Those who cannot handle such a rigorous academic load need not do it. The EBac is just a guide: history, geography and languages will still be optional. But schools ought to give the proper guidance to children when choosing GCSEs based on the future of the child, not on the future of the school. Just as restriction of moral choices for the younger child is crucial in teaching self-restraint, choice of subject for the teenager should be restricted for the benefit of the child's future. Our better private schools do this all of the time, as a matter of routine. Indeed schools in most European countries do this, and many state schools used to do this before 2004.

Interestingly, some who oppose the EBac can be very fond of the International Baccalaureate. They hail the middle-years International Baccalaureate which restricts choice considerably until age 16. Pupils are required to study their mother tongue, a second language, a humanities subject, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical education and technology.  The normal IB diploma continues to age 18. It is difficult to see why one would criticise the EBac for being too restrictive but praise the IB, unless one is simply against any new ideas that come from the Conservatives. No doubt one of the reasons for the huge success of the International Baccalaureate is because of its careful guidance of its children until they are old enough to choose for themselves. 

It is often thought that freedom means unbridled choice, but this is not always the case, particularly when it comes to children. Choices need to be limited or controlled early on so that a child can learn right from wrong, and so that he can also learn the core academic subjects that are required for a prosperous future. 

Freedom without boundaries means chaos. Chaos is what we had in our streets as our cities burned during the riots. People keep asking for an explanation for what is now called our "feral youth". The explanation is that we have given them rampant freedom without guidance. In an age of moral relativism, this is rarely questioned. 

As John Stuart Mill, the founder of modern liberalism, said, "Those who are still in a state to require being taken care of by others must be protected against their own actions." It is our duty as adults to restrict children's choices so that they can grow up into educated, morally courageous, and truly free human beings.