ABSTRACT
Is the direction of children towards particular religious or ethical standards morally acceptable, or are children entitled to an upbringing in which teachers remain neutral on controversial questions concerning religion and what makes for a successful life? Does the answer to this question depend on whether the agents making educational decisions are parents or state-employed teachers? In this chapter, we consider these questions by exploring the moral ideal of political neutrality—the view that it is not the proper business of the state to endorse and promote a particular view of religion or the good life. First, we review the idea of political neutrality. Thereafter, we assess its implications for state-regulated schools and ask whether the principle of neutrality should be extended to regulate the conduct of parents.
