you a 'better' education.

Since when does 'education' only mean the quality of the teacher leading the class ?

You're misrepresenting the term 'education' as meaning 'teacher ability'. The two are distinct things.

Education is the act of transferring knowledge or skills from one person to another, which absolutely relies on things like class size and the environment in which the learning is taking place. While they may not be the most important factor in a child's education, they are crucial to it.

Regardless i'd argue that private school teachers will more than likely be better overall because the positions tend to be more desirable, and there is a well known teacher shortage.

 

[roydo]

Ultimately, money should not be able to buy you a 'better' education

It does in the state system as well though. How do you solve that one? Ban good state schools which parents (who can afford to), move house to be in the catchment area?

 

[Seanjd]

Since when does 'education' only mean the quality of the teacher leading the class ?

You're misrepresenting the term 'education' as meaning 'teacher ability'. The two are distinct things.

Education is the act of transferring knowledge or skills from one person to another, which absolutely relies on things like class size and the environment in which the learning is taking place. While they may not be the most important factor in a child's education, they are crucial to it.

Aside from that i'd argue that private school teachers will more than likely be better overall because the positions tend to be more desirable, and there is a well known teacher shortage.

Apologies, in my last post, I meant to type "I would not deny that the educational experience is better in a private school", my point remaining that this is mainly because of the aspects I named such as class sizes etc. of course education is not solely down to teacher ability, it encompasses much more than that.

I absolutely refuse to accept that private school teachers are better. This is simply not true. The teachers I know who work in private schools earn much less than they would if they worked in a state school. How are they more desirable?

 

[roydo]

private school teachers are better

Totally agree, although I missed off the most important part of the quote ffs. Will try again.

 

[Azzurri]

Absolute nonsense.

I went to a private school, whose examination results are consistently leaps and bounds ahead of the national average. In 2013 A-Level results, 45% of grades attained were either A* or A. The national average was 26%. Parents send their children to said school because the education is superior, not for some kind of 'prestige'.

Don't tar every private school with the same brush as if they're all Eton or Harrow. I wouldn't act as if every state school is a failing joke just because some are.

Plus you make lots of jolly good chums like Tarquin, Hugo and Henry.

 

[Kurt.]

Absolute nonsense.

I went to a private school, whose examination results are consistently leaps and bounds ahead of the national average. In 2013 A-Level results, 45% of grades attained were either A* or A. The national average was 26%. Parents send their children to said school because the education is superior, not for some kind of 'prestige'.

Don't tar every private school with the same brush as if they're all Eton or Harrow. I wouldn't act as if every state school is a failing joke just because some are.

Pretty obvious the percentage of A grades at one private school alone would be higher than the combined average nationwide Bren.

 

[Seanjd]

It does in the state system as well though. How do you solve that one? Ban good state schools which parents (who can afford to), move house to be in the catchment area?

Yeah, it's a good point but a bit if a different debate that one. Of course, within the state school system there will always be better schools than others. It is assumed, however, that the 'better' schools are in affluent areas. This is not necessarily true. I work in an amazing school in an incredibly deprived area of the north west. Are people moving house to fall in our catchment area? Absolutely not. Are we oversubscribed? Yes. This tells me that the problem is not some areas having great schools and some having poor schools, but more some areas being affluent, and some being poor.

 

[Eggs]

Apologies, in my last post, I meant to type "I would not deny that the educational experience is better in a private school", my point remaining that this is mainly because of the aspects I named such as class sizes etc. of course education is not solely down to teacher ability, it encompasses much more than that.

I absolutely refuse to accept that private school teachers are better. This is simply not true. The teachers I know who work in private schools earn much less than they would if they worked in a state school. How are they more desirable?

...I think there are a number of factors in why private education produce better results. Some you capture, others are; less disruption from unruly kids, relatively equal high standards of kids who are focused on success because of their upbringing, they also might have had prep school development and parent time reading etc.

 

[roydo]

I absolutely refuse to accept that private school teachers are better

There. Agree 100% mate. But teaching classes of 20 must make the job, not "easier", but more effective? Hence my belief that the state system should strive to emulate the teaching conditions of the private schools, not just ban them, which is a pretty blunt tool in the struggle for social justice.

 

[Seanjd]

There. Agree 100% mate. But teaching classes of 20 must make the job, not "easier", but more effective? Hence my belief that the state system should strive to emulate the teaching conditions of the private schools, not just ban them, which is a pretty blunt tool in the struggle for social justice.

I agree with all of this, apart from I would also ban private schools.

 

[Brennan]

Pretty obvious the percentage of A grades at one private school alone would be higher than the combined average nationwide Bren.

Which is why people get sent there.

They don't play polo, don't go sailing, don't have loads of extra curricular activities or only allow people to join if their mum and dad are members of the local church. Kids get sent there because the education is better.

 

[Seanjd]

Which is why people get sent there.

They don't play polo, don't go sailing, don't have loads of extra curricular activities or only allow people to join if their mum and dad are members of the local church. Kids get sent there because the education is better.

Kids get sent there cause their parents got dosh. Let's not kid ourselves here.

 

[Seanjd]

...I think there are a number of factors in why private education produce better results. Some you capture, others are; less disruption from unruly kids, relatively equal high standards of kids who are focused on success because of their upbringing, they also might have had prep school development and parent time reading etc.

Basically, no proles disrupting their learning.

 

[Kurt.]

Which is why people get sent there.

They don't play polo, don't go sailing, don't have loads of extra curricular activities or only allow people to join if their mum and dad are members of the local church. Kids get sent there because the education is better.

Depends on class size though mate doesn't it, I mean 45% of a class of 18 would be about 7 or 8...... Not overly impressive really.