zbuc 1 hour ago | link [dead] The real question is why do the British call it "public school" when it's not run by the public? Sounds like they need better En

zbuc 1 hour ago | link [dead] The real question is why do the British call it "public school" when it's not run by the public? Sounds like they need better English education... In reply to this (dead) comment, it's worth noting that while it doesn't seem to make sense now, it did in the past. The term "public school" (which incidentally doesn't apply to all private schools - they are all "independant", they aren't all "public") dates back to when many or most schools were aimed at specific groups of people, such as a local church, or a specific trade. Public school, therefore, meant that it was open to any paying member of the public - as long as they could pay, it didn't matter who they were.