English public schools are rather unique places of learning. They are usually beautifully crafted and well-resourced buildings, either geographically isolated or built in populated areas frequented by the middle class well-to-do. Pupils and staff are often described as existing in their own little ‘bubble’, leading lives which are eons away from any of the harsh realities of normal life the average man in the street is forced to endure.
The whole system is based upon the possession of vast amounts of money, to the tune of six figures per child, willingly donated by parents who believe they are buying into a dream for their daughter’s or son’s future life. One cannot argue that the privileged life these youngsters lead will in the main continue throughout the rest of their lives as a result of their education but at what price?
Would any decent parent really send their child to such a school if they had any understanding at all of what modern day life in a boarding school entails? Do they really desire their precious offspring to be living in very close contact with those pupils who have a constant stream of personal and behavioural problems, and dealings with sex, drugs and alcohol? And what about some of the teachers whose unhealthy peccadilloes could send shivers done the very spines of many a decent parent? And all of these problems conveniently swept under the carpet to avoid parental and journalistic detection. After all, who would in their right mind send their child to a school which was constantly dogged by controversy?
And yet, parents still do send their children to such schools, and some from a very early age. Why? Because English culture remains based upon privilege, money and who one knows. If you think you can break into this society and get a slice of the same privileged cake, think again.
The monied middle classes only ever look after their own!
