Homeschooling is a wonderful option if both parents agree and support the effort.
However, when one parent doesn’t agree or help with homeschooling, it can cause family problems. A divorce makes the issue even stickier.
In a recent North Carolina case, Judge Ned Mangum ordered three children back to public school despite four years of successful homeschooling, according to WorldNetDaily.
The judge, who was handling a divorce proceeding for Thomas and Venessa Mills, explained that his goal in ordering the children to register and attend a public school was to make sure that they have a "more well-rounded education."
He also said that public school would "prepare these kids for the real world and college," and allow them "socialization."
What century is this judge from? 
His legal ruling was despite the fact that the three children, ages 10-12, have been successfully homeschooled for four years after their mother felt that they were not thriving in the public schools.
The children tested up to two years above their grade level, according to Adam Cothes, a spokesman for the mother. He also said that the children were involved in sports and events outside the home, and had leadership roles in a history club.
According to the Homeschool Injustice Website, the judge rewarded the children’s father, a confessed adulterer.
“He was given freedom to stay at the family home indefinitely while playing tennis with his mistress,” said Robyn Williams, a homeschooler and certified teacher.
This living arrangement caused major stress to the mother, according to Williams, and it burdened the children with a visitation schedule that created an unworkable and disruptive environment.
"I have never seen such injustice and such a direct attack against homeschool," she stated.
The father's lawyer conceded that the reason for the divorce was the father's "adultery."
Yet the father refused to pay for homeschooling expenses for his children, even though he admitted that his ex-wife was a nurturing, loving mother who did a good job homeschooling.
“He does not believe that continued homeschooling is in the best interest of the children," according to his attorney.
What a shame that the children will be the losers in this messy case.
Despite its huge success, homeschooling is constantly being challenged in the courts.
However, homeschooling advocates are strong, united, and aggressive when it comes to protecting their constitutional rights to make the best decisions for their children.
For example, recently many homeschoolers from North Carolina met and talked to the mother in this case, Venessa Mills, at the Raleigh for Capital Fest 2009 sponsored by North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE).
This event is held for homeschoolers in North Carolina to show support for homeschool laws, and to educate legislators on the success of homeschooling
It’s important that homeschoolers continue to fight.
In California, a court panel recently tried to take away parents’ right to homeschool when they ruled that only “credentialed teachers could properly educate children.”
Thank goodness this outraged homeschool advocates, according to WorldNetDaily.
The conclusion was reversed after the California court was faced with many briefs and objections from individuals and groups, including Congress members.
It was finally decided that parents, not the state of California, have the constitution right to decide how to educate their children.
"Thousands of California families have educated their children successfully through homeschooling,” according to Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb from the Alliance Defense Fund.
“We're pleased with the court's decision, which protects the rights of families and protects an avenue of education that has proven to benefit children time and time again.”
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Comments
Apparently the mother was nurturing and loving towards the children, but wasn't so good at nurturing and loving her husband.
I can understand the father not wanting to pay for homeschooling, when if the children are in public school, the mother can work and help support her children. Besides, if the marriage failed due to adultery, she was probably coddling the kids far more than is food for them. Another reason the judge may have decided that the kids belonged in school. If the mother can get a good enough job, she can always put the kids in a private school.
Anne
Wow this guy gets to cheat on his wife (which there is no excuse for) AND get to make all the right choices for their kids. Ripping them from an education that made them excel 2 grades AND quality time with their mom in one fell swoop. Good job Mr. Mills. Another extramarital affair well executed.
Your kids will never listen to that woman Mr. Mills, trust me. Even if she says the right thing, they won't listen because of whose mouth the guidance is coming from. But at least you got to double burn your wife, right?
You get the volvo, the couch and the right to pull our kids out of school??
I thought the goal for judges in divorce cases was to not rock the boat any more then needed for the kids?
The father admits that the mom is loving, nurturing and good at homeschooling, so what is it really about? Power?
Anne, It's called for better for worse. It's obvious that you feel this poor adolescent man was justified in having an affair because he was jealous of the time his kids were getting homeschooling.
To me, the father should have a say in education, but it should not over rule the primary caregiver.
Also, even worse than the decision is the judge's ignorant comments about homeschooling.
I thought it had come out that this was less about homeschooling and more about the mom's involvement with her church--which they fear is a cult. Her own family has spoken out against her. Also, the father's relationship supposedly didn't happen until after the couple had decided to split up. The break up was supposedly a result of the mom's participation in this church. I'm not sure how true all of this is. I'm just going by different articles I've read. But the parents have joint custody. So, why shouldn't the father's wishes me considered too? I'm a homeschooling parent and was outraged when this story first broke. But it does not appear to be as cut and dry as everyone thinks.
It's really not about homeschooling. It's about the religion. BOTH the mother and father do NOT agree on the religious up bring of the children. The father is NOT happy with the mother's 'new' church, and it is her involvement, in said church, that help lead to the divorce, not just his infidelity. I've read the WHOLE court document and you can to. It's here: www.newsobserver.com/content/media/2009/3/17/courtorder.pdf (copy and paste that)
The father wants to have equal say when it comes to the religious up bring and I think the ruling to send them to PS (public school) had to do with that. Send them to a secular school so BOTH mom and dad will have EQUAL playing field when it comes to the childrens' religious up bringing. It's NOT just about the mom and her rights! The dad has equal rights when it comes to the education and religious up bringing of HIS children...his infidelity does NOT take away his rights!
and Amelia is right the parents have JOINT custody! That means they have EQUAL say and right not they CAN NOT agree, so the Judge had to make the choices for THEM!!!
The petition filed by the mother (she was the plaintiff) asked for the father to be denied any overnight or regular Sunday visitation with the children, asked to reduce his contact with the children to 9 hours per week, and asked that he have no decision making authority in any educational or religious matters pertaining to the children. It also asked that the children have no contact with any former members of the mother's church or anyone critical of the mother's church. So I'm not surprised, and consider it perfectly reasonable, for the judge to disallow the mother to homeschool her children after the end of the current school year.
@steven- exactly!
I asked my husband a hypothetical question this morning. It was "If you decided you wanted a divorce, would you also want the kids to stop homeschooling?" He answers YES without hesitation. His reason: Money. He couldn't support 2 households completely... I would need to get a job. Fortunately, he also says that he doesn't believe in divorce.
Just wanted to throw that out there.
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