From: fedora@fea.st   
      
   On Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:07:56 -0800, Dude  wrote:   
      
   >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.   
      
   Which is simply gingerpeachy for those who can afford such schools. So   
   provide those for the wealthy, and let everybody else go to the trashy   
   schools.  Because we really don't give a fuck about you, or your life   
   prospects or anything else.  Diediedie ifucan.   
      
   >   
   >> 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   
   >>   
   --   
   Noah Sombrero mustachioed villain   
   Don't get political with me young man   
   or I'll tie you to a railroad track and   
   <<>> to <<>>   
   Who dares to talk to El Sombrero?   
   dares: Ned   
   does not dare: Julian  shrinks in horror and warns others away   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)