ADF: Ca. homeschooling decision demonstrates hostility toward choice
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4421
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND STATEMENT
March 7, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom
ADF: Ca. court’s decision against homeschooling demonstrates hostility toward choice
Ca. Court of Appeal says parents cannot educate their children at home
LOS ANGELES — A California Court of Appeal decision which ruled that parents have no legal right to homeschool their children demonstrates a hostility toward parental rights and choice in education, according to attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund. The court ruled that parents without a teaching certificate who educate their children at home can be found guilty of a criminal act.
“Parents should be the ones responsible for making educational choices for their children—not the government. They should not have to get a bachelor’s degree in education just to teach their own kids,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman. “If people think that such hostility toward parental rights and choice in education isn’t possible in America, this decision demonstrates otherwise.”
Ruling against a child enrolled at Sunland Christian School, a private homeschooling program, the California Court of Appeal found that parents who educate their children at home could be criminally liable under California law.
“Educating your children at home should not be a crime. But under this ruling, thousands of California families could face criminal sanctions,” said Cortman. “Those who believe in educational choice should be horrified by this decision and realize that such overzealous government control in education is not limited to foreign countries.”
Attorneys allied with the Alliance Defense Fund in Germany have been involved in defending homeschoolers in that country since it made homeschooling a crime (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=3864).
Pacific Justice Institute represents the homeschooling program involved in the California case, In re: Rachel L. A copy of the decision from the California Court of Appeal is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/RachelOpinion.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.