Should private schools be abolished?

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On the point: Abolishing a good service on the basis that some cannot afford it is absurd

The Ferrari argument is absurd. Of course people should be able to choose what car they drive. If someone wants to spend that much money on a car that is their prerogative. However, education is a sensitive matter, especially compared to cars! Just because someone has been born into money, why should they be given an education that offers them more opportunities? Cambridge and Oxford boast that "only" 50% of their students are from public schools, but this is no achievement when the percentage of pupils attending public schools is far less than 50%. (1) 
 
(1)http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/05/schools.oxbridgeandelitism 

Whilst it is true that some cannot afford to give thier children a private education this should not mean that the institutions should be abolished completely! This is equivalent to arguing that as some cannot afford Ferraris they should cease production. Of course there will always be inequality but this does not mean we should ban a good service for some on the basis that it is not available to all. Yes, perhaps we should try to make it more accesible through scholarships and bursaries etc, and perhaps one day it will be available for all, but until then it would be a step backwards to abolish private education. Communism didn't work people!

Yes, because...

 

No, because... Abolishing a good service on the basis that some cannot afford it is absurd

The Ferrari argument is absurd. Of course people should be able to choose what car they drive. If someone wants to spend that much money on a car that is their prerogative. However, education is a sensitive matter, especially compared to cars! Just because someone has been born into money, why should they be given an education that offers them more opportunities? Cambridge and Oxford boast that "only" 50% of their students are from public schools, but this is no achievement when the percentage of pupils attending public schools is far less than 50%. (1)

(1)http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/05/schools.oxbridgeandelitism

 

Whilst it is true that some cannot afford to give thier children a private education this should not mean that the institutions should be abolished completely! This is equivalent to arguing that as some cannot afford Ferraris they should cease production. Of course there will always be inequality but this does not mean we should ban a good service for some on the basis that it is not available to all. Yes, perhaps we should try to make it more accesible through scholarships and bursaries etc, and perhaps one day it will be available for all, but until then it would be a step backwards to abolish private education. Communism didn't work people!

 
22 February 2011