Madam, – James McDermott’s claim that the taxpayer is subsiding “elite” fee-paying schools (Opinion, April 27th) is nonsense. All children are entitled to equal state assistance for their education regardless of what school they attend.
If parents wish to fork out extra on education, from their often tight household budgets, then it is none of Mr McDermott’s business, no more than anyone is interested in how he spends his salary.
If these children were to be discriminated against, as Mr McDermott suggests, the already creaking public school system would face collapse with the possible influx of tens of thousands of students currently educated elsewhere. In this scenario, the funding needed for their education would hugely surpass what is currently paid. The teachers’ salaries would still have to be met, but a massive school building programme, or the State purchase of existing privately owned buildings, would be needed to accommodate these students.
The parents of children attending fee-paying schools also pay taxes and are entitled to make difficult decisions about how they spend their family income without the interference of Mr McDermott. – Yours, etc,