Do parents have a constitutional right to homeschool their children? No, according to a California District Court judge, who recently ruled that a child must be schooled "by a person holding a valid state teaching credential for the grade being taught”.
What started as a Los Angeles County child welfare case involving one specific family has gone into proceedings that have actually put on trial the very nature of what constitutes a sound education. “For decades we’ve been happily homeschooling, and then this comes up suddenly,” says Mary Griffith, a homeschooling parent. Griffith says California had traditionally given homeschooling parents the freedom to choose the kind of education they want for their child.
This particular family in Los Angeles had enrolled their children in a private school independent study program not in their home. In response to abuse charges against the family, the children were enrolled in public schools. The parents stated they had a constitutional right to homeschool on religious grounds; that's when the court ruling was issued. However, Griffith says if the ruling ends up affecting anyone, it will mainly be those who also enroll their children in off-site homeschooling. “This won't be far-reaching for homeschooling parents."
That's how organizations like the Homeschool Association of California (HSC) would like to keep it, anyway, and they've hired a team of lawyers to limit the impact of the case. Griffith says the legal team for HSC is trying to establish that while this ruling may indeed be necessary for this particular family, it should not set a precedent for all.
What does this case really mean for homeschooling families nationwide? According to Darren A. Jones, this decision is certain to affect homeschooling on a national scale. Jones claims that it is common for state courts to look to other states’ rulings for assistance in deciding issues where no precedent exists. “A poor legal decision in California could become part of a trend across the nation.’’
【小题1】In Griffith’s opinion, ________.| A．parents don’t have a right to homeschool their children |
| B．a child must be schooled by an expert with a credential |
| C．homeschooling should be forbidden in the whole country |
| D．it is understandable for parents to homeschool their children |
| A．parents happily homeschool their children |
| B．parents don’t have a right to homeschool their children |
| C．a child must be schooled by a person with a teaching credential |
| D．a Los Angeles County child welfare case involves a special family |
| A．To avoid the abuse charges against them. | B．To receive the better education in it. |
| C．To break away from their parents. | D．To cooperate with the expert’s jobs. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Sympatric. | C．Negative. | D．Objective. |
