Freedom for families: to choose the school they want

An important part of the task we have to carry out is to ensure that freedom, rightly understood, is loved and practised in all areas of education. The freedom of families, in the first place, to make an honest choice of the school or establishments which they judge most suitable for the education of their children. Derived “from nature is their right to train the children to whom they have given birth, with the added obligation to shape and direct the education of their little ones to the end for which God vouchsafed them the privilege of transmitting the gift of life. It is, then, incumbent on parents to strain every nerve to ward off [an attack in this area], and to strive manfully to have and to hold exclusive authority to direct the education of their offspring, as is fitting, in a Christian manner.”¹¹

Freedom for centres: to work as they determine

The freedom of centres, so that they can all do their work on equal terms; the freedom to choose the most suitable teaching staff, according to the spirit of each institution, in order to be able to work most effectively.

Freedom for teachers: to practise their profession

The freedom of teachers and lecturers to practise their profession honestly and competently, without unjust pressure from a monopoly of the privileged; and to study and sincerely seek the truth without being conditioned by financial or social factors.

Freedom and rights of students

And closely linked to all these honest freedoms is the freedom of students, the right not to have their personalities distorted and their aptitudes nullified; the right to receive a healthy formation, without their natural docility being abused in order to impose tendentious human opinions or criteria on them. A respectful attitude “should be observed therefore in whatever instruction is imparted to others. Its obligation is all the more binding in justice when there is question of instructing young people. For in this work the teacher, whether public or private, has no absolute right of his own, but only such as has been delegated to him by others. Besides, every Christian child or young person has a strict right to instruction in harmony with the teaching of the Church.”¹²

Freedom of university students and participation in academic life

Finally, the freedom of university students to meet in groups or associations, where their human, cultural and spiritual formation can mature, enabling them to participate responsibly in university life, without childishness and without letting themselves be used to stir up disorder.