Description
Book Synopsis
How not to be a hypocrite: the indispensable guide to school choice that morally perplexed parents have been waiting for.
Many of us believe in social justice and equality of opportunity - but we also want the best for our kids. How can we square our political principles with our special concern for our own children? This marvellous book takes us through the moral minefield that is school choice today.
Does a commitment to social justice mean you have to send your children to the local comprehensive - regardless of its academic results? Is it hypocritical to disapprove of private schools and yet send your child to one? Some parents feel guilty but shouldn''t. Others should feel guilty but don''t. Read
How Not to be a Hypocrite, then answer the questionnaire, and work out where you stand on this crucial issue.
Trade Review
TES Book of the Week, 21/03/03
'How Not to Be a Hypocrite is a cogent appeal for honesty and scrupulousness in an area of life that is more often characterised by woolly thinking and dodgy self-justification. Reading it, I felt at times as I imagine a small fly might when it realises too late that it has wandered into the web of a very large and clever spider. Swift's web is expertly woven ... Swift has cauterised his subject with methodical ruthlessness and the feel of the blade slicing into flabby thinking is exhilarating. The result is an impassioned, timely plea for moral honesty and social responsibility.' - Rebecca Abrams, New Statesman
'The debate over whether it is ethical to send children to private schools has been re-ignited by a contoversial new book by an Oxford academic.' - The Oxford Times
Table of Contents
Introduction Part I - Choosing the School Rules 1. What can I do for my children? 2. What am I buying? 3. What's wrong with selection? 4. The real world 5. Respecting parents' rights Part II - Choosing Schools Given the Rules 6. Why hypocrisy is a red herring 7.Legitimate partiality and individual choice 8. How good is good enough? 9. The futility of individual choice? 10. It is not my decision 11. Moving House Conclusion
