La neutralidad ideológica del Estado y el derecho preferente de los padres en la educación de sus hijos. El caso de la formación ciudadana. Chile y España

The neutrality of the State in education has as its fundamental purpose to avoid any form of indoctrination and with it any authoritarian intention contrary to democracy. Education as a fundamental right and whose guarantee corresponds to the State, is not only about the transmission of formal knowledge. Education also aims at the free development of personality thought, skills, criticism and this undoubtedly includes the instruction of informed and trained citizens who can participate in the processes that take place within the framework of a plural society. That is why citizen training in principles, democratic values and respect for fundamental rights constitutes a justified and proportional exception to the State’s duty of neutrality. While a tolerable intervention in the preferential right of parents, representatives and guardians in the education of their students. As long as respect for ideological freedom, freedom of expression, the right to information is maintained and free and plural debate is promoted on those issues that are controversial.