Touched by an Angel Responds to Home Schoolers’ Concerns

    According to Nielsen Media Research, the April 4, 1999—Easter Sunday—episode of Touched by an Angel (CBS) was watched by just over 12.5 million people. It ranked as the third most watched television program for the entire week.
    But by Monday, April 5, HSLDA was receiving phone calls, faxes, and e-mails from members who were concerned that the program cast home schooling in a negative light—linking it to doomsday cult activity and implying that it is illegal without a teaching certificate. Because of the large viewing audience, HSLDA believed that it was important to address the inaccurate depiction of home schooling presented in the program.
    Michael Farris sent a letter to Martha Williamson, Touched by an Angel’s executive producer, on April 16, 1999, expressing deep concern over the mischaracterizations of home schooling in the episode.
    Williamson’s response is printed [below].

Click on the letter to view the PDF version. Requires Adobe Acrobat.

Editor’s Note: HSLDA’s report on this matter is not meant to suggest an endorsement of any television viewing.