"Privileged" Education

[Phteven]

My goodness, is there anything sadder than a middle aged man who hasn't lived enough to stop defining himself by the school he went to.

Have you ever read Freakonomics? They have written a number of essays about school choice and they often have more about it in their blog (maybe because they're parents with school age children). More Evidence on the (Lack of) Impact of School Choice - NYTimes.com
Better Schools, or Better Teachers? - NYTimes.com

From a statistical point of view your children are more likely to have a tertiary qualification if you do regardless of which school you choose to send them to. They are more likely to succeed if you have lots of books in the house and if you join the P&C. Not because these things seep in by osmosis but because parents with lots of books who get involved in their children's school tend to care about their education.

Soooo IMO....

Does the school matter? Not as much as your parents.
Does private schooling afford you more privileges/opportunities? Not if you are lacking in parental support or have a low EQ. If money is tight after paying for private school bills it could deny you opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities that you might be able to afford if you were at a public school.
Does it play a role in future? Probably. Is there any guarantee that that role will be positive? No.
Does it shape the person/adult you become? Hmmm you arrive at high school after 12 years of being shaped by your home and primary school. You spend 5 or 6 years there. 5 or 6 years in which you are at the mercy of massive hormonal/physical changes and then you leave. 5 or 6 years isn't much especially when one considers that by the time you arrive your attitude towards schooling and education has already been shaped by primary and pre school.

I went to a few schools, mainly very expensive elite ones. DH went to a school that was called the worst school in the state on the front page of the major daily. DH is personable, capable and earns oodles of money. I'm misanphropic, messy and anti-social. I'm very well educated but I suspect that if I looked for a job I wouldn't find one.

I'm no fan of private education because my parents spent a fortune on mine and what I gained from it was the ability to tie a tie whilst running, awesome lock-picking skillz and some great drug contacts. Private school kids have access to better drugs - there's no doubt about that.