The rights and wrongs of private schooling

Abstract This is a discussion, from a largely global but partly British perspective, about whether private schools should be freely permitted, discouraged or abolished. This, it is claimed, depends on the kind of private school one has in mind. The paper moves on to three arguments against British p...

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Main Author: John White
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-09-01
Series:Future in Educational Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/fer3.5
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author John White
author_facet John White
author_sort John White
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description Abstract This is a discussion, from a largely global but partly British perspective, about whether private schools should be freely permitted, discouraged or abolished. This, it is claimed, depends on the kind of private school one has in mind. The paper moves on to three arguments against British private schools, especially prestigious so‐called ‘public schools’: that they promote social exclusiveness, have created a ruling élite, and are unjust. This latter claim, which also has global relevance, is explored in some detail. The meritocratic conception of society which it presupposes is then also discussed and criticised. The final section of the paper is about future perspectives on private schooling across the world. It looks at proposed and actual measures to abolish or curtail them; educational proposals to limit the power of meritocracy, including reforms to the school examination system. It also discusses how likely it is that suggested reforms of any of these kinds will actually take place.
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spelling doaj-art-56be165cea724a20aa7f512ea853714c2025-02-06T15:35:18ZengWileyFuture in Educational Research2835-94022023-09-0111172610.1002/fer3.5The rights and wrongs of private schoolingJohn White0University College London Institute of Education London UKAbstract This is a discussion, from a largely global but partly British perspective, about whether private schools should be freely permitted, discouraged or abolished. This, it is claimed, depends on the kind of private school one has in mind. The paper moves on to three arguments against British private schools, especially prestigious so‐called ‘public schools’: that they promote social exclusiveness, have created a ruling élite, and are unjust. This latter claim, which also has global relevance, is explored in some detail. The meritocratic conception of society which it presupposes is then also discussed and criticised. The final section of the paper is about future perspectives on private schooling across the world. It looks at proposed and actual measures to abolish or curtail them; educational proposals to limit the power of meritocracy, including reforms to the school examination system. It also discusses how likely it is that suggested reforms of any of these kinds will actually take place.https://doi.org/10.1002/fer3.5British public schoolsexaminationsjusticemeritocracyphilosophy of educationprivate schools
spellingShingle John White
The rights and wrongs of private schooling
Future in Educational Research
British public schools
examinations
justice
meritocracy
philosophy of education
private schools
title The rights and wrongs of private schooling
title_full The rights and wrongs of private schooling
title_fullStr The rights and wrongs of private schooling
title_full_unstemmed The rights and wrongs of private schooling
title_short The rights and wrongs of private schooling
title_sort rights and wrongs of private schooling
topic British public schools
examinations
justice
meritocracy
philosophy of education
private schools
url https://doi.org/10.1002/fer3.5
work_keys_str_mv AT johnwhite therightsandwrongsofprivateschooling
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