MPs 'have duty to opt for state schooling'
Public sector must lead by example to build fair society, says senior Labour MP
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Independent Minds
MPs and public sector staff have a moral duty to educate their own children in state rather than private schools, a senior Labour MP has declared.
Barry Sheerman, chairman of the Commons Education Select Committee, has appealed to MPs in all parties to "lead by example" to combat the impression that the only way better-off people can guarantee their children a good education is to send them to independent schools.
Writing in the Fabian Society's magazine to be published this week, Mr Sheerman – who was educated by the state – said BBC staff and priests should also join a new campaign to convince other parents to put their faith in the state sector.
He said private schools should not be abolished but claimed that, while only 7 per cent of children go to them, they are damaging Labour's attempts to improve social mobility and create a fair society.
The Huddersfield MP said there was an opportunity to launch an all-party drive in favour of the state system because Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, the three main party leaders, are all likely to opt for state schools for their own children. "Elected representatives in public office should lead by example and send their children to the kind of community schools that their constituents send their children to. This is particularly important for MPs," he said.
He criticised MPs representing affluent parts of the South-east who claim they cannot find good schools for their sons and daughters. "Not only do I not believe this, I am convinced that community schools can only be made better when all of the community supports them. Education is not a commodity; it is our preparation for a democratic society," he said.
Mr Sheerman said questions should be asked when well-paid managers in the public sector fail to support community schools. "Those who are in education – vice-chancellors, head teachers, directors of children services and so on – should feel morally obliged to support the state school system.
"If wealthier parents persist in sending their children to independent schools, then there is a clear tension between individuals' strategies to raise standards and our policies to reduce inequality. I would like to extend this ethos to all those local and national civil servants who receive their salaries courtesy of the public purse," he said.
He suggested that the BBC's coverage of education could not be "objective and impartial" because many of its managers and journalists were privately-educated. He complained of a "persistent campaign against state education" in national newspapers.
"We are drip-fed the notion that if you have the income, you have no option but to push your child into the independent sector. To consider the local community school, the comprehensive or academy is to show a complete lack of interest in your child's future," he said. "This rhetoric leads only to greater socio-economic segregation across schools and reinforces further socio-economic disadvantage."
Mr Sheerman said that priests, like politicians, have a similar responsibility. "What a delight it would be for so many parishioners to learn that the leader of the flock thought their community's schools were good enough for their own children," he said.
While Tory politicians are more likely to send their children to private schools, Labour figures who have used them include Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the former lord chancellor, the left-wing MP Diane Abbott and Ruth Kelly, the former transport secretary, who sent her son to one because he has dyslexia. Mr Clegg has not ruled out using the independent sector for his sons, but said he hopes he does not need to move them out of state schools.
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Comments
JohnR
This is just another meaningless headline grabbing announcement that will come to nothing.
Personal freedom has become less and less under Labour.
its time that the snobby divisive 'state' ephithet was given a much needed burial - what matters in a good life for all is truly shared community facilities;
our main trouble here is that we are being invaded by southerners, who come for the safe and good life of a true community, and promptly set about damaging it with their sad beliefs that they must keep themselves away from all the plebs in 'state' schools, hospitals, housing etc
I beleive to make it a fair system Private Schools should be more accessible for children with additional needs and low income families. The government should foucs on creating a system of making that possible.
Bernadette, Birmingham
MP's should put their money where their mouths are. If State schools are good enough for our children, then they must be good enough for theirs. The very act of an MP using private education is to say that they recognise that the State system they are paid to uphold is not good enough. And if it isn't good enough they should be ashamed. It's their job to make it good enough.
Completely agree. But what about the Royal family? They send their kids to public school while Prince Charles bemoans falling standards in the state sector. Surely somebody with his influence would be able to help raise standards in state education.
It involves a measure of constraint of civil liberties, but nothing compared with the level already in place (and meekly if imprudently tolerated) or planned. Once standads generally have been driven upwards (aided by adequate levels of tax investment - including rfesources diverted out of corporate welfare wars etcetera) , then need for other forms of interference / selection including Blair / Harman syndrome related practices, would rapidly diminish
Next thing will be that all prospective candidates have to have been to an inner city comprehensive school, no university education, jobless when applying, and have been brought up in a tower block. That should about get things right for the lowest common demoninator for the commons. Whilst we are at it, let's make sure the civil service is equally neutered.
I don't agree with private education but my principles would never get in the way of what is best for my child.