IQ2 Debate: Public schools are a blight on British society (1 of 12)

Francine Stock introduces this debate Public Schools are a blight on British society

Francis Wheen looks back unhappily at the philistinism, racism, anti-semitism, bullying and smugness which marred his years at Harrow. He says that public schools are nurseries of vice and immorality, which only call themselves independent out of shame. Their dubious charitable status, worth £100m a year, is subsidised by low income families.

Full video available at http://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/public-schools

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[MICRONOTE1]

MrHitthebong1. how did you pass c.e. have they gone down hill?. please excuse the pun.

even if there were no public schools the state schools would recreat them. one only has to look at the state schools to see that some are very rich and some are very poor. as state schools should they not all be the same? I would never send my children to a state school when there is such differences between them. state schools should be equal.

[MrTolleMolle]

My public school makes me feel like I am a prisoner

[MrBarryplant]

Would I allow my son or daughter to enter the state system ? No chance.

No discipline, no advantage. Peer pressure beyond reason. No cahnce.

[edj66]

Ha I just got to the point where he says that comprehensives are better. Just rubbish. Utter rubbish.

[edj66]

Another thing - your description on this video only presents one viewpoint. Could you please present the other perspective of the debate?

I always get pissed off by people like the gentleman at the beginning - they seem intent on biting the hand that feeds them.

[edj66]

@MrHitthebong1 If you think you're bad, try having gone to a normal secondary school.

[edj66]

The public schools are the last bastions of decent education in the UK and long may they remain. Comprehensives and GCSES have dumbed down and ruined British education.

[MrSameagle2010]

@beautifullychaos Public schools in the UK are the equivalent of private schools in the US. The UK also has private schools, which are smaller than public schools, but still fee paying. Finally, there are state schools which are open to anyone and free (equivalent to US public schools). There are two types of state school, grammar schools, where prospective students have to pass an exam to get into. And comprehensives, which you don't have to pass an exam to get into

[beautifullychaos]

I'm not from the U.K. so I don't know if this is exactly accurate. I thought that "public schools" in Britain were the equivalent of private schools here? Or is it Grammer Schools?

I know it was confusing for me to understand because Eton College is actually a school, whereas in North America "College" is interchangable between university or community college.

[djw11111]

He is joking right?

Public schools are 'Subsidised by low income families' because they don't pay tax.

The parents pay for the education of their own children at the public school and on top of that subsidise the state schools (which are of no benefit to them) through their tax.

Only someone who didn't go to state school could claim that state school pupils get a 'better and broader education'. That explains why they are massively under-represented at Oxbridge and in professional careers then.