Maybe Private Schools are just Better.
Today I read in the Sunday Times, under an article headed "Elite Public Schools Tighten Grip on Oxford", that last year, Oxford admitted twice the number of students from private schools than they had in 2001, while the number of state school admissions had barely increased. This revelation caused outrage in certain quarters. Of course, it must be the "old school tie" network at work once again, those damned private school people must be receiving preferential treatment, Oxford can't be encouraging state school children to apply as hard as they should be. These are the only explanations.
Well, I'm going to say something here that, while it may be unpopular, and may cause some people to brand me as an upper-class, public school elitist, I should say anyway, for balance:
Private schools might be better than state schools. True, there are many good state schools, St. Olave's, for instance. However, most of the top schools in the country are private schools, private schools are the ones that prepare their students the most for the interviews and the rest of the admissions process.
This is not to say that talented state school pupils shouldn't go to Oxbridge. Of course they should, everyone who can cope with the workload and benefit from it should go, and they should be encouraged to do so. However, there are two problems.
The first is that there are many people in state schools that just aren't up to it. Yes, it would be wonderful if our state education system made everyone good enough for a place at one of the country's top universities, but they don't and we should stop pretending that they do.
The second is that you can't force people to apply to Oxford or Cambridge. If they dont' think they can do it, or they don't want to, they won't. Now, perhaps more should be done to convince the ablest state school pupils to apply, but ultimately, the choice is up to them.
Ultimately, it isn't the universities fault that large numbers of privately educated people get places. To say so is ridiculous, of course there isn't this conspiracy against state school pupils to keep them down-trodden and enslaved to the bourgeoisie, or whatever Marx would have said. No, it's the governent's fault for cocking-up the state education system so badly while trying to encourage positive discrimination in universities. University places shoudl be offered on ability and ability alone and, to their credit, I believe that this is generally the case. We should stop caring about where the students come from.
As a final note, as a public school pupil, perhaps I'm a little biased, but I struggle to see how my socio-economic background means that I don't deserve a place at Oxford. In short, why the hell shouldn't Etonians go to Oxford?
Well, I'm going to say something here that, while it may be unpopular, and may cause some people to brand me as an upper-class, public school elitist, I should say anyway, for balance:
Private schools might be better than state schools. True, there are many good state schools, St. Olave's, for instance. However, most of the top schools in the country are private schools, private schools are the ones that prepare their students the most for the interviews and the rest of the admissions process.
This is not to say that talented state school pupils shouldn't go to Oxbridge. Of course they should, everyone who can cope with the workload and benefit from it should go, and they should be encouraged to do so. However, there are two problems.
The first is that there are many people in state schools that just aren't up to it. Yes, it would be wonderful if our state education system made everyone good enough for a place at one of the country's top universities, but they don't and we should stop pretending that they do.
The second is that you can't force people to apply to Oxford or Cambridge. If they dont' think they can do it, or they don't want to, they won't. Now, perhaps more should be done to convince the ablest state school pupils to apply, but ultimately, the choice is up to them.
Ultimately, it isn't the universities fault that large numbers of privately educated people get places. To say so is ridiculous, of course there isn't this conspiracy against state school pupils to keep them down-trodden and enslaved to the bourgeoisie, or whatever Marx would have said. No, it's the governent's fault for cocking-up the state education system so badly while trying to encourage positive discrimination in universities. University places shoudl be offered on ability and ability alone and, to their credit, I believe that this is generally the case. We should stop caring about where the students come from.
As a final note, as a public school pupil, perhaps I'm a little biased, but I struggle to see how my socio-economic background means that I don't deserve a place at Oxford. In short, why the hell shouldn't Etonians go to Oxford?
Labels: Education, Universities
posted by CJM | 7:39 PM
2 Comments:
I know you like cricket, so I figured Nike's first major ad in India might interest you. Check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mpvuz8gg79Q
We have a few Etonians in King's. And King's is as left wing as it gets at Oxbridge. I think the problem most people have is that a lot of state school people might be able enough, they just weren't given the chance to show it. So someone from a private school might be significantly less naturally able than someone from a state school, but might have been taught better. And I know it isn't their fault. I know it's the government's fault. But that doesn't make it fair.
Maybe private schools are better. But the people within them might not be.
PS I think you should go to Oxford. Well I think you should go to Cambridge. But you know what I mean :D
Post a Comment
<< Home