General Chat

In the news is the story of Ruth Kelly MP who has chosen not to send her child to a state school, but to a private school. She is accused of Hypocrisy. What do you think?

Personally, I don't think she should be hounded for it. We have seen this all before, Tony Blair and Claire Short were both accused of the same thing. But why? I didn't have the opportunity to send my kids to private schools, and the state school they attended was not the best, but there was no other choice, they went there and that was it. But I can tell you now, if I had the money, or the opportunity of their gaining a scholarship, or any other means, I would have sent them to a private school. Wouldn't we all do the very best for our kids? I don't think it is Hypocrisy, I think she is a Mum doing the best she can for her children.

~~~~~~Waves to TW~~~~~~ I agree with you TW. One of my sisters sends her daughter to a private girls school. The other sister who teaches in the state sector is planning on moving abroad when her son is about 7 - mainly because she doesn't believe in private education but has no faith in the state sector (scary when she works in it). Both are doing what they believe to be best for their child. Ruth Kelly is a mother before politican which is how it should be.

I think the fact her son is a special needs child, justifies where she sends him to gain the best education possible! xx

Absolutely right Diana TOR..I agree, she is a mother first, though her career must take over, but she is doing the best she can for her children, and should not be criticised for that.

Susie, I'm glad your son did well, and yes there are excellent schools for special needs available within the state system, and a good thing they are too. But...the fact the Ruth Kelly has chosen to send hers to a private school at least leaves a space for another child who does not have that opportunity, who would possible have to travel further if they could not get a placement. I've heard of that happening too.

my son has dyslexia. we couldnt afford to send him to private school . most schools these days have special units for children with learning difficulties so i cant see why her son couldnt attend one of those. jamie,my son,started secondary school with the reading age of a 4yr old.he left at the age of 16 with the reading age of a 12 year old. i think he done fantastic!!! susie

That's too simple Diana lol True though!

Sandie, well said! You are so right.

Surely if all the parents that can afford to send their kids to private schools did; then the state system would have less pressure on it with over-crowding!!!!!!!!!!!!! Same as private hospitals v NHS!! Or is that just common sense?

I was going to add to this thread TW but I didn't want to disagree with you twice in 24 hours! pmsl

Total Hypocrisy!! Shes a labour minister,originally the education minister, shes on the wrong side! Their all hypocrits, If they dont have faith in their own system why should we! Theres no excuse,if your a politician and a labour politician you should practice what you preach. Its A huge joke in my opinion,they must think were all so naive.

Jeanette, I'm inviting all opinions, for or against....so you have my permission to disgrace me this once LOL

Well in that case I agree with everything Roxanne has said! *runs*

personally I couldn't give two hoots as to whether she's a hypocrite or not, there are far more important things going on that whether a labour minister sends her child to a private school ! That said - if I felt my child needed it because of special needs, and I could afford it, I'd do exactly the same - my childs welfare comes before my principles !

I think the day of the parties being drastically different are long gone..... Labour no longer reflects the working class in the way it used too!! Times have changed and so has politics I'm afraid!

State education is very patchy as we all know, including provision for children with educational special needs. Is Ruth Kelly ,as a politician, any more immoral by sending her child to a private school than other politicians who move house solely to buy into a certain area because of the local state schools? What they should all be doing as politicians is concentrating on improving opportunites for ALL children, regardless of where they live, so that all have the chance to make the best of their abilities. You can't guarantee that all will, but you should guarantee that all get the chance. Jay

Hi TW, As another Mum of a dyslexic little lad who has been badly effected I have to say if I had the money I would pay for specialist help; He goes to a small village school and dont get me wrong the staff are superb but are not trained in dealing with dyslexia. I am doing a qualification with work for supporting dyslexics and just hope i can help him all I can, Caz xxx

Surely she is letting us all know what we have known/suspected for several years. The education of children with learning difficulties in state schools is not as good as it should be. In this age of equal opportunities, all children should be able to get the educational opportunities that they need, not just those whose parents can afford to pay for private education. Autistic spectrum children are being excluded from local schools which cannot cope with them, then sent to schools miles away from their homes. These children do not like change; some have to become weekly boarders, others have to rise early to get transport to school & after school have a long journey home. I know of a child who has to travel to a school 30miles from home, when there is a specialist school to suit him just 3miles away. The reason he cannot attend the nearer school is that the education department will not pay for him to go there. As a mother she is doing what she thinks is the best for her child; as a politician, who has worked in the Department of Education she must have thought hard about how this action will look. Has anyone thought that perhaps it was her way of bringing this education problem into the spotlight!!!

Thats a good one Carol. I bet nobody has thought about how long and hard Ruth Kelly must have thought about this, after all, as I said earlier, Tony Blair and Claire short were slated rather harshly in my opinion, for doing a similar thing with their children.