Recession Batters Britain's Smaller Private Schools

Chandler Thomas
Soc 202
Current Event 2
9/8/09 9:36 pm

St. David's School for girls was terminally hit this July by the recession. St. David's has been an active private school near London for 293 years, usually having up to 240 students at a time. Now, due to the economic crisis and a severe lack of money, families are having to send their daughters elsewhere. Parents are infuriated with the sudden life change their children are now unwillingly having to go through, not to mention the nasty reaction from the students themselves. They are now being scattered and separated into different schools, causing an uproar among the girls and their friends. Unfortunately, this is not the first of Britain's 2000 private schools to be shut down due to the recession. Between just last year and this year, a total of six schools have closed already so far. Britain's huge public schools are doing fine luckily, their waiting lists are still actively in use every year. The International Education Systems are keeping track of the world's private schools and their troubles throughout this terribly difficult time. They state that a good solid reputation is not enough to keep these schools going anymore. Families aren't concerned about their amenities anymore, they just want good educations for their children. In result, the schools now can't put up fees due to the parent's new view on things, they can't afford to have children go to school somewhere else because the parents can't afford it. A lot of what's happening is that when the banks stop loaning them money, the schools are closing one by one. Some are forced to merge with other schools, while others cut back staff and put a halt on any school campus reconstruction. The education system is pushing hard to continue consolidation, with the long-lasting hope that private schools will still flourish after the recession.

This is awful! These kids have been raised and educated in these private schools, its what they know best. Now, they're losing their teachers, their friends, and their learning environment. I completely understand why the parents and students themselves are in an uproar over the situation. I would not wish that upon any family, changing schools like that affects the whole family and brings on extra stress with it. It will be interesting to see what happens if and when the recession lets up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/world/europe/09schools.html?_r=1&ref=world