Reply to: Which public school should I send my child to?

[Francko]

"At Psion, it's not what you know, it's who you know".

Wow. That's so unique. They must have felt so original.

[Alf W]

Well when I last moved house I managed to source all the professional services I needed from my ex-Public School mates at a hefty discount (solicitor, surveyor, mortgage broker etc).

When our cooker broke I was f*cked!

Takes all sorts.

[Fungus]

If you are at the top of the class you are unlikely to be ever socially out of your depth. If you are the worlds best golfer you are hardly likely to be nervous about whether you are good enough to join a new golf club. If you are an outstanding programmer you are not going to find a different working environment intimidating.

It is all about confidence. It is a shame that we cannot send every kid to a top public/grammar school. Public schools are only available to the wealthy and grammar schools are only available to the relatively wealthy and the intelligent. The rest have to make do with whatever the socialists dole out.

There's nowt wrong with instilling confidence in someone.

But when you say "If you are at the top of the class ", are you suggesting that the person at the top of the class is confident, and the rest aren't? Or are they all top of the class like in some weird socialist non-competitive sport? It does not make sense. Or are you saying that the teachers walk around saying "You are the cream of society"?

Actually in many companies being an outstanding programmer is not what counts. As someone quite senior once said to me "At Psion, it's not what you know, it's who you know". He went on to do very well indeed.

Someone once asked why public school types are so confident. The answer given was that at school you know people who later become important figures in society, and hence you learn an awful lot of incriminating dirt on influential figures ... Every little bit helps.

Fungus, not just any old mould, but a mould among moulds.

[Fungus]

Fungus you hve hit the nail squarely on the head, but maybe not as you intended. It is interesting how non public school people are in some sort of awe about people who do go to public school/ Your assertion that "most" ex public schoolboys are arrogant and unpleasant is just plain wrong and is borne out of (a chip maybe fungus?) such awe.

The reason people hold this inferiority complex is because a public school education gives a child confidence which many interpret (wrongly) as arrogance. If you have been to a public school there is no environment that you can be in that you can feel "out of your depth"; from a "nobby" wedding to an Oiks convention.

Ah good. I like it when an agent spouts nonsense. It restores my faith in my firmly held bigotry.

Good Lord, I do not hold public school people in awe. What a weird thing to say. The reason they do better academically is simple and straightforward. The schools have smaller classes and better discipline. They probably also have books, and writing paper. That is why people do better than they otherwise would, and its why at university public school people do not do as well as others with equivalent qualifications. The playing field is level.

My late mother was privately educated as was her mother. The fact is neither here nor there to me. It just means that her parents were wealthy. Big deal.

Personally I'm glad that I was not shipped off to some factory farm to be educated.

Okay, saying that most public school types are arrogant is an exaggeration. I have met plenty who are really likeable. But a significant number are downright rude and/or aggressive. And self confidence is not the same thing as rudeness and/or aggression. One good example shoulder barged me aside on several occasions in an office environment. The one who sits next to me has no manners. In response to "Good morning" he replies "Yeah, right" or ignores me, so I ignore the maladjusted twerp. And he stinks due to poor personal hygience. Oh, and Psion was full of them, and 75% of them were obnoxious. It was said to be a public school atmosphere, though I would not know about that. All I know is that it was a very hierarchical and aggressive environment.

Fungus

[DodgyAgent]

Or, from a Boardroom to behind a counter at MacDonalds.

You are quite right Dodgy. I've known a lot of people who went to public school, and the difference between them and the hoi polloi is that air of confidence.

Does anyone know why this should be?

If you are at the top of the class you are unlikely to be ever socially out of your depth. If you are the worlds best golfer you are hardly likely to be nervous about whether you are good enough to join a new golf club. If you are an outstanding programmer you are not going to find a different working environment intimidating.

