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Parents who have the primary and inalienable right and duty to educate
their children must enjoy true liberty in their choice of schools.
Consequently, the public power, which has the obligation to protect
and defend the rights of citizens, must see to it, in its concern for
distributive justice, that public subsidies are paid out in such a way
that parents are truly free to choose according to their conscience the
schools they want for their children.[20]
In addition it is the task of the state to see to it that all citizens
are able to come to a suitable share in culture and are properly
prepared to exercise their civic duties and rights. Therefore the
state must protect the right of children to an adequate school
education, check on the ability of teachers and the excellence of their
training, look after the health of the pupils and in general, promote
the whole school project. But it must always keep in mind the
principle of subsidiarity so that there is no kind of school monopoly,
for this is opposed to the native rights of the human person, to the
development and spread of culture, to the peaceful association of
citizens and to the pluralism that exists today in ever so many
societies.[21]
Therefore this sacred synod exhorts the faithful to assist to their
utmost in finding suitable methods of education and programs of study
and in forming teachers who can give youth a true education. Through
the associations of parents in particular they should further with their
assistance all the work of the school but especially the moral education
it must impart.[22]
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