What is or was life in PUBLIC schools like in Britain?

Question:

What is or was life in PUBLIC schools like in Britain?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: First, remember that a "public" school in England is a private school. What their definition of "public" was, was that it would allow anyone to attend it, who was able to afford it. Therefore, it wasn't limited just to the nobility, but was open to everyone.

One must then ask, when are you talking about? The royal family sent William and Harry to Eton, a "public school" ... and it was a VERY high class, academically challenging boarding school. It was exclusive and honorable, and no, they don't beat the students any more, nor do they force them to labor in the kitchens or stables. It is a private school not much different than Choat School in Mass that the Kennedy's sent their children to, or like Pensy in "Catcher in the Rye".