"State schools demanding payments from parents"

The authoritarians on Question Time were getting all hot and bothered about "faith schools flouting admission laws".

Am I the only one who thinks that this is actually A Very Good Thing?

1. It highlights the fact how rubbish most state schools are, and the fact that schools are vastly improved if there's a bit of good old-fashioned ethics and discipline (and I'm sure most atheists like me  share these values!)

2. At present, house prices are much higher in the catchment areas of good state schools. When you buy a house there, you are paying a premium for the net present value of the 'free' education your kids will get. If schools start charging for that education directly, then the premium will be reduced, so instead of that extra money going to people who are selling a house in that area, it will go directly towards your kids' education.

3. It is a teeny-tiny step towards the idea of funding education via vouchers-plus-top-up-fees.

4. Libertarian philosophy says 'Leave people alone and see what they do'. The message is clear here - there is demand for good education and many parents are prepared to pay a bit extra for a better education for their kids, so rather than endless 'radical shake-ups', why not have a policy that 'goes with the grain'?