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Christianity Today, March (Web-only), 2008 |

California Court Says Religious Claim Doesn't Grant Homeschooling Right

Appellate judge: "Parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children."

Sarah Pulliam | posted 3/06/2008 10:13AM

A California appellate court ruled last week that a family's religious convictions do not guarantee a right to homeschool their children.

"California courts have held that under provisions in the Education ...

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John G.

Posted: March 06, 2008 3:47 PM

Most of the others have said it well. I retired last year after 38 years as a public school teacher, and am now teaching a Spanish class for a local group of homeschoolers. Homeschooling, when properly done, has organization, accountability, and even socialization. Yes, there are some abuses, but any system is subject to abuse. These kids are, overall, much better off than those who are herded through the public school system. And statistics show a very high percentage of homeschooled kids who go on to operate their own businesses. Sadly, we live in a time of increasing government encroachment -- which will only intensify if a Democrat is elected as president!

John Mark

Posted: March 06, 2008 2:51 PM

No system of education is perfect, but it has been well said that government schools (that is what they are) often fail to educate kids. I was raised by public educators, so I don't blame teachers, necessarily, it is the over all system that is at fault. I am told that in California and other places a great deal of cultural indoctrination goes on, a great deal of it antithetical to Christian values. I think this is largely about 1) government control and 2) a deep prejudice toward Christian conservatives, most of whom are not activists, but who just want to be left alone. In many cases I am convinced that parents primarily want to protect their children from the "socialization" that many feel their kids are missing out on. I would ask, as well; where in the consitution does it say that the government has a right to educate children?

Calipendence

Posted: March 06, 2008 2:41 PM


I think this is great. Look, I know some great kids have come out of homeschooling, but so have some seriously warped individuals. And that's just it - the state has no way to know if the parents are teaching their kids Flat Earth "science" or whatnot. At least with a standardized regimen, we can avoid raising delusional kids.

Fred	Posted: March 06, 2008 2:31 PM

Yes, abosolutely because 1) we still live in a free democratic society where individuals who are passionage enough about an issue can make a difference - including in public education where some of the best, most passionate teachers are Christians. 2) I have seen some wonderful outcomes of homeschooling to the point that governments should be encouraging and supportive - it is a wonderful option for many parents and their children. AND, I have seen some situations that are horrible, negligent, where lazy and/or incompetent parents have no business even attempting such an undertaking.

H W	Posted: March 06, 2008 2:10 PM

HA!! The government cannot even run their own government schools and systems!! How are they going to "help" home-schoolers? Parents have the right to make the decisions for their children's education. If you want, look at the results over-all. Home-schooled children test far above government schooled children and are now being aggressively recruited by colleges. They can freely think and reason for them-selves and are better prepared for areas of leadership. The NEA is afraid of home-schools because they do it better and are having better results over-all. Government, stay away from home-schoolers, FAR AWAY!!!

John the Baptist

Posted: March 06, 2008 1:49 PM

Y.P. - while there are, from time to time, a few cases where home schooling may be done badly, in most cases it is not. The opposite is true for public schooling - there may be a few cases where it is done well, but in most cases it is done very badly indeed. The tired old lines about the children being poorly adjusted, not "socialized," etc ad nauseum have proved to be myths and fabrications. Homeschooling is vastly superior to public schooling. Homeschool parents go to great lengths to educate their children, the support groups of which I have been a member and of which my son and daughter-in-law are members have been very good. We homeschooled our children, and our grandchildren are being homeschooled to provide them with superior educations. Our eldest is now a professor of English at a state university. He has to deal every day with the products of our public education systems. There is no way he will subject his children to that!

Y. P.

Posted: March 06, 2008 1:23 PM

Unfortunately, I have witnessed home schooling done badly in a few cases. Older children teach the younger, there is little to no accountability, and the children are NOT well adjusted. Home schooling can be used as an easy way out for parents who do not want to deal with the root cause of their children’s problems. On the other hand, I have also seen home schooling done very well in the case of children who have special needs and those where the parents strive to do it well, keeping their children active in other socially stimulating activities. There needs to be more accountability with those who chose to home school their children though. The system leaves too much room for abuse, in my opinion.

Jim B

Posted: March 06, 2008 1:18 PM

I think if the judge took a good look at the public school system in most of the metropolitan areas of California, he would find that state-educated kids are receiving is equally 'lousy,' 'meager,' and 'bad.' What is going to do for the millions of kids stuck in that situation. Plenty of publc school families are brutalized emotionally and live in desperation. The real cloistering is having thousands of kids packed together for most of each day without much adult interaction (except the security patrols in the hallway looking for guns, knives and drugs). If the judge's ruling stands, thousands of kids may be forced in to the already overcrowded public schools. Not a good idea.

Eugene Edwards

Posted: March 06, 2008 1:13 PM

My own personal feeling is that the courts have way too much power today. THere is nothing allowing them this carte blanche right to interfere in every aspect of our lives - especially in the religious area. It is time the American people stand up and protest some rulings made by all the courts in this land. Everyone yells "separation of church and state," until the courts decide they want to meddle in something like this. We, as a nation, have allowed the slow encroachment of the cours into areas where they should just butt out. As long as they muscle their way in, they will definitely do it. I feel any parent has the right to home-school their children if they so decide. I would go with some monitoring to be certain the environment is safe for their health, also.

Carl T. Fynboe

Posted: March 06, 2008 12:40 PM

As an educator of many years I support the constitutional and religious rights of parents to homeschool their children. Several years ago the Washington State Legislature passed what I consider to be an excellent Home School law. In evaluating schooling for children I believe it is necessary to consider all aspects of excellence and deficiencies in the quality of instruction provided, but in the final analysis the responsibility rests with the parent or guardian's right to make decisions regarding the method of delivering educational services that best fits the interests of the family and child. The environment where a child's schooling takes place does not negate the concern for the health and safety and protection of the child.

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