Contractors are Thatchers children

[RichardCranium]

Still, there's one thing I'm sure of.

Contractors are Thatchers children

Both of Thatcher's children (that's the map-reading gunrunner and the racist) would have had an education that covered the use of the possessive apostrophe.

[threaded]

A private education still costs a good bit more than a public on per pupil budget, You cannot simply divide up the amount spent on Education by the number of pupils. Private education still uses part of the public spending in the running of their schools, inspectors, exam grading, exam preperation, health education etc etc.

The experience in Denmark is that private schools are cheaper than the state schools so the kommunes sort of encourage it. Result is 12% of school children go to a private school, and in the band 13-15 year old I think it is now more than 50% go private.

[DodgyAgent]

Dodgy, I've been following this with interest and agree with some of the points you make, about Thatcher and the education system, even though I disagree a lot with the way Thatcher went about things (breaking the unions was good - what about planning after this was successful - very poor).

I do disagree with you about the teachers comments above. The education system is not there to benefit the teachers (other than the good for nothing lazy ones). The good and conscientious teachers are shat on from a great height by the overly bureaucratic system we currently have. This forces them to work harder producing paper work that does not benefit the education system, just the measuring of it.

This is not just the fault of the government but the fault of overly pushy parents wanting to measure little Tarquins school so that they can boast to their 'friends'.

I do like the idea of the money following the child - even into private education, this would provide an element of social mobility, but is still not enough to cover the average private education costs (£15,000+ per year plus extras for sports, etc.).

I totally agree with your comments about Thatcher. She was indeed far from perfect for exactly the reasons that you give. It is no coincidence tha there is a shortage of Engineers in the UK now because she would not invest in any infrastructure projects that could have softened the blow of her (highly necessary) reforms.

I think you exaggerate your comments about pushy parents. A lot of this is socialist "spin" that is carried out to undermine the private school and to dumb down the expectations of many parents. There are few sane people who would want to spend over £20k per year just to be king pins of the dinner party.

My point about Thatcher is that she polarises opinions and stirs up absolute hatred from people who are not only clear beneficiaries of her policies, but who should be able to take a logical and reasoned view of her.

My suspicion is that she touches on some very sensitive buttons. Either it is mysoginy, or the fact that there are clearly at least two different attitudes in the make up of people, and that she has turned some of them upside down.

[DodgyAgent]

Still, there's one thing I'm sure of.Both of Thatcher's children (that's the map-reading gunrunner and the racist) would have had an education that covered the use of the possessive apostrophe.

However hard you try to sidetrack my central point you are still the "spawn" of Thatcherism.

[Churchill]

I totally agree with your comments about Thatcher. She was indeed far from perfect for exactly the reasons that you give. It is no coincidence tha there is a shortage of Engineers in the UK now because she would not invest in any infrastructure projects that could have softened the blow of her (highly necessary) reforms.

I think you exaggerate your comments about pushy parents. A lot of this is socialist "spin" that is carried out to undermine the private school and to dumb down the expectations of many parents. There are few sane people who would want to spend over £20k per year just to be king pins of the dinner party.

My point about Thatcher is that she polarises opinions and stirs up absolute hatred from people who are not only clear beneficiaries of her policies, but who should be able to take a logical and reasoned view of her.

My suspicion is that she touches on some very sensitive buttons. Either it is mysoginy, or the fact that there are clearly at least two different attitudes in the make up of people, and that she has turned some of them upside down.

F**k me Dodgy, which Xmas cracker did you get that one out of?

Like it!

[minestrone]

The experience in Denmark is that private schools are cheaper than the state schools so the kommunes sort of encourage it. Result is 12% of school children go to a private school, and in the band 13-15 year old I think it is now more than 50% go private.

I went to both private and state. Even though the state school was brand new the private school had far better facilites. Rather than 2 blaze pitches and a rugby field the private school had about 10 grass pitches and an indoor sports complex. Rather than crappy pianos the private school had steinways. There was obviously much more spent at the private school buying the best of everything.

Private schools round here are struggling they are being forced to take in increasing amounts of kids for free to keep their tax status. One could argue that local gov have got it in for them.

[Sysman]

There are few sane people who would want to spend over £20k per year just to be king pins of the dinner party.

I've just looked up the fees for my old skool. Roughly 10K p.a. (it's not a boarding school). Given the facilities it has it is not exactly boat loads more than the figure of 9K p.a. quoted earlier for state schools.

My point about Thatcher is that she polarises opinions and stirs up absolute hatred from people who are not only clear beneficiaries of her policies, but who should be able to take a logical and reasoned view of her.

My suspicion is that she touches on some very sensitive buttons. Either it is mysoginy, or the fact that there are clearly at least two different attitudes in the make up of people, and that she has turned some of them upside down.

The buttons pressed for me this year were more about trying to understand why she was what she was. More later (probably best tomorrow as it's someone's birthday here and I'd rather post sober).

[snaw]

However hard you try to sidetrack my central point you are still the "spawn" of Thatcherism.

Indeed I am.

[scotspine]

One could argue that local gov have got it in for them.

you'd be pushing an open door.

[Bagpuss]

My point about Thatcher is that she polarises opinions and stirs up absolute hatred from people who are not only clear beneficiaries of her policies, but who should be able to take a logical and reasoned view of her.

You point is: You are willing to tell lies and extroplate to a level of ridiculousness about what she did and then accuse those who point out your mistruths of being hypocrites, socialists or Thatcher haters. I was only listening to Keneth Baker on the radio the other day about the mistakes they made with respect to education and errosion of the manufacturing base. Even he isn't such a Zealot and he was in the Government at the time.