Toby Young at ‘The Spectator’ considers the implications for Eton’s educational ethos, as well as for the dismissed Mr Knowland, when the head chooses safety over independent critical thought:
As he (Mr Knowland) wrote in his letter, if we prioritise emotional safety over intellectual challenge and censor any views that might make students or teachers feel uncomfortable, we will sacrifice one of the most valuable things about education, which is introducing children to new worlds, expanding their horizons and helping them transcend the narrow confines of their everyday lives.