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Homeschoolers decry court ruling
By Kim Minugh - kminugh@sacbee.com
Published 5:33 pm PST Friday, March 7, 2008
Dennis Choban carries a sign ("Homeschooling not a crime") as he joins protesters of a ruling on homeschooling children as they march outside the Department of Education in Sacramento on Friday. Brian Baer / bbaer@sacbee.com
A small group of protesters gathered outside the state Department of Education on Friday afternoon to decry a state appellate court ruling last month that could dramatically limit homeschooling in California.
Holding signs reading "Homeschooling is not a crime" and "Hitler banned homeschooling, too," the dozen protesters insisted that parents have a right to educate their children in whatever manner they see fit -- with or without a teaching credential.
The Feb. 28 ruling stated that, for the most part, homeschooling is only legal when lead by a credentialed teacher or tutor.
"(Parents) are the most qualified (to teach children) because you know them best. You raised them up," said Viktor Choban of Citrus Heights. "How can they say you need a credential if your best credentials are God-given credentials and years spent with the children?"
Choban, 24, helps his father, Valeriy, homeschool younger children in the family. They moved from the Ukraine 10 years ago and expected less government control in American education than what they encountered in their home country, Valeriy said.
"I thought we'd have more freedom here to teach God's truth," he said.
The appellate court ruling stems from a Southern California lawsuit involving a family that claimed their children were enrolled in a private school, but primarily taught their children at home.
State education officials are still reviewing the ruling to determine its implications, according to a spokeswoman.
For a complete story, see Saturday's Bee.
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