‘This bill is about ensuring that it is not legal in Virginia to not educate your children’: The controversy behind religious exemptions from school
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) - Did you know it’s legal in Virginia not to give your child any sort of education? State Senator Stella Pekarsly did (D-Fairfax) and is now authoring legislation to try and change that. “This bill is about ensuring that it is not legal in Virginia to not educate your children,” Pekarsky told 8News. Currently, parents who homeschool their kids are required to provide their local school division with some documentation outlining what they’re teaching and how their children are progressing. However, that doesn’t apply to the parents of over 6,700 kids in Virginia who don’t attend school due to a religious exemption. “Why make religious exempted families answer to the state to prove the legitimacy of their religion when they already answer to a higher power,” said Justine Smith, a Chesterfield mom who has homeschooled her six children. Pekarsky, who called the law surrounding students with religious exemptions a “loophole,” said the current rules need to change in order to ensure all of Virginia’s kids are getting a proper education. “So not only was it the fact that we had these stories about not receiving an education, but we very sadly had stories, written testimony, that talked about abuse and neglect,” said Pekarsky. However, some parents and advocates oppose Pekarsky’s effort, saying it would violate parents' First Amendment right to religious freedom. “These parents have a fundamental relief that they don't answer to the government for their child. It’s a fundamental belief that their faith says it's between myself and their own faith. To answer to the government is a violation of some people’s faith,” said Victoria Cobb, President of The Family Foundation. Pekarsky’s bill has been approved by a Senate subcommittee. If it’s approved by the full committee, it will then head to the Senate floor for debate.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) - Did you know it’s legal in Virginia not to give your child any sort of education?
State Senator Stella Pekarsly did (D-Fairfax) and is now authoring legislation to try and change that.
“This bill is about ensuring that it is not legal in Virginia to not educate your children,” Pekarsky told 8News.
Currently, parents who homeschool their kids are required to provide their local school division with some documentation outlining what they’re teaching and how their children are progressing.
However, that doesn’t apply to the parents of over 6,700 kids in Virginia who don’t attend school due to a religious exemption.
“Why make religious exempted families answer to the state to prove the legitimacy of their religion when they already answer to a higher power,” said Justine Smith, a Chesterfield mom who has homeschooled her six children.
Pekarsky, who called the law surrounding students with religious exemptions a “loophole,” said the current rules need to change in order to ensure all of Virginia’s kids are getting a proper education.
“So not only was it the fact that we had these stories about not receiving an education, but we very sadly had stories, written testimony, that talked about abuse and neglect,” said Pekarsky.
However, some parents and advocates oppose Pekarsky’s effort, saying it would violate parents' First Amendment right to religious freedom.
“These parents have a fundamental relief that they don't answer to the government for their child. It’s a fundamental belief that their faith says it's between myself and their own faith. To answer to the government is a violation of some people’s faith,” said Victoria Cobb, President of The Family Foundation.
Pekarsky’s bill has been approved by a Senate subcommittee. If it’s approved by the full committee, it will then head to the Senate floor for debate.
