[secretambition]

Originally Posted by steddyeddy

Is a two tier system right or wrong for education? Is it acceptable that all taxpayers pay for state funding of a two teir system despite only a small percentage of the population availing of it?

The fact that only a small percentage avail of it means that it doesn't cost very much relative to the total education bill. It's relatively cheaper as it costs less per child. AGAIN, private school childrens parents pay tax too. They have a right to some contribution towards their childrens education in return.

[steddyeddy]

Originally Posted by secretambition

If people seriously want no funding for private schools, then some element of the school fees should be written off against tax for parents in acknowledgement of the fact that they are unburdening the state system. Otherwise a parent of a child in a private school is paying a huge amount for their childs education plus a contribution towards some other kid they've never met, when said childs parent is contributing nothing to theirs.

The taxpayers of this country are currently paying towards state funding of private school education despite many of them not being able to avail of it. People who can afford private school have a choice to send their children to public or private schools. A lot of people havent the choice to send their kids to private yet they fund it in part.

[secretambition]

Originally Posted by steddyeddy

The taxpayers of this country are currently paying towards state funding of private school education despite many of them not being able to avail of it. People who can afford private school have a choice to send their children to public or private schools. A lot of people havent the choice to send their kids to private yet they fund it in part.

By that logic you should never fund anything that everyone cannot afford. Don't build a motorway because I can't afford a car.

The taxpayers who can't afford private are taking more of the pot proportionately, because they take proportionately more per child. Therefore, the argument that they are funding is disingenuous. Parents of children in private schools are funding them much much more.

[steddyeddy]

Originally Posted by secretambition

By that logic you should never fund anything that everyone cannot afford. Don't build a motorway because I can't afford a car.

Only 6% of the population can or will be able to avail of a car? Your talking about childrens education which is a right. Completely different to a car.

[SChique00]

Originally Posted by steddyeddy

Is a two tier system right or wrong for education? Is it acceptable that all taxpayers pay for state funding of a two teir system despite only a small percentage of the population availing of it?

Only a small percentage avail of it because only a small percentage pay extra for it. o.O

[secretambition]

Originally Posted by steddyeddy

Only 6% of the population can or will be able to avail of a car? Your talking about childrens education which is a right. Completely different to a car.

Way more than 6% could afford private schools. It's choices. They don't want to pay for what they can get for free in many cases. That's their right.

[steddyeddy]

Originally Posted by SChique00

Only a small percentage avail of it because only a small percentage can pay extra for it. o.O

FYP

[SChique00]

To echo what others have said here, the parents of fee-paying schoolchildren pay taxes just as much as the parents of state schoolchildren, on top of the fees which they pay to benefit their school collectively through building projects and equipment (almost none of this is subsidised by the government). These taxes majoratively benefit children in public schools, so could you not agree that it's fair for the government to pay for the teachers alone, as a sort of "cashback" for the parents who contribute towards the public system, despite not using it themselves?
If you look at it theoretically, parents of private schoolchildren are really partly paying for an extra child to remain in the education system.

[secretambition]

You can attend a private school for about €5000 a year. Are you saying that only 6% of people have that spare per year? Or is it more likely that they make choices - want to go on holidays, do up the house, change the car, just save?

[steddyeddy]

Originally Posted by secretambition

Way more than 6% could afford private schools. It's choices. They don't want to pay for what they can get for free in many cases. That's their right.

Every single child has the right to education. A lot of people in this country can barely afford to pay bills or put food on the table and your saying private school is simply a matter of choices? Its not. Its not the right of them to avail of something which only a relativly few can afford yet everyone pays towards.

[SChique00]

Originally Posted by steddyeddy

College attendence should be one hundred per cent based on intelligence and hard work not what school you attend.

But this is what it's already based upon? Points are constantly being pushed up by colleges due to the demand for places from overseas students and an increasing number of mature students, so current LC students are not guaranteed a place in any college, regardless of what school you attend. So don't try and justify this incredible notion of private school students "buying" places in colleges and universities, or being granted a place based on the prestige of whatever school they attended - they have to earn their places just like any other applicants.

[steddyeddy]

Originally Posted by secretambition

You can attend a private school for about €5000 a year. Are you saying that only 6% of people have that spare per year? Or is it more likely that they make choices - want to go on holidays, do up the house, change the car, just save?

No in fact I would say a lot more than six percent could afford 10 thousand plus a year. Like american private schools. Reduce state funding like a lot of american private schools and there will end the debate about private school funding.

[secretambition]

Originally Posted by steddyeddy

Every single child has the right to education. A lot of people in this country can barely afford to pay bills or put food on the table and your saying private school is simply a matter of choices? Its not. Its not the right of them to avail of something which only a relativly few can afford yet everyone pays towards.

I said that for more than 6% (which you claim) it is a choice, of course not for everyone. I believe people are entitled to do the best for their children if they can afford to and the states obligation is to provide a good standard for everyone. If you can pay more and want to fine. That shouldn't mean you get nothing from the state for your tax.

[SChique00]

Originally Posted by steddyeddy

Every single child has the right to education. A lot of people in this country can barely afford to pay bills or put food on the table and your saying private school is simply a matter of choices? Its not. Its not the right of them to avail of something which only a relatively few can afford yet everyone pays towards.

Of course every child has the right to an education, this goes without saying. It is the sole discretion of the parent as to where their child gets their education. Everyone learns the same material from the same teaching methods regardless of where they go to school, so why shouldn't everyone pay the same tax towards the universal curriculum? Parents can choose to pay for the benefits of private schooling as they see fit.

[steddyeddy]

Originally Posted by SChique00

But this is what it's already based upon? Points are constantly being pushed up by colleges due to the demand for places from overseas students and an increasing number of mature students, so current LC students are not guaranteed a place in any college, regardless of what school you attend. So don't try and justify this incredible notion of private school students "buying" places in colleges and universities, or being granted a place based on the prestige of whatever school they attended - they have to earn their places just like any other applicants.

So theres no difference between private and public schools regarding literacy or numeracy? If theres no difference can you give me the reasons why parents choose private schools?