Stephen Law has written a thought-provoking article about the problems with the “faith schools” initiatives in the UK while carefully distinguishing his criticism from religious schools in general. He argues that “all schools, religious or not, should be liberal, in the sense that they should encourage young people to think critically and for themselves about moral and religious issues – including their own religious views.” And he closes with this powerful contention…

If [dogmatic political] schools did spring up, there would be outrage. These establishments would be accused of educationally stunting children, forcing their minds into politically pre-approved moulds. They’re the kind of Orwellian schools you find under totalitarian regimes in places like Stalinist Russia. My question is, if such political schools are utterly unacceptable, if they are guilty of educationally stunting children, why on earth are so many of us still prepared to tolerate their religious equivalents?