Anglican Mainstream

Once again Michael Gove proves himself to be the best classical liberal in the Government by saying he would be interested in allowing atheist free schools.

 

These “free-thinking schools” – as Professor Richard Dawkins said when he suggested the idea last month, they wouldn’t indoctrinate children with atheism, just teach them to think for themselves – are in the finest tradition of liberal thought.

 

It could also be good news for the 20,000 or so church schools in England, since one of the main causes of resentment among parents is that often the only decent state secondary schools in their area are Catholic or Anglican, and they’re neither.

 

Of course it won’t end objections from those who believe that religion is inherently harmful, nor those who say no taxpayer’s money should go towards religious-run institutions (even though Catholics and Anglicans pay their taxes too, and get no more per child from the state). But at least it provides choice, and diversity of thought, which is what the Lib-Con Coalition should be about. Is there a classical liberal of the year award? I nominate Gove.