Judge: Home-Schooled Kids Must Go to Public School
In a decision that will no doubt have home-schooling parents everywhere spitting mad, a judge in North Carolina has ordered three children in the midst of a divorce proceeding be sent back to public school.
But don’t pull out the pitchforks yet moms and dads – this comes down to religion . . . or quasi-religion anyway.
Judge Ned Mangum has granted Thomas Mills and his now ex-wife, Venessa, joint custody of their three kids, ages ten, eleven and twelve. But he’s over-ruled Venessa’s request that she be able to continue their home-schooled curriculum, which includes swimming lessons, piano and instruction via Web Cam from Sound Doctrine, a Washington-based church group described by some as a cult.
It’s the Sound Doctrine work that concerns Thomas Mills, who has said in court affidavits that after getting involved in the church (online), his wife withdrew and became a different person from the woman he married. While his wife called on evidence that their kids have tested at least two grades above grade level in the program, he countered with witnesses who testified to the “church’s” leader making lascivious and inappropriate statements about young girls and called on Venessa’s mother to speak out against her daughter’s practices as a parent.
Check out the church site for yourself (or this scathing look at its philosophies) – see if you agree with kids being taught to “keep yourself in the fear
of God and do not seek too much freedom. Restrain all your passions
under discipline and do not give yourself to foolish mirth.” OK sheep-le, no laughing, no showing passion for anything and for God’s sake, you are NOT free. You are oppressed, kids, and that is good.
Their other site, by the way, is down not because it’s under construction but “at the Lord’s direction.”
Still, Venessa Mills is earning a band of supporters – home-schooling parents who say the judge’s decision puts their decisions to home-school at risk, even though they have no personal affiliations with Sound Doctrine. Says the parent who created Home School Liberty, “I suddenly realized that if I do not stand up and take action I might
lose my parental right to teach my children according to my own beliefs
and convictions.”
I have several home-schooling friends who are doing a fine job – and know plenty of home-schooled kids who can attest to its success, so I’d agree that protecting parents’ rights to home-school is important. But this case may well be a litmus test of where states should – or at least can – draw the line on what a home-school curriculum entails.
Is this an invasion of a parent’s right to choose a lifestyle for their kids? Or is this appropriate use of the state’s power?
Image: HSLDA
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I think the title of this post is misleading. This is really more about 2 divorced parents disagreeing than about a judge ordering home-schooled children to go to public school.
You say they have JOINT custody. I am not sure why then claim the father “over-ruled her [the mom].” Isn’t she just as much “over-ruling” his decision to send them to public school.
Anyway – what a mess for these poor kids.
This seems to be the judge deciding between 2 parents’ views. It isn’t really against home-schooling per se, but rather in favor of one parent’s choice over another. If it was a non-sectarian private school she wanted and he public, would people think they wouldn’t be allowed to send their kids to private school anymore if the judge decided the public school was better for the kids for some reason? I don’t think so.
Well put, Beeker.
The part about the cult’s leader making lascivious and inappropriate remarks about little girls gave me chills… what sort of mother is okay with that? I’d take my kids and run as fast as I could.
that girl – the tone is reserved for religions that encourage their “followers” to opt out on passion and free thought.
I home school but in this case I agree with the judge if the facts are straight. The father has a right to input on the education his children receive. Cult or not both parents have to agree on the education of their children. I am sure the judge did not make the decision lightly.
Yawn, why are homeschoolers such drama queens?
If you want the state to stay completely out of your life, never get divorced. It
I’d say this is more about two parents in a custody fight than homeschooling. If the parents were still together, this never would have been an issue with the courts.
While I’m very pro-homeschooling, I won’t say that I completely disagree with the judge’s ruling. That group is creepy, and I have a feeling the dad had very real concerns for his kids.
Is this really about homeschooling? Or is it about divorced parents sharing custody disagreeing on how to raise their kids?
THe tone used to describe the group’s philosophies was really mocking – is this judgement reserved only for Christianity or distributed equally among all religions?
I’m willing to bet there’s money involved too. If she continues to homeschool, there’s a good chance the judge will award her more money, at least in the short term, because the time required to homeschool would negatively impact the amount of time she’d have available for paid employment. If the husband says, though, hey, it’s fine by me if the kids go to public school, there’s a good chance he’ll have to pay less, b/c there’d be no reason for her to remain out of the workforce.
A sad case, all around.
Jenny
http://www.bloggingboutboys.blogspot.com