Public School Advocate And Celeb Hypocrite Matt Damon Sends His Own Kids To Private School

_c676528_image_0Matt Damon is a big fan of public schools. So much so that he has spoken in the past at “Save Our Schools” rallies. His mom was a teacher, and she has also spoken passionately about public schools and wanting more money and for kids to have a “quality public education.”
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Yay for public education! Yay for kids going to good public schools. But boo on Matt Damon because in an interview with the Guardian UK the actor admitted:

Choosing a school has already presented a major moral dilemma. “Sending our kids in my family to private school was a big, big, big deal. And it was a giant family discussion. But it was a circular conversation, really, because ultimately we don’t have a choice. I mean, I pay for a private education and I’m trying to get the one that most matches the public education that I had, but that kind of progressive education no longer exists in the public system. It’s unfair.” Damon has campaigned against teachers’ pay being pegged to children’s test results: “So we agitate about those things, and try to change them, and try to change the policy, but you know, it’s a tough one.”

 

In the video he claims he would not trade that education and the experience for anything. And the things he values the most about himself all came from the way he was parented and taught. Speaking about an upcoming move to LA he says:

He’s also uneasy about the incredible wealth that must define his children’s lives. “Our kids are growing up with more privilege than we had; that’s true for most of my friends in LA. I don’t know any actor who grew up with any particular privilege, so everyone wrestles with this. And I think a lot of times it’s about being patient with your kids.

This is all so much first world problems I don’t even know where to begin with it. I’m glad that Damon recognizes that teachers are grossly underpaid and we need to reform a lot of public schools in this country. But it’s all sort of blah blah blah considering he sends his own four kids to private schools. It’s not that I’m shocked that a fancy celebrity can also be a fancy hypocrite, it’s just sort of disheartening when one who I assumed was a strong advocate is.

And how does he know that the type of “progressive education” he received growing up no longer exists if his kids don’t even go to a public school? Did he visit every single public school in LA? I’m sure there are plenty of great public schools in LA. I wanna know what his mom thinks!

(Image: Tumblr)

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