Family Life

03.13.09 | Alan Gustafson

A judge in North Carolina presiding over a couple's divorce case has ordered their children into public schools. The children had been homeschooled for the past four years. The husband, Thomas Mills, said he had "objected to the children being removed from public school," and was "concerned about the children's religious-based science curriculum."

Venessa Mills made the decision to homeschool her children after getting involved with the Sound Doctrine Church. She said, "My teaching is strictly out of the Bible, and it's very clear. It is very evident so I just choose to follow the Bible."

All sides agreed that the children have thrived in home school, and the 10, 11, and 12 year-olds have all tested two grade levels above their public school peers. Despite that, both the father and the judge agreed that the children should be exposed to mainstream science and decide for themselves if they believe in creationism, intelligent design or Darwinian-evolution.