Judge forces Wake County children from home school
- Apr 9, 2009
A week after a Wake County judge ordered a home school parent to return her three children to public school this fall, his rationale comes to light. He thinks her church is a cult and presents a danger to the children.
This is not a neat, clean case but it immediately grabbed national attention and it illustrates again why judges “with the wisdom of Solomon” are so rare and highly regarded. I’m not saying Judge Ned Mangum is burdened with that expectation but any judge struggles through the circumstances to arrive at a decision he or she feels is best.
Probably not a single home schooling advocate would agree with him and after seeing a public access television interview with the mother, Venessa Mills of Raleigh, I can see why. The judge’s ruling comes in the midst of a divorce case between the parents of the home-schooled children. While the husband originally supported his wife’s desire to home school, which she’s been doing four years, he no longer does.
After being happily married for many years, Mangum said the couple’s relationship began to change when Mrs. Mills left their church to start attending Sound Doctrine Church, a movement started in Washington state. Information on its doctrine page indicates it is very fundamental, but says “We are not the only true Christians or church,” an admission no cult likely would make.
Ironically, Mr. Mill’s attorney also represents the Wake County Board of Education. Evidently the attorney convinced Judge Mangum that public schools — whose board she represents — are best for her client’s home schooled children, despite the mother’s desire to home school.
In his preliminary ruling, the judge awarded $1,375 monthly child support to the mother and three children – of the husband’s $10,000 monthly income. With an $1,100 mortgage that virtually guarantees the mom must find a job outside the home and will be unable to continue her home-schooling education.
Parents are the best judges of the best school situation for their children and, unfortunately, the parents do not agree in this case. Because the children’s schooling is an issue in the divorce case, and the parents cannot agree, the judge has to decide. That’s a good example of reasons to avoid settling disagreements in court.
Mangum admitted that “Mrs. Mills had done a good job,” in her home schooling, but he thought “public schooling would be a good complement” to what she had been doing, according to a story in the Raleigh News and Observer.
That is scary business. I am not one who sees the tentacles of government lurking under every bed but home schooling is not an experiment.
For the past generation it has been proven a solid, effective and character building method of education. If there is a “complement” needed, the home schooling parents are the first to seek, find and implement it.
Children are “socialized” through many activities, often in church, and in organized home school groups that share lessons and field trips.
In Wake County, Mills’ family friend Robyn Williams has gathered forces and launched a website to rally home school support. You can follow developments at www.hsinjustice.com.
The status and reputation of home schooling today is dramatically different from 25 years ago when my family did it, depending on where we lived, our children’s needs and quality of the local schools. The extent of materials and church and community support available today is simply not comparable to the lack of same back then.
It is legal and in many cases beneficial to home school. It is difficult to see how any wise judge could dictate an action that counters what even the father says: “The children have thrived in home school for the past four years.”
This editorial is reprinted from the March 28, 2009, issue of the Biblical Recorder, the newsjournal of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.