(no subject)
Yeah, I know. Haven't been writing for a while. Been reading, f-list, just cant be stuffed writing.
I've continued an argument with someone for a few months now. I started badly, stating that 'the world would be a better place without private schools' while getting a lift with someone who went to a grammar school. It didn't go down too well, even worse than the time I started the same discussion at the dining room table at Queen's.
I figured the argument about having a mixed SES school rather than a low SES school would be already known, so I talked about the advantages for students who would normally go to a private school if they were to attend a public school. It backfired.
A week later I saw her and appologised for any offence I caused. With the response 'well you caused it' she launched back into her argument about a parent's right to choose. Apologising also backfired.
Today I ran into her again. I gave her some software I picked up some software and tried to chat about placement. My final round had been at her old school.
"Did my school change your views on private schools?"
She just wouldn't give up. I returned to the tried and trusted argument: educational benefits for the low achieving students if high achieving students are in the same class.
Statements the private school educated people sitting with me rejected:
* Private schools have, in general, wealthier parents than public schools.
* Families with high incomes have children who are more likely to do well independent of the school they attend.
* Extremely low income families have, on average more severe problems to deal with than high income families.
Disagree with me? Fine. That's OK. Study education for a year and claim that there is no link between socio-economic status and educational outcomes and you just should not teach, because you can't learn.
I've continued an argument with someone for a few months now. I started badly, stating that 'the world would be a better place without private schools' while getting a lift with someone who went to a grammar school. It didn't go down too well, even worse than the time I started the same discussion at the dining room table at Queen's.
I figured the argument about having a mixed SES school rather than a low SES school would be already known, so I talked about the advantages for students who would normally go to a private school if they were to attend a public school. It backfired.
A week later I saw her and appologised for any offence I caused. With the response 'well you caused it' she launched back into her argument about a parent's right to choose. Apologising also backfired.
Today I ran into her again. I gave her some software I picked up some software and tried to chat about placement. My final round had been at her old school.
"Did my school change your views on private schools?"
She just wouldn't give up. I returned to the tried and trusted argument: educational benefits for the low achieving students if high achieving students are in the same class.
Statements the private school educated people sitting with me rejected:
* Private schools have, in general, wealthier parents than public schools.
* Families with high incomes have children who are more likely to do well independent of the school they attend.
* Extremely low income families have, on average more severe problems to deal with than high income families.
Disagree with me? Fine. That's OK. Study education for a year and claim that there is no link between socio-economic status and educational outcomes and you just should not teach, because you can't learn.