[UPDATE: This debate was continued in Bishop Hill's post here, and a really thought-provoking comments thread that followed.]

I’ve touched on this before, but I just do not understand why people who care passionately about liberty are so contradictory when it comes to children.

Frequently, libertarian leaning blogs with which I tend to agree on other issues are inconsistent in discussions of children, parenting and education.

Traditionalist talk, of when:

• Children were taught right from wrong
• Parents did not spare the rod and spoil the child
• Schools controlled their pupils and taught only “proper” academic subjects
• Olders and betters were shown the respect they deserve
• It never did anyone any harm
  

just does not sit well with me. It wouldn't have than, and it still doesn't now. It smacks of authoritarianism, coercion, and unnecessary intervention.  Name another group of people for whom libertarians would advocate mandatory institutionalisation and physical and mental subjugation for their own good?

I know that children simply aren’t as free as adults are. They start from a position of complete dependence and inexperience. But it seems to me that if you want children to develop into intelligent, independent and responsible free adults, you have to think very carefully about how you raise them. They don’t start out sub-human, but they are frequently made that way.

• My children will not be hit – I do not want to teach them to turn to violence.
• My children will be loved unconditionally - I want them to feel secure.
• My children will be listened to – I value their contribution.
• My children will not go to school (clarification: unless they choose to) – I do not believe that schools can parent as well as I.
• My children will choose what they want to learn, and how - I do not believe that children are inherently untrustworthy, lazy or stupid. 
• My children will define their own existence - and then you can judge them accordingly. Not me.

Rejecting the traditionalist talk does not mean than I am a middle-class, muesli -and-yoghurt-eating, left-wing, child-obsessed, Boden-clad, bleeding heart apologist for the poor and downtrodden, who will produce an all-singing and dancing troupe of mini Boden-clad high achievers whose professional lives I have already mapped out.*

But I do agree with this man that the children who committed this vile crime were probably not born evil. I know little about their background, but they are likely to have received very confusing messages about authority, coercion and violence. And the moment they had access to a little bit of freedom and power, they had not the faintest idea of how to use it sensibly or responsibly. Whilst I believe they must have known their actions were very wrong, I would question whether even now they understand just how wrong. And I find that likely ignorance just as appalling as what they did to two little boys.

If you have never developed a loving relationship with a trustworthy primary care giver; if parental responsibility has been delegated to various state institutions; if you have only ever been taught through physical or mental coercion and never allowed to really learn; if rational, critical thinking has been devalued, and someone else has always decided on your behalf what is right and wrong, good and bad, important and unimportant; in short, if neither your body nor your mind has ever been adequately respected – how can you ever be capable of showing respect for yourself or other people? How can you ever be trusted?

• That goes for the nostalgic liberty-lovers with a glaring blind spot
• That goes for the yoghurt-and-muesli eating mothers who breed Boden-clad ballet dancers
• That goes for all the people who have children they don’t really want and certainly don’t care for
  

In my view, all of these people are creating big problems for the future - socially and economically. Bad parenting is not reducible to class or political persuasion. It’s a direct result of a failure to treat children as real people, rather than animals, trophies or meal tickets; these children tend to then think or act accordingly. And those of a more libertarian persuasion should understand this as well if not better than anyone else.

*And when people say "Oh, well, I'm not talking about you", it's the same argument as that of the people who advocate freedom of speech for everyone, apart from the people with whom they vehemently disagree.

Rant over: I'm off for Easter. Enjoy.