Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
Jim Mason, HSLDA’s Senior Counsel, joins us today to discuss the California appeals court homeschooling victory. Tell our listeners about some of the miraculous ways that God intervened in this court case.

Jim Mason:
Mike, a few days after the bad opinion came out, we were in the office late working on the petition for rehearing, which had to be emailed to California the next day. Mike Farris called me from his office, and said, “Come here now!” When I got to his office, he was grinning from ear to ear. He said, “Time magazine just called me to comment about the California Superintendent of Public Instruction publically disagreeing with the Court of Appeal.”

We found the press release on the web and immediately quoted it on page two of the petition for rehearing.

When the Court of Appeal asked for briefing from public school officials, we thought it expected them to agree with the original opinion that homeschooling was illegal. But they all filed briefs supporting home education, including Governor Schwarzenegger.

The case generated tremendous support from homeschoolers around the country. Two-hundred-fifty thousand people signed a petition on our web site, after Mike Farris appeared on Focus on the Family with Dr. James Dobson. Dozens of advocacy groups filed briefs in support of home education. And thousands, maybe millions, of people were praying. The Lord answered those prayers and miraculously turned the hearts of three judges to completely change their minds.

Mike:
Thank you, Jim. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.