Wake judge orders home schoolers into classrooms
A judge in Wake County said three Raleigh children need to switch from home school to public school. Judge Ned Mangum is presiding over divorce proceeding of the children’s parents, Thomas and Venessa Mills.
Venessa Mills was in the fourth year of home schooling her children who are 10, 11 and 12 years old. They have tested two years above their grade levels, she said.
“We have math, reading; we have grammar, science, music,†Venessa Mills said.
Her lessons also have a religious slant, which the judge said was the root of the problem.
“My teaching is strictly out of the Bible, and it’s very clear. It is very evident so I just choose to follow the Bible,†Venessa Mills said.
In an affidavit filed Friday in the divorce case, Thomas Mills stated that he “objected to the children being removed from public school.” He said Venessa Mills decided to home school after getting involved with Sound Doctrine church “where all children are home schooled.”
Thomas Mills also said he was “concerned about the children’s religious-based science curriculum” and that he wants “the children to be exposed to mainstream science, even if they eventually choose to believe creationism over evolution.”
In an oral ruling, Mangum said the children should go to public school.
“He was upfront and said that, ‘It’s not about religion.’ But yet when it came down to his ruling and reasons why, ‘He said this would be a good opportunity for the children to be tested in the beliefs that I have taught them,’” Venessa Mills said.
All sides agree the children have thrived with home school, and Vanessa Mills thinks that should be reason enough to continue teaching at home.
“I cannot sit back and allow this to happen to other home schoolers. I don’t want it happening to my children,†Venessa Mills said.
Mangum said he wouldn’t talk with WRAL News Thursday about the details of the case because he hasn’t issued a written ruling yet. He said he expected to sign it in a few weeks.
An estimated 71,566 students were taught at home during the 2007-08 school year, according to figures released by the state Division of Non-Public Education. The enrollment amounts to about 4 percent of students ages 7 to 16 in North Carolina – students in that age range are required by state law to attend school. About two-thirds of the schools classified themselves as religious schools.
Home school students and their parents plan to come to Raleigh on March 24 to lobby at the state Legislature. They want to demonstrate they have a strong voice regarding education.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:08 am
totally bull shit…..i mean come on
March 17th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Gotta make sure the kids are fully exposed to government endoctrination. It will not do having kids who are capable of rational and independent thought.
March 18th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
If I had my way, all those ridiculous religious zealots would be hog tied and pelted with paintballs.
March 20th, 2009 at 12:05 am
This judge is retarded. He is violating the family’s right to exercise their religion. The court cannot question the validity of a religion, only the sincerity with which the belief is held. So long as the children continue to excel in school there is no reason to infringe upon the family’s right to free exercise.
May 4th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
If these children are forced into public school due to the lack of mainstream science, then why can the Amish people use a curriculem of pure religion and use the Bible as the only source of liturature. Why? Because it is their constitutional right! Thats why! Even stupid religious believers of ignorant fairy tales have constitutional rights that cant be infringed on.
May 9th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Ridiculous….lets expose the children to a mediocre to poor public education that does little to make them globally competitive. As long as the home schooled kids test at the same level or better in biology, chemistry and physics..religious based teaching is no big deal.
There is a reason our Universities offer High School level courses in the freshman year. Many degree programs in other nations are 3 years because their students were well prepared at the high school level by having 13 classes as opposed to our typical 6-7 classes.
The only issue I have ever read about home schooled kids concerns their social growth. These kids tend to be socially awkward and might not be accepted by their peers. However, that shouldn’t be a reason to discontinue their home based education.
May 13th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Parents are the greatest teachers for children. Children learn from their parents’ acts, not their words.
May 14th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
cut the shiz ppl we teach our kids the manners that are necessary in life. these teachers today are only in it for the money. these judges punish the wrong ppl that do the minor crimes and let the worst criminals go. let the parents do their own thing. these schools are riddled with corrupt kids due to broken families. they should keep them kids in home schooling
May 30th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
The mother has every right to teach her children about God, just like the dad has every right to make sure his children get a well rounded education. If he doesn’t feel she is giving them a full education, he has the right and responsability to his children to do something about it. If you teach your children about God at home properly, they will take it with them no matter what school they attend and you won’t feel the need to keep them away from anything that might challenge you.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
What I find funny, is all the people who jump so quickly to decide what this couples’ children should or should not do. Frankly, the decision should be strictly between the childrens’ parents, and the court since the father believes differently than the mother. Personally, I chose public school for my children. A decision made between my kids father and myself. Should they, one day, chose to become a bit more religious, so be it.. but until then, I want my children to be exposed to all aspects so when they become adults, they can make an educated decision of their own.
July 29th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Sometimes it’s really that simple, isn’t it? I feel a little stupid for not thinking of this myself/earlier, though.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
This brings me to an idea:…
August 11th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I would agree with it, only if the facts show the parents are dirt bags and the kids cant read or write at some level and in poor health.. Other than its the parents rights and its a matter of the children getting brought into a nasty Hogan style divorce…
August 21st, 2009 at 8:36 am
Sometimes it’s really that simple, isn’t it? I feel a little stupid for not thinking of this myself/earlier, though.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:55 am
If these parents had stayed together and not gotten divorced the court wouldn’t be involved. Stay married untill your kids are grown ang out of the house. Worry about your kids and not your own happiness and you wont be able to bitch about the court getting in your business, You would be able do do WHATEVER you wanted with your own kids. The ONLY reason the court is making these decisions for you is because YOU invited them into your relationship. YOU put yourself above your kids and now you are crying about it. YOU chose to have kids now stay married untill they are grown and out of the house especially if you are SO religous. HYPOCRITES!!!