Awww Liz I don't think people are suggesting in this thread that those who have private education are better... That's not what I have heard here.

I think that when a choice is made to pay for education it is because that choice is believed to give that student more opportunity or a more conducive to learning/discipline environment.

I truly get why if your local state highschool was a bit out there that you would pay for something better to keep in the same community.

I don't think private education churns out "better people" I think sometimes it gives a more diverse opportunity to focus on strengths or weaknesses. But certainly not always!

I think it is an individual school that you need to choose - that may be private or public. However, you only have one shot at education in your child - as parents we are all trying to do the best for them. We all come from differing frames of reference.

I only have one state school and one state high school in my community. To choose not to go to that high school I would have to put my child on a bus to travel 45 minutes to and from each day. For me I have to swallow the lack of discipline and accept the good things or move my entire family. Because for me it's important to school in my community.

My younger kids can either go to the state school or an independent school. DD14 went to the state primary and it was very very disappointing. So I choose to pay for an eduacation I can sing the praises of on many levels.

I don't think my children are better because they are independently educated - I do however think they are more rounded. They don't think a man in an orange robe is wierd and they can meditate, play guitar and sing without feeling wierd!!! To ME that is more important than a lot of things that others may find more important.

We are all so individual.