From: punditster@gmail.com   
      
   On 2/23/2026 9:49 AM, Julian wrote:   
   > They say independent schools don't educate kids, they just make for   
   > exclusive networks and access to power. This is confected "DIY   
   > economics" and belongs in the bin.   
   >   
   So, I've been thinking about this for several years now. We have   
   families around here in Sonoma County that moved here for the schools.   
   Some are paying a million dollars for a house just to be close to the   
   High School.   
      
   The question is, are private schools superior to public schools?   
      
   According to reports I've read, private schools often provide a   
   superior, tailored educational experience through smaller class sizes,   
   allowing for more individualized instruction.   
    >   
      
   > New phrases for me this week: “DIY economics” and “received   
   unwisdom”.   
   > As in, “what I read in the Guardian that has no logical or empirical   
   > basis, but I’ll chuck it about as though it’s gospel”.   
   >   
   >   
   > TL/DR   
   >   
   > - DIY economics takes hold not because it is true, but because of   
   > pseudo-moral and emotional appeal to voters’ self-interest and ignorance.   
   >   
   > - Detractors of independent schools don’t want you to believe what is   
   > obvious and true: educating children is good, educating them really well   
   > is better, and saving the state money is great.   
   >   
   > - So they claim the penetration of elite positions by independent school   
   > alumni is evidence of unfairness. No exploration of causes, effects,   
   > rights or wrongs. The disparity is the harm.   
   >   
   > - I offer a range of more probable reasons why there’s disparity. Rather   
   > than unfair “Old Boy Networks”, it’s far more likely those appointments   
   > reflect family nature and nurture and educational effectiveness.   
   >   
   > - Indeed, that’s where the evidence points, but the DIY economists   
   > brazenly fib about it.   
   >   
   > - It’s not at all clear there’s any evidence of harm, but if there is,   
   > the answer is with proportionate measures to improve state education,   
   > and adopt the inexpensive cultural facets of independent schools and   
   > families, rather than try to tear down what’s working well elsewhere.   
   >   
   > - This points firmly to equalising the state’s funding, via vouchers, of   
   > state and independent schools, so that empowered parents can have free   
   > choice.   
   >   
   > - The Sutton Trust should crack on with their outreach work, and should   
   > campaign for the first rungs of the career ladder, for economic policies   
   > supporting job creation, and should stop obsessing about the top rungs   
   > that are statistically irrelevant for most people, regardless of their   
   > school...   
   >   
   > https://isabelpaterson.substack.com/p/tall-poppies-off-with-their-heads   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)