Saturday 1 May 2021

Harrow School

7 comments:

Neil Welton said...

Consider the subject of inexplicable and ineffable charm and by its very definition Old Harrovians (otherwise known to you and me as those who have attended Harrow School), I have always been struck by how genuinely astonished and amazed Old Harrovians are to have attended such a prestigious public school. They really do struggle to conceal their considerable delight and dare I say conceit that this should have been the case. Indeed in the lottery of life there are winners and there are losers, and Old Harrovians can easily be said to be some of it's winners. For even though it may seem quite unbelievable a school like Harrow continues to play such a central role within the British education system, there can be no denying the fact how it benefits those young people who are lucky enough to go there. For the public school system is simply delivering and ensuring excellence within the British educational system, so why abolish it? For surely it would be quite inexplicable to abolish the public school system. Almost inexplicable as the idea of having a public school system in the first place which, despite its critics, has managed to survive unaltered for countless centuries.

Neil Welton said...

The ancient Harrow School Motto states: "Where Lyon dreamed and saw in dream his race of sons to follow." Over the years I have heard from a few members of this race about what Harrow means to them and how lucky they were to go there. Especially after the threat posed to such schools by progressive and radical Liberal and Socialist ideals during the 1960s and 1970s. One said: "You are at an advantage. It puts you above other people who do not have this opportunity. You then move up high in life because success is based on who you know." Another Old Boy added: "To uninitiated Harrow may seem something of an anachronism. A throwback to time when education was the preserve of the rich. When we are at Harrow we are reminded by our experiences with the community just how lucky we are to be here."

Neil Welton said...

As a former pupil of Harrow School once said to me: "Simply think for a moment of all the boys aged from thirteen to eighteen who have attended Harrow over the past four hundred years. Then think of all the boys aged from thirteen to eighteen who went to Eton over the last five hundred years. Then think of all the boys aged from thirteen to eighteen who attended Winchester over the last seven hundred years. This is before you consider schools like Shrewsbury, Rugby, Wellington, Dulwich, Westminster, Marlborough and Charterhouse. To name but a few." These great schools, part of our great public school system, have continued from one generation to the next because they are a good idea. If they were not a good idea then we would not have inherited them from previous generations. Judging by their popularity among parents of my generation, they are going to be around for a great deal longer - so we may as well get use to them. As for the secret of their longevity this was once summed up by a Harrow Headmaster: "People are just fascinated by the traditions and quirks of life at Britain's public schools." Indeed as the 1891 school song sung by every schoolboy decrees: "One magic thrall unites us all. The name and fame of Harrow. May we long continue to rise and to rule. By heart, by brain, and by sinew."

Vaibhav Simha said...

This is what keeps British society running. Can you see now how such elements as privilege and class act as objects of the commonality's aspiration and goads them to work harder? Human society cannot function without inequality. If you study hard and work hard you can then begin to ride above other members of your generation. So it is with your children. Instead of deracinating high quality private education, ameliorate the terrible state funded schools. Harrow must exist for me and countless others so we can aim high and rise more. Harrow doesn't care from where you have come from or what your family background Is - just as long as you have the money and your children want to study hard. The solution Is therefore simple. Work harder for money and become self-reliant. Standing on your own two feet.

Naila Kamana said...

Harrow is not the problem. The education system is for not treating pupils who attend state schools as worthy of a high quality and excellent education. Harrow doesn't have to stoop down and bow down. State schools need to look up, buck up and step up. We need both teachers and parents to do this too. But sadly the vast majority in state education are unable. Or aren't bothered.

Michael Terrell said...

People assume that people with little money don't work hard and that getting high in society is as simple as working hard. This is simply untrue. So is the idea that inequality must continue and be perpetuated in society.

Anonymous said...

VAT on school fees anyone?