LACONIA, New Hampshire — A homeschooled girl has been ordered into a government-run public school for having a “bit too sincerely held” Christian beliefs, according to a legal team specializing in religious liberty defense.
U.S. NEWS REPORT
In a news release available online at the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) Web site, it states:
“Although the marital master making recommendations to the court agreed the child is ‘well liked, social and interactive with her peers, academically promising, and intellectually at or superior to grade level’ and that ‘it is clear that the home schooling…has more than kept up with the academic requirements of the…public school system,’ he nonetheless proposed that the Christian girl be ordered into a government-run school after considering ‘the impact of [her religious] beliefs on her interaction with others.’ The court approved the order.”
ADF allied attorney John Anthony Simmons has filed motions with a New Hampshire court, asking it to reconsider its order to send the 10-year-old homeschooled girl into public school.
Simmons said the court acknowledges that the girl in question is doing well socially and academically, but he adds that the court went too far when they determined that the girl’s Christian faith was a “bit too sincerely held and must be sifted, tested by, and mixed among other worldviews.”
Simmons contends that parents have a “fundamental right to make educational choices for their children.” However, the girl’s parents divorced in 1999, and she is now living with her mother who has been homeschooling the child since first grade. As part of the schooling, the young girl has been attending supplemental public school classes.
As part of parental custody hearings, a court-appointed guardian (marital master) stated that the child reflected her mother’s “rigidity” on questions of faith and added that girl’s best interest would be served by exposure to a public school setting.
According to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, Home Education is an enduring American tradition and right. ADF concludes, based on that statement, that there is no legitimate legal basis for this latest court ruling.
Sources: OneNewsNow.com and the Alliance Defense Fund.
More articles by Alex Murashko at LA Church & State Examiner.
Comments
Can we see more details from the other side? This is a very one sided article. I know it can be difficult to obtain such details, but it sounds like you wrote the article entirely from the news release issued by one side.
I'd like to know specifically why a court appointed guardian felt that she was not growing enough in a home school environment. Even if you disagree, you should show both sides in their entirety.
@Simon...but, wait...the court appointed guardian DID say she was growing enough in a home school environment ("doing well socially and academically").
This article specifically states "both sides" already!
Again, thanks for being a reader!
Alex - You say that the court appointed guardian saw those things, then why would she recommend public school so adamantly? She had to have seen something pretty severe. What was it? Obviously the one side won't say - that gives credence to the guardian's opinion. There had to be something serious, though, to warrant this type of order.
What about all the government run school kids that have sincerely held liberal/relativist views, maybe they need to mix it up with some Christianity. Please give me a break. More likely for Gov't run school kids to be delinquent than this girl.
@Simon...I don't know. You tell me why she was adamant?
BTW this was published as the news was breaking about it last night. I believe this is the second story published as it has unfolded.
Certainly, you did not want me to start making calls at 10:30 pm Pacific?
@Rachel...excellent point!
Perhaps tolerance and an open mind is in order for those that so freely claim the market on having "intelligence."
Interesting case. Having worked as a private investigator for many years, I can see how the mom's main consideration at this point is going to be to retain custody, and the freedom of religion battle here will almost certainly be preempted by her hesitancy to go against the family court judge's wishes. Tough time for the 10 year old, especially if the case progresses up through the system and casts a parent in bad light in front of the public. Sadly, there are no winners here.
Sure you should call at 10:30 p.m. =) Just teasing ... I just would appreciate a "This breaking news story is still in development. More updates to come" disclaimer.
I saw some other stories and came across the detail that this was at the father's request. At this point it was a parent vs parent argument that they essentially needed the government to settle. The case worker was surprised that the girl had trouble relating to her and insisted that the case worker describe her faith and discuss Biblical text. According to the court report, she was "visibly upset" when the case worker would not do this.
While it is admirable that the little girl has a strong faith, I think we call can agree that there is more needed to be able to relate and function in this world - especially to win people to Christ. It seems like the counselor saw she was not getting adequate social skills and made a recommendation to the judge for public schooling.
Please continue to cover this, Alex!
What was the social worker/martial master's name? Does this person live near a girl, or go to church? What church does the dad go to?
Since her father would never want religious beliefs mixed with public school teaching he should contact the social worker and court and tell them he agrees with the child's mother 100 percent, no exceptions, so he will be able to reunite with her more successfully.
"What about all the government run school kids that have sincerely held liberal/relativist views, maybe they need to mix it up with some Christianity."
Sounds to me like that's exactly what they did...
On a more serious note it sounds to me like there is still lots of information missing. I doubt the courts are so cut and dry wrong on the issue, especially such an unprecedented decision such as this. I'm waiting to hear the other side of the story before making any judgments.
" a bit too sincerely held.."
Another conclusive proof that government school educrats do not have one clue about the truth of the word of God. I guess, the opposite of this idiotic statement by the educrats would be " The bible, a really good book but you can't take it all that seriously."
I wonder how many self-professed Christian educators were vocal in their opposition to this? Or were they beholden to their teachers union to protect their paychecks?
As in most cases, unfortunately the latter may have applied in this case.
Parents must make the sacrifice. Take your children out of the government schools, get a second job if needed to pay for a private, Christian education. I had to and the return is ten-fold.
Mark Evans
Mark - Sounds like you have a good handle on the reality of things - If you want your child to have a religious school experience, you must make sacrifices to send them to a private school. Public schools must be tailored for children of all beliefs or no beliefs.
Personally, I am torn on the issue for my children. While I want them to be surrounded by Christians, I recognize the importance of relating to non-believers. If I were not able to do this, I would never be able to speak the word of Christ into their lives. When we live entirely in our safe environments of church community, often we forget how to show love for non-believers.
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