Tory Culture Wars wont be won on the playing fields of Eton
According to the Duke of Wellington, the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.
Eton is but the latest focus of long running Tory Culture Wars which have ranged in 2020 from taking the knee to protest against racism (frowned upon, possibly Marxist)to Scotch Eggs (might be a substantial pub meal).
Eton has been in the news because the current Head, Simon Henderson is trying to bring the school at least into the twentieth century. Collateral damage in that effort has been the dismissal of a teacher Will Knowland. He posted what sounds like, at best, a highly doubtful video about why men were better than women on his personal Youtube channel. This was reportedly linked to the school in some way. He was asked to take it down, declined and was dismissed. Leaving aside what seems to be the objectionable nature of the video, whether that was fair or not I cant say. It very much depends on what procedures and processes are in place at Eton. Mr Knowland should have joined a union, which do accept people of varying views, leaving aside one hopes fascists.
Then, the next stage in the Eton Culture War, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said Eton should accept female students. This provoked the ire of Old Etonians like Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees Mogg who said this would be a very bad idea.
Cue acres of media commentary particularly in the Mail and Telegraph.
If however this particular episode of the war reminds us that Eton is an anachronistic relic of an unequal class based society where money counts for more than merit, and that is has no place in the world in 2021 it may have been worthwhile.
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