Only freedom will do

Karmacat

edinburgher wrote: »

Not sure I understand the need for elite private (I.e. privately funded) schooling for your son. Has it made you happy or given you opportunities you wouldn't have had in any state school?

Just seconding the need to ask this question, as someone whose professional life is all about picking up the pieces of unhappy childhoods. Private day schooling doesn't create as many clients for people like me as sending children off to board, but its vastly overrated - I've seen it from my sister's experience of having children go to private schools, and herself being a teacher in another couple of schools.

edinburgher

FML. First hole for blind in DD's room, drill bit can't cut into wall deeper than 1"

Edit: Got 3/4 of the screws in in the end, hopefully it will survive without #4 At the top of a ladder shoving a drill against the wall so powerful that my hearing is momentarily impaired.

Blind looks good, but it seems to be impossible to get 100% blackout, even with a 10cm or greater overlap at all edges. There's also some damage to the (cheap) Ikea blind that would have occurred at the factory, not sure if I CBA returning it, it's just some faint lines where the blackout coating is scratched at the right hand side.

Will need ear defenders for putting the curtains up.

Karmacat

You're right, Ed, blackouts don't do 100% ... they make a bright room "good enough", so to speak.

You've got strong walls, then

AlexLK

edinburgher wrote: »

Not sure I understand the need for elite private (I.e. privately funded) schooling for your son. Has it made you happy or given you opportunities you wouldn't have had in any state school?

I don't think any route is perfect, they all seem to have their pros and cons. I can say that after quite intensive investigation of every school from our local village school to slightly larger state schools, various prep schools and small less established prep schools which are day only. I've even looked into preparing my son to audition for somewhere like Chetham's or Wells in a few years. The reality is I'm quite unsure about what is right for my son, all I do know is I'm very reluctant to let him board before senior school and even then I'm not keen unless he really wants to but equally am reluctant to have him attend senior school from the age of 11 which is the age pupils move in the state sector locally.

As for me, I can quite honestly say my school years were the best of my life. That said, I've taken a lot of lessons in life from the time I've spent volunteering / working in a state senior school and realised my own schooling was within a very insular environment and didn't exactly prepare me to fully integrate with all members of society or some of the difficulties I have faced in adult life. Had I a state education, I think in some ways I'd have gone to university and subsequently into the adult world a lot more prepared for potential hardships in life. However, I don't think I'd have such fond memories of my school days.

Lack of opportunities outside the classroom is my main reason for wanting to educate my son privately. A decent prep and subsequently public school offers a wider curriculum as well as sporting, music and other extra curricular activities that are not offered in the state sector. Whilst in the end I chose to study Music at university, I almost chose to study Classics; had I attended my local state school this option would've not be open to me as they don't study Latin or Ancient Greek at GCSE / A Level.

My wife attended both state primary and senior schools. She doesn't have the same fond memories of school but school wasn't effectively her family either. At the point of choosing courses to take forward to GCSE / A Level, the school was very career focused and put her off studying Art (or even Art History) at university level before even embarking on her GCSEs. I don't want my son to be restricted like that.

It's an absolute nightmare trying to find the right option, especially because at this age we have no idea where would be best suited to our son. At the moment, he has his heart set on being a gamekeeper when he's older and doesn't really like school very much for no other reason than he'd rather be at home. I think he'll grow out of this but wouldn't want to put him through the long hours of attending prep school if this continues to be an issue.

Karmacat wrote: »

Just seconding the need to ask this question, as someone whose professional life is all about picking up the pieces of unhappy childhoods. Private day schooling doesn't create as many clients for people like me as sending children off to board, but its vastly overrated - I've seen it from my sister's experience of having children go to private schools, and herself being a teacher in another couple of schools.

The unhappy parts of my childhood weren't at school but were at home. I have no desire to do anything that may damage my son's mental wellbeing in the future and certainly no plans to board before 13.

edinburgher wrote: »

FML. First hole for blind in DD's room, drill bit can't cut into wall deeper than 1"

Edit: Got 3/4 of the screws in in the end, hopefully it will survive without #4 At the top of a ladder shoving a drill against the wall so powerful that my hearing is momentarily impaired.

Blind looks good, but it seems to be impossible to get 100% blackout, even with a 10cm or greater overlap at all edges. There's also some damage to the (cheap) Ikea blind that would have occurred at the factory, not sure if I CBA returning it, it's just some faint lines where the blackout coating is scratched at the right hand side.

Will need ear defenders for putting the curtains up.

:rotfl: Time to get the big drill out. :cool::D Do protect your ears, though!

Karmacat

An honest post, Alex, thank you. And yes, I've known a few clients who were school boarders for whom school was a lifeline from home life, absolutely. It sounds like you're listening to your son and keeping your plans fluid, according to his likes and dislikes - sounds good to me

Ed - hope your hands aren't aching too badly after struggling to hold the drill straight for those strong walls yesterday!

edinburgher

Whilst in the end I chose to study Music at university, I almost chose to study Classics; had I attended my local state school this option would've not be open to me as they don't study Latin or Ancient Greek at GCSE / A Level.

Sorry to cherry pick, but there's a good reason for that, they're not very useful! Speaking as a man who studied both, at least for a couple of years

The walls are in-flipping-vulnerable, I could weep (curtains now, don't see any way to fit a central bracket). To make it worse, Mrs E has her best pal round. I am currently sitting stewing in the kitchen because I can't drill as her baby is asleep. Who sets up a play date when their husband is largely planning on taking a 900W drill to the walls!

AlexLK

Karmacat: I'm trying my best but my best never seems good enough when it comes to my son. Suppose that's all part of being a parent, though.

Ed: You're not the only one to say that, my wife thinks the same and has quite strong views about subjects she thinks are "useful" or not. According to her if there were a prize for studying "useless" subjects, I'd win it. :rotfl: Though I suppose I probably taught myself more "useful" (if useful means skills used most days) things from fixing up and running a Mk1 MGB at 17 than I was taught during my A Level years. However, what is of use and what isn't depends on what one chooses to do in life and playing about with old cars / fixing up houses / buying and selling a few nice old things isn't really the reason a parent sends their son to public school, is it?

I wouldn't be too annoyed with your wife, at least she wants to spend time with her daughter and the friend doesn't mind.

edinburgher

Curtains fitted with my first lovingly dadgineered bodge (sunk dowels into the too shallow holes with some G0rilla glue and screwed the central bracket onto these) Relatively pretty, but more importantly did the job! :j

DD room ready once I attach cupboard door and sand the top of another cupboard door that is sticking. She'll be sleeping in her own room next weekend

Sanding and gloss tomorrow. Lots and lots of gloss. Skip coming on Friday to empty out the garage, will need to order a tarp for the roof tonight.

Edit: Tarp ordered. My life is sexy.

Edit edit: Carpet cleaner ordered, figured we'd get the use of it as we're going 80% carpets in the next few weeks.

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Well done Ed, she is a lucky young lady x

edinburgher

Thanks Squirrel, the first DIY job I completed out of love for the recipient, not a feeling of obligation