Memorandum from Clare Donald (DCH 42)
I write to you to add my voice to the protest
against the current Charitable Status of independent schools.
I am a comprehensive school educated Cambridge
graduate, and as such have for a long time been made aware of
the inequalities inherent in one's education. These start from
a child's first school day and continue to manifest themselves
from graduation onwards.
I am not writing to you with the hope that we
can reverse inequality in society (of which I'm sure you're relieved),
nor am I suggesting that we abolish independent schools. What
I do wish to say is that given that the independent sector exists
largely for those who are privileged in one way or another, and
then continues to reinforce such privilege, it is ludicrous that
they then receive charitable status. It is clearly untrue that
such schools offer any kind of universal opportunity or that they
focus upon children for whom charitable benefit is intended.
I hope that the Government will take on board
how unjust and illogical the current situation is and recognise
that to take away charitable status in independent schools would
be a small but significant move towards creating a more equal
society.
June 2004
| 
