Opting Out and Opting In
Here's something I found out only the other day.
The Labour party's Scottish leader - Iain Gray - is almost the same age as me.
Apparently he was educated at George Watson's College in Edinburgh - before going on to study at Edinburgh University.
Now the last time I looked, George Watson's College was a private school - and I presume the same was true back in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
The fees today are almost £10,000 a year - even more than the student highest fees that the government is proposing for 'elite' universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
But what I find odd is this.
How come some people think it's OK to jump out of the state education system for five or six years - at a cost of £50,000 to £60,000 at today's prices?
Yet also seem to believe they have a right to go on to study at university - only this time at public expense.
Having bought themselves the benefits of a private education - why should the taxpayer subsidise the cost of that same person going on to university - for another four years and more?
Surely public money should be better spent on the students and young people - who really need the financial support.
The Labour party's Scottish leader - Iain Gray - is almost the same age as me.
Apparently he was educated at George Watson's College in Edinburgh - before going on to study at Edinburgh University.
Now the last time I looked, George Watson's College was a private school - and I presume the same was true back in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
The fees today are almost £10,000 a year - even more than the student highest fees that the government is proposing for 'elite' universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
But what I find odd is this.
How come some people think it's OK to jump out of the state education system for five or six years - at a cost of £50,000 to £60,000 at today's prices?
Yet also seem to believe they have a right to go on to study at university - only this time at public expense.
Having bought themselves the benefits of a private education - why should the taxpayer subsidise the cost of that same person going on to university - for another four years and more?
Surely public money should be better spent on the students and young people - who really need the financial support.
