The Right Call

September 2, 2008
Larry and Katrina, a Christian couple married nearly six years, are the proud parents of two beautiful little girls, one of whom just joined the family last month.  When their daughters are old enough, they will be home-schooled.

“We just want to spend as much time as possible with our children,” Larry said. “We want to be the primary influence on their lives.”

Of course, they will have that opportunity. It seems ridiculous to think that their choice to school their children in their home was ever at risk – but it was.

Indeed, it is in large part due to the work of Alliance Defense Fund attorneys and our allies, like the Home School Legal Defense Association, that homeschooling continues to be an option for America’s families.

In February, the California Court of Appeal issued a decision that could have made most homeschooling in that state a crime. The ruling sent shockwaves through many communities. Although ADF was not involved in the early proceedings of the case, we asked to be involved after this alarming ruling, which posed a serious threat to the religious liberty of families in California, as well as their freedom to choose how to educate their children.

Criminalizing the constitutionally-protected right of a parent to direct their children’s education was wrong. Thankfully, the court understood that argument by ADF and allied attorneys and reversed its previous decision.

“This victory enables thousands of Christian parents to exercise their faith and educate their children without fear,” said ADF Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb. “These parents are not criminals. They do a great job teaching their children and can continue doing that now without being hampered by bureaucratic bullies.”

I shudder to think what would have happened for thousands of California families if ADF had not become involved in this case – and how this could have spread across the nation. The ADF team of highly-trained and dedicated lawyers did an excellent job ensuring the Court of Appeal had the correct facts, and because of your prayers and support and their expertise, families no longer have to fear facing criminal charges for educating their own children.

Larry and Katrina can begin selecting curriculum, remodeling their upstairs office into a classroom, and preparing for quality time with their children. They can teach their daughters about the U.S. Constitution and give them a great example of how their own rights were protected.

The Wall Street Journal wrote an editorial on this case. You can read it by clicking here. With your faithful support, ADF can continue fighting – and winning – crucial cases like this one that will shape what tomorrow looks like in America for our children and grandchildren!