On Tue, 08 Nov 2005 14:35:00 +0000, Mark wrote:

On Tue, 08 Nov 2005 12:28:09 +0000, Andy Hall
wrote:



The benefits of small classes are apparent from the outset in terms of
the attention that each pupil gets and the accelerated speed of
learning. Again, unless you have been involved in and seen the
results personally, it is not easy to appreciate the benefits.

If private schools do offer such benefits then shouldn't these be open
to all children and not just to those with wealthy enough parents?



There are also a wide range of fees in the private sector, so with the
contribution that would be obtained by a voucher equivalent to the
cost of education in a state school today, plus tax relief on fees,
far more choice would be available to far more people.

There are then various other mechanisms that can be used to supplement
the cost of particular forms of education that are more suited to a
given child. I don't see a fundamental need to say that the same
should be spent on each child.

The current system of attempting to impose a bland uniformity
regardless of ability in given areas doesn't serve the needs of the
child or the economy.

The vast majority of parents that I know or have known that have put
their children through private school are far from wealthy and have
made very substantial sacrifices to pay for education for their
children. So it is far from being a preserve of the rich.



--

..andy