It is all about confidence. It is a shame that we cannot send every kid to a top public/grammar school. Public schools are only available to the wealthy and grammar schools are only available to the relatively wealthy and the intelligent. The rest have to make do with whatever the socialists dole out.

[Churchill]

Well, it is a bit obvious to anyone who went to a public school. People who went to a state run comprehensive though would not understand my answer, and probably never understood the question either.

Alright Threaded, cut the enigmatic bulltulip, you're not impressing anyone.

Give us in your own words, an answer to Wendigo's question.

[threaded]

Does anyone know why this should be?

Well, it is a bit obvious to anyone who went to a public school. People who went to a state run comprehensive though would not understand my answer, and probably never understood the question either.

[OrangeHopper]

I went to the William Harvey Grammar School.

Look where it got me.

[wendigo100]

The reason people hold this inferiority complex is because a public school education gives a child confidence which many interpret (wrongly) as arrogance. If you have been to a public school there is no environment that you can be in that you can feel "out of your depth"; from a "nobby" wedding to an Oiks convention.

Or, from a Boardroom to behind a counter at MacDonalds.

You are quite right Dodgy. I've known a lot of people who went to public school, and the difference between them and the hoi polloi is that air of confidence.

Does anyone know why this should be?

[DodgyAgent]

There has to be a reason why there's a disproportionate number of public school graduates in our universities esp. the better ones. Imperial College has about 50% public school entry and I think that Oxbridge is more than 50%.

But from what I've heard, many private schools are tulipe.

It's odd but most, though by no means all, public school types I've met have been incredibly arrogant and unpleasant. I'm sat by one and he gives me the creeps. Still, they do very well in terms of the generally accepted measures of success.

Fungus you hve hit the nail squarely on the head, but maybe not as you intended. It is interesting how non public school people are in some sort of awe about people who do go to public school/ Your assertion that "most" ex public schoolboys are arrogant and unpleasant is just plain wrong and is borne out of (a chip maybe fungus?) such awe.

The reason people hold this inferiority complex is because a public school education gives a child confidence which many interpret (wrongly) as arrogance. If you have been to a public school there is no environment that you can be in that you can feel "out of your depth"; from a "nobby" wedding to an Oiks convention.

[Lucifer Box]

The upside of a grammar school in Brum is the education.
The downside is the accent.

Everything is relative, BGG (much to Chico's annoyance)...

The Birmingham accent is far from its traditional image of "ugly" and "inferior" and is, in fact, regarded as "lilting and melodious" by overseas visitors, academics have discovered.

Brummie is beautiful

[Board Game Geek]

The upside of a grammar school in Brum is the education.
The downside is the accent.

[Lucifer Box]

Agreed Lucifer, but you need money for that too. There's a premium on house prices in grammar school areas.

Depends on where you go. For example, contrary to what you might expect, Birmingham is a grammar school area (although competition for the schools is fierce as there are only 6 [free] ones covering the city).

[Lucifer Box]

English grammar? Is that supposed to be complicated?

Oh, dear. I have had ... I had been I have been... it's like sending someone who wants to be a programmer to a visual basic course. I think it's wasted time. It's useless in the real world as nobody really knows it or uses it. Better to send them to other language courses or teach them piano or anything else. If you plan to build skills by studying english grammar, then you are on the wrong path in my opinion.

Franco, repeat after me: amo, amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant.

What is meant by a grammar school in the UK is one that selects its pupils by academic ability. It has nothing to do with "grammar" I'm afraid. Bloody English, eh?

[Francko]

Best bet is to move somewhere where there are still some grammar schools. Top flight education without mega fees.

[..]

English grammar? Is that supposed to be complicated?

Oh, dear. I have had ... I had been I have been... it's like sending someone who wants to be a programmer to a visual basic course. I think it's wasted time. It's useless in the real world as nobody really knows it or uses it. Better to send them to other language courses or teach them piano or anything else. If you plan to build skills by studying english grammar, then you are on the wrong path in my opinion.