Ban Private Schools
They perpetuate the gross inequalities in the UK; this can only be addressed if they are erased completely.
The two other alternatives which might be more palatable to our politicians are taxing the life out of those that can afford private education (almost impossible), or paying teachers in state education more than those employed privately to drain public schools of their best resource. We do this in many other public sectors to attract the best talent, so why not in education?
Abolish the Monarchy.
Antiquated, expensive and utterly pointless, as well as perpetuating the idea that status and prestige are a privilege of birth.
Abolish the honour system
Not only is this system open to abuse, but we are an international laughing stock, giving out orders for an Empire that has long ceased to exist.
Roll out London Living Wage nationally
The very idea that anybody should be forced to live on 5.73 an hour should be abhorrant to any UK citizen.
Ensure that no person, financial institution or business can borrow money more than they could possibly ever pay back.
The idea that some financial institutions were borrowing up to 50 times against their assets is ridiculous, in what is clearly a doomed strategy.
Equally, 125% mortgages?!
Our guest writer is Peter Carrol
35 Responses to “Ban private schools”
Terence
Bearded Socialist,
The form you used to write that said “Leave a comment”. If it had said “Leave a manifesto idea of your own”, perhaps I would.
Anon E Mouse
Terence – Although I agree this is a complete pile of nonsense and about as credible an idea as man made global warming – sorry glaciers melting – sorry climate change, I would say that on this blog people do converse from time to time.
It has to be said some of the LFF articles really beg belief but Bearded Socialist is only asking you things in the spirit of this blog…
Cityunslicker
Despite bein the polar opposite of Paul, I can actually agree on the Honours system and the Monarchy. I have nothing against the aristocracy but even I as an arch-capitalist cannot see the deomcracy of having an unelected Queen and family as our ultimate rulers. A president and elected second chamber would be a much better, fair and more open system. its 2010, not 1010.
Peter Carrol
I did not intend to comment back twice, but John77s comments on private schools are just bizarre. What do the origins of private schools scholarship have to do with the system in place today? Can you email me with some other historical nuggets please, I would love to hear them…
Back to the comment chain, lets fast-forward to 2010. Only around fifth of all pupils currently gain scholarships, and this only ever covers up to 50% of their fees.
Now, if we take a fairly typical boys’ preparatory school fee of approx £2,400 a term and assume inflation of 6 % per annum, then the total cost over 16 years of sending one boy to prep and senior school, followed by university, equals an education which is worth almost £300 grand.
Meanwhile, 50 % of all UK households survive on about £25,000 or less a year.
So yes, I am arguing that private schools are the preserve of the rich.
Re the Royal Family, as the biggest hereditary landowner in Britain, is it not reasonable to assume they have enough assets to generate their own income?
But if they simply cannot live without their public handouts, should they not be treated the same as the loyal subjects and give them the standard benefit of £60 a week.
And I think you missed my point on the NMW. I did not draw attention to the fact that a third of people are paid less than minimum wage (thanks for pointing this out however, it is a frightening statistic)
A 36 hour week at current NWM levels pays £208.80. Not only is this abhorrent, it is unworthy of a human being.
And to those who called the proposals ‘nonsense’; this doesn’t really mean anything. Politically impossible; yes, utopian; yes, radical; yes… But to suggest they have no coherent meaning requires that you counter my proposals with something more palatable.
I will set the ball rolling with something nice and wet for you…. Tax breaks for married couples? Oh, did I just hit on the cornerstone of the Conservatives general election platform… Will come back later with another.
GP Winters
Banning private schools will not solve the problem of a flawed state eductaion system. Instead we should identify why some state schools flourish and others fail; is it poor teaching, lack of enforceable disicipline or the absence of extra curricular activities? They are all in the same system, so why the disparity?