John Prescott on class

[DodgyAgent]

It is part of the prevailing view on here - that was my point. As to people "having a chip" - it surely cuts both ways - why are public schoolboys who look down their noses at state educated people any less chippy in their way?

The joy of going to a public school is that you dont hold anyone in awe. There is no one higher up the ladder that you find intimidating. Some of you lot are really no diffent from the ethnic groups who are uncomfortable with not being within the mainstream. Black people for one.
You dont mind sneering at the chavs, the Indians in bangalore, agents with gelled hair and lots of shiny jewellry, but woe betied any ex public schoolboy making a joke at the expense of your education.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

The joy of going to a public school is that you dont hold anyone in awe. There is no one higher up the ladder that you find intimidating. Some of you lot are really no diffent from the ethnic groups who are uncomfortable with not being within the mainstream. Black people for one.
You dont mind sneering at the chavs, the Indians in bangalore, agents with gelled hair and lots of shiny jewellry, but woe betied any ex public schoolboy making a joke at the expense of your education.

So why are public schoolboys any less chippy?

[Bagpuss]

It isnt like saying that at all. How many public school boys do you actually know?. I rather feel that your (and others views) come from fear and insecurity and therefore prejudice rather than any objective experience. I know a lot of public school and ex public school boys. I also know a lot of working class men (not many women) and men/women who have been to comps and grammars. The working class guys are great because they rip the p*ss out of the toffs. The intelligent/sucessful grammar school ones-aka you lot- do tend to have an inferiority complex, and find it hard to hide their fear.

They deal with it by making sweeping generalisations of stereotype publi schoolboys in order to make themsel;ves feel comfortable.

I know a fair few public schoolboys, I have been to Uni! and was brought up in a fairly affluent part of the North West (we do have posh bits). infact, I was just emailing one a few moments ago! I have no chip, I know they are no better, they have just had more opportunity. My point is, it matters not where you were educated from the perspective of whether or not you are a nice person. Going to public school gives bright people a slight edge, average people and thickos do better out of a public education. So it's a reasonable gamble against the stupidness of your children, if an expensive one.

[DodgyAgent]

So why are public schoolboys any less chippy?

What have public schoolboys to feel chippy about? the expression "chippiness"
is about inferiority and being aggrieved (being, short, being Welsh, poorly educated or all of them )

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/c...-shoulder.html

[DodgyAgent]

I know a fair few public schoolboys, I have been to Uni! and was brought up in a fairly affluent part of the North West (we do have posh bits). infact, I was just emailing one a few moments ago! I have no chip, I know they are no better, they have just had more opportunity. My point is, it matters not where you were educated from the perspective of whether or not you are a nice person. Going to public school gives bright people a slight edge, average people and thickos do better out of a public education. So it's a reasonable gamble against the stupidness of your children, if an expensive one.

What a fascinating and revealing comment! Is this really how you look at education?
Why just because your child is "stupid" would you want to send him/her to a grotty school? What you are therefore saying is that only intelligent kids are worthy of having a decent education. My own view (which I apologise if it is not mainstream) is that no matter what the abilities of a child are a school should be there to bring the very best out of that child. If a child is indeed "stupid" he is more likely to be written off (after all education is now measured according to academic excellence) and will therefore be victim to loss of confidence, low esteem etc. So in my view such a child is surely more worthy of going to a decent school .

I take it Bagpuss that you like most other IT contractors have very high level s of intelligence, and from your comments you are as elitist about your intellect as it gets. You clearly dont believe that those of lesser intellect than yourselves should really be educated. What is also evident is your hypocrisy because whilst you clearly believe that your intelligence puts you above so many others you cannot bear having this class of public school educated people (most of who are probably thicker than you) not being in awe of your intelligence and being able to strut about having been to (perceived) better schools than yourself.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

What have public schoolboys to feel chippy about? the expression "chippiness"
is about inferiority and being aggrieved (being, short, being Welsh, poorly educated or all of them )

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/c...-shoulder.html

OK - whatever the reverse is then - as in snobbery vs inverted snobbery. My point is that if it's ignorant/discriminatory/stupid to generalise about public schoolboys (and I think it is) it is no less reprehensible when public schoolboys do the same about others.

I have public school educated friends who are just that - friends - and I know people of all educational backgrounds who I wouldn't want to be friends with.

[sasguru]

What have public schoolboys to feel chippy about?

In your case, your relative lack of IQ.

Would you like vinegar with that?

The best people are either toffs or plebs because neither give a crap (for different reasons). It's the sanctimonious, hypocritical Guardian reading crowd I detest.

[Bagpuss]

What a fascinating and revealing comment! Is this really how you look at education?
Why just because your child is "stupid" would you want to send him/her to a grotty school? What you are therefore saying is that only intelligent kids are worthy of having a decent education. My own view (which I apologise if it is not mainstream) is that no matter what the abilities of a child are a school should be there to bring the very best out of that child. If a child is indeed "stupid" he is more likely to be written off (after all education is now measured according to academic excellence) and will therefore be victim to loss of confidence, low esteem etc. So in my view such a child is surely more worthy of going to a decent school .

I take it Bagpuss that you like most other IT contractors have very high level s of intelligence, and from your comments you are as elitist about your intellect as it gets. You clearly dont believe that those of lesser intellect than yourselves should really be educated. What is also evident is your hypocrisy because whilst you clearly believe that your intelligence puts you above so many others you cannot bear having this class of public school educated people (most of who are probably thicker than you) not being in awe of your intelligence and being able to strut about having been to (perceived) better schools than yourself.

As usual you start with a kernal of truth then deviate off in some wild and fantastic tangent. I couldn't care less where people educate their children, I do however take umbridge (or is that uxbridge) to the accusation that all state educated children are thick and unmotivated, unless their parents found a state grammar. I agree that on the whole private education is better, and the product of private schools tend to be a lot more humble than some of their proponents.

[DodgyAgent]

In your case, your relative lack of IQ.

Would you like vinegar with that?

My relatives are quite bright. I got the big c**k and charm, they got the brains-poor sods.

[DodgyAgent]

As usual you start with a kernal of truth then deviate off in some wild and fantastic tangent. I couldn't care less where people educate their children, I do however take umbridge (or is that uxbridge) to the accusation that all state educated children are thick and unmotivated, unless their parents found a state grammar. I agree that on the whole private education is better, and the product of private schools tend to be a lot more humble than some of their proponents.

You said:

"average people and thickos do better out of a public education. So it's a reasonable gamble against the stupidness of your children, if an expensive one." Hardly a "kernel" of truth is it?

If my child is "intellectually challenged" and I send him to a private school why is that such a gamble? I am not sending him there to get a PHD in Nuclear Science I am sending him there so that the school can bring the best out of him in order that he can be best prepared for the big bad world outside.