In September 2009 The Washington Times reported that a ten-year-old home schooled New Hampshire girl has been court ordered to attend public school. The primary reason given is that the girl and her mother are Christians. District Court Judge Lucinda Sadler said in her decision that the girl's “vigorous defense of her religious beliefs … suggests strongly that she has not had the opportunity to seriously consider any other point of view.” The young girls court appointed guardian ad litem, Janice McLaughlin, said the girl “appeared to reflect the mother’s rigidity on questions of faith,” and that the child would “be best served by exposure to different points of view at a time in her life when she must begin to critically evaluate multiple systems of belief and behavior.”
Perhaps this isn't really happening because the girl and her mother are Christians. Perhaps there is another reason. Except, there isn't. According to court records, the 10 year old girl is a “well adjusted child whose parents were divorced in 1999.” The mother has primary custody and has home schooled the girl for several years in math, English, social studies, science, handwriting, and spelling. Court records also stated that the girl's home schooling has “more than kept up with the academic requirements of the [local] school system.” The girl also takes supplemental public school classes in art, Spanish, theater, and physical education, and is involved in extra-curricular sports such as gymnastics, horseback riding, softball and basketball.
So what this really boils down to is the state disapproves of Christianity and has ordered the girl to be exposed to other religious belief systems. According to court documents, the court appointed guardian ad litem refused to accept critical evidence and key witnesses in the case because they were “connected to Christianity,” and when her mother tried to give Miss McLaughlin home schooling material, McLaughlin reportedly told her, “I don't want to hear it. It's all Christian based.”
At least in New Hampshire, the state will decide what religious beliefs this child will be exposed to, and Christianity will not be one of them.
Sources:
http://www.rense.com/general87/drt.htm
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/04/home-schooled-christian-girl-ordered-to-join-publi/?page=all
Perhaps this isn't really happening because the girl and her mother are Christians. Perhaps there is another reason. Except, there isn't. According to court records, the 10 year old girl is a “well adjusted child whose parents were divorced in 1999.” The mother has primary custody and has home schooled the girl for several years in math, English, social studies, science, handwriting, and spelling. Court records also stated that the girl's home schooling has “more than kept up with the academic requirements of the [local] school system.” The girl also takes supplemental public school classes in art, Spanish, theater, and physical education, and is involved in extra-curricular sports such as gymnastics, horseback riding, softball and basketball.
So what this really boils down to is the state disapproves of Christianity and has ordered the girl to be exposed to other religious belief systems. According to court documents, the court appointed guardian ad litem refused to accept critical evidence and key witnesses in the case because they were “connected to Christianity,” and when her mother tried to give Miss McLaughlin home schooling material, McLaughlin reportedly told her, “I don't want to hear it. It's all Christian based.”
At least in New Hampshire, the state will decide what religious beliefs this child will be exposed to, and Christianity will not be one of them.
Sources:
http://www.rense.com/general87/drt.htm
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/04/home-schooled-christian-girl-ordered-to-join-publi/?page=all
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