Homeshool rights being questioned

I think in this case,  you are right.  Being alone with your mother and studying the Bible is not like getting to have a wide variety of activities and people at school.  Sometimes,  in rough areas with crime and drugs,  homeschooling may be the best, but in this case the child probably needs a change.  

He needs to attend the school of life, how to integrate with others outside his religious belief he holds already. For the sake of the childs future. Otherwise he will be brainwashed.

Yes,  the child is a "she"  in this case,  but yes,  I think children need to see more than a parent's view.  

The child is already involved in sports and some activities in school. I don't think that the courts have anything to say here and the woman who made the charge, the one who supervises the kid's program, is apparently anti-religion.

What is "too vigorous"? I would like to see the video on that one. "Too vigorous" sounds like someone just doesn't like it.

schools hate competition for shrinking funds

Yes,  I do not like the government telling who can homeschool or not; "vigorous"  may be in the eye of the beholder,  or in the heart, as an envious vice-  had terrible issues with it with my son,  and evil family members calling DYFUS:  Let me not think on it!  :(  --arrrgh,  yes,  the funds,  all about the funds........and supporting overpaid teachers ( they have not been underpaid in the NYC area for 20 years now...............

I mean, in the spirit of objectivity, if the girl were being raised by an atheist with at-home schooling, and the girl made a vigorous defense of atheism and a religiously-oriented state supervisor had determined in her own mind that the child needed exposure to some religion, the way they do it in Berkeley, for example, or my Quaker school, where you study the Bible as literature and get complete courses in world religions, would you agree that her atheist home studies should be terminated?

How is that our call? What right do we have to interfere in the value system that her parents want to instill in her?

Your last sentence says it all:  It has been a massive argument against liberalism that it does not view the child as the private "property"  of the parents,  but belonging to all,  which winds up meaning, the schools,  the social workers,  the courts.  THAT i do NOT endorse!  :(

I have an acquaintance who is a supervisor of parents who home school.  Homeschooling is not what it used to be.  They have very good structured programs they have to adhere to.  I will have to research some more.   I was not a believer back when my children were young for it did seem the overly religious were isolating their children in fear of secularism.  As a consequence how can they truly be citizens when they have to grow up and/or go to college. 

Now that I am a grandmother and hear the stories of the teachers whose classrooms are full of too many children who have never had quality parenting or even love in the homes they are overwhelmed with constant disruptions with the children from the very low economic class who have no father and too many siblings on welfare.

If children are not loved they know it feel it and act out.  Homeschooling is what I would do if my child had to listen to the vulgarities they are exposed to and poor attention from teachers who are exasperated.   People who live in the country have no options but to turn to homeschooling for there are no private schools.

Since this is about divorce one cannot know which parent is the healthiest.  Just because  she teaches principles from the Bible does not necessarily mean she is a legalistic, fundamentalist.  The father may be mentally unhealthy just wanting to get back at the Mother.

My ex put on a good show but he was a horrific human being who cared nothing for his children in the long run.  Sometimes it is not about love but power plays.

I think the daughter is old enough that the judge should allow her to participate in the decision. It should not be about pleasing parents but what is truly best for her.  I admit I have not enough information to go further.

I think you make a good case about "power plays":  I had not thought of that,  but yes indeed,  the father may really only be trying to get at the mother,  with no true concern for the girl.  And yes,  at 10,  why should her OWN wishes not be taken into account????

When it comes to home schooling, I'm a firm believer. I can understand why some might be concerned with the social aspect of home schooling. But most kids that are home schooled engage in many social activities such as sports, music, etc. The public schools in my neck of the woods are pretty good and the kids are well disciplined. And I have no problem with my daughter attending those schools.

I'm curious about the religious aspect to this story. Half the kids that I grew up with back in New York attended Catholic parochial school. They were taught by nuns and they got a large dose of religion everyday right along with their academic studies.No one complained about that.

That is a very good point.  Tons of kids I knew,  including cousins,  went to the Catholic schools.  Of course they were indoctrinated,  fully.  And yet their Catholic parents had the right to choose that.  Suppose the mother in this article has a bias against the secular view,  and does not want that "vigorously"  defended?

Why did the government make this decision?

That is the question.