Phillip’s own children documented a long history that went way beyond simple spanking.

I don’t know…they are wards of the state so a foster family’s choices are limited, even if homeschooling would be best for the child. I don’t know how other states do it, but a foster family can legally homeschool a child here in NE, but since the parents retain educational rights until parental rights are terminated, they can only do so with the approval of the biological family. I don’t think it is a common situation.

I understand and agree with what you’re saying from a natural family angle.
But, what about homeschoolers who are serving as foster parents/potential adoptive parents. Many can’t homeschool because the State is in charge of those abused children and the State has decided they can’t be homeschooled. That’s when more and more laws about child abuse tend to hem kids into a bureaucracy and non-nurturing environment per standardization.
How many times could hurting children be helped by home education? But it’s not permitted in many states, because of the State status quo for those hurting the most.
I was just thinking about a different angle than this CA situation.

Thank you for adding your side, Phillip. I don’t pretend to know anything more than what was in the court documents, but it seems to me that pulling children by their hair and failing to protect children from a sexual predator goes beyond spanking. If these things did not happen, then I’m sorry this is all happening.

Without knowing you or your family personally, I can’t possibly judge whether or not the initial case is problematic. I can only say that I agree with the court that in cases of sustained abuse, the state can and should intervene to protect a child. And in some situations, that may not mean loss of custody, but greater monitoring, as through forced schooling.