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Private schools are dens of class conciousness--the Ild School Tie. The private schools are condemned for social snobbery and unfair privilige. There is no doubt that this was once a real factor. We recall a ground breaking BBC program, "Seven Up" which introduced a number of 7 year olds in the 1950s and then followed through the years at 7 year intervals. There were three prep school boys that can only be described as prigish little snobs. In fact in subsequent episodes they were quite embarassed. Which is an indication as to how these schools were changing. And we did not encounter boys anytrging like those three. It is of course true that private education is very expensive. Only wealthy parents or middle-class parents who are willing to make a substntial sacrifice can afford these schools. We found that quite a number of parents fell into the second category. Often the mother worked to afford school fees. We found at thrse schools boys and girls of wudely varied social background mixing quite happily.
No longer are they [private schools] the "barions of snobbery" and "upper class etiquette": this is just so much nonsence put about by the many and various political humbugs who are jealous of the capacity of the true schoolmaster to achieve remarkable success with average children, by dedication, diligence and pastoral care."
Headmaster's editorial, The Downs School Record, 1979.
