Posted on 03/06/2008 1:31:14 PM PST by fweingart
A three-judge panel of the California Court of Appeal has determined parents in that state have no legal right to home school. A Christian attorney in Sacramento says unless the ruling is reversed, literally thousands of students in the Golden State will be subject to criminal sanctions. (click here for special webcast starting at 2 p.m. CST)
California Justice H. Walter Croskey has stated in an opinion that "parents who fail to [comply with school enrollment laws] may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction, and subject to imposition of fines or an order to complete a parent education and counseling program." The opinion was issued in the case of one family who enrolled their daughter in Sunland Christian School, a private home-schooling program based in Sylmar.
The ruling reverses an earlier opinion from a Superior Court that found that "parents have a constitutional right to school their children in their own home." But in his reversal, Croskey refers to the "ruse of enrolling [children] in a private school and then letting them stay home and be taught by a non-credentialed parent."
Brad Dacus, president of the Sacramento-based Pacific Justice Institute, calls the scope of the decision "breathtaking."
"It not only attacks traditional home schooling, but also calls into question home schooling through charter schools and teaching children at home via independent study through public and private schools," he explains.
According to Dacus, the ruling goes against prior court decisions. "Case law in federal court and by the U.S. Supreme Court [has] already recognized that parents have a fundamental right over the education of their children," he points out. "And in fact, the lower-court judge in this decision ... actually ruled that these parents had a constitutional right to home school their children. But it was reversed by this three-judge panel in this appellate court."
Dacus says an appeal has already been filed by his firm on the school's behalf. "We're going to try to have this decision non-published and specifically tabled until a final determination by the State Supreme Court," he says. And if the decision is not reversed, says the attorney, "more than 166,000 students currently receiving an education at home will be subject to criminal sanctions."
For the time being, the decision affects four counties in the Los Angeles metro area. Sunland Christian School, says the Pacific Justice Institute, has been in full compliance with the requirements of California law for more than 20 years.
Americans fought a war for independence, now it appears we need a revolution.
what we have now is a government of the liberals, by the liberals, and for the liberals.
Will the last sane person to leave California, please remember to lock the gate on your way out................
But educating illegal aliens in State schools at taxpayer expense is just fine..
FORCED INDOCTRINATION PING!!
Oh boy. Here’s a 500-post thread in the making.
California Court rulings are unlawful, says home schoolers.
I lived in California for a long time. It used to be a great state....used to.
I’ve always believed that when the next civil war erupts in America, California will be the state where the conflagration begins.
I’d post what I think should be done to this SOB judge but the moderators on FR tend to frown on that kind of thing.
Throw down time?
All your children are belong to us.
HOME SCHOOL ALERT!
I have had several reasons to be proud of my state recently. This is one of them. My state has been and remains very friendly to home schoolers.
Coming soon to neighboring state(s), no doubt. Sick!!
We must end the gridlock and join hands with our leftist, marxist brethern for the good of the country.
Hillary's the one! She'll fight for families, especially since she knows so much about them. Her family is about as maladjusted as the fictional Addams Family.
Don't we want someone of experience to answer the White House phone at 3:00 AM?
If Hillary is elected, the only one answering the phone at that hour will be the hillbilly, marxist rapist with someone like Babs on the other end.
Hillary, of course, is an early to bed person who prefers to pull the covers over her head, turn on her flashlight and cavort with her live-in muslim.
Listen up, Subjects!
You WILL submit your children to become wards of The State. Assimilate into the Collective willingly or the forced submission will not go well for you.
You have NO choice in this matter.
(But is seems leftists are FOR “choice” on just about every other matter.)
It’s still a great state. I live in conservative country in the foothills above Sacramento. Granted, I work downtown but it’s not bad here either. I get a big grin every Friday as I go past the war protesters at the corner of L and 15th. Bunch of ancient hippies, I can smell the patchouli from em now...
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