Private education - should it be banned? Discuss.

[hilts]

I think the general feeling amongst the envy crew is if one cannot get a leg up in life it’s best to drag those that can down to our level.

 

[SVP]

Sent both my kids to grammar school as I could afford it-but it will delay my retirement(if i make it). I'm not silver spoon-dad from Blackley- but it makes a difference and I know people with a lot less than me who did the same. Shame bur thats how it is

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

You meet a better class of future criminal in private education.

Fixed.

 

[sir baconface]

I'd certainly remove their charitable, tax-exempt status but beyond that if people want to pay for a private education so be it, we'd be better focusing on giving proper funding to the state sector so that its standards make private schools less attractive.

This. We are a social democracy, not a socialist republic. However, I don’t see why they should enjoy favourable tax status.

 

[Saddleworth2]

My first two went to local school my last to private. In terms of comparison, there was not a great deal of difference in the quality of teaching. Both were pretty good. Where Private was better was with competitive sport, fostering an environment where kids wanted to learn and giving pupils more social confidence.
They shouldnt get charitable status though.

 

[LWashington]

I thought Private Education was a 1980's sex comedy.

 

[Kazzydeyna]

I wouldn't ban them at all. If parents want to send their kids to private school who am I to say they can't?

What I would do however is three things:

1) Tax private school fees at a rate of 500%, with all tax receipts ring fenced for the state sector. And
2) Make private schools reimburse the state sector for all costs involved in the training and experience gained of any teachers they employ. Also to include the costs of the teachers degree and teacher training costs and the salary they were paid if previously employed in a state school where presumably they would have gained experience such that the private school them wanted to employ them. These costs would also be taxed at 500% with tax receipts again earmarked for the state sector.

So if they employ a teacher with 10 years experience in the state sector, they would pay 10x annual salary of that teacher plus the costs - adjusted for inflation - of that teachers training and then pay tax on that amount to the value of 500%, all of this money to go straight into the dept of education's budget. This would apply to all teachers employed in private schools.

3) Remove charitable and tax benefit status immediately .

Fees would increase of course but so therefore would the tax take.

I would also do similar with private healthcare.

People are free to choose private education and healthcare but the days of the poor paying for it would be over.

 

[anyoldblu]

If you're happy with the perpetuation of privilege then by all means retain private education; if you'd like a society based on merit rather than parental wealth, then remove the option of private education. You'd be surprised how quickly the quality of state schools would improve if everyone had to attend them.

 

[DenisLawBackHeel74]

Doesn’t matter either way to me. I have the means to easily afford a private education for my lad but I prefer to send him to the local school. I believe that if he is academically bright he will achieve no matter where he goes.....if he isn’t, then that’s ok too. He gets to decide his own path in life.

 

[WestGorton]

Ban all segregation. Private, Catholic, everything.