Een liberaal-pedagogische visie op de bekostiging van bijzondere scholen

Abstract

Whether denominational schools should be funded by a liberal democratic state is hotly debated in contemporary political and educational philosophy. In this article we defend that on certain conditions denominational schools should be financed. Recently, important criticisms have been raised against this position. We argue that these criticisms give reason to refine and supplement our view but not to abandon it. In particular we reaffirm liberalism's commitment to autonomy. On the basis of our liberal educational view we formulate four conditions for the funding of denominational schools and describe the character of public schools. We conclude by sketching how in our liberal democratic society a differentiated educational system of public and denominational schools should look like.