Divorce Ruling Focuses on Church, not Homeschooling

Wake County Judge Ned Mangum on Tuesday released his written decision in the divorce case between Venessa and Thomas Mills, as reported in the Raleigh News & Observer on Wednesday. The full order is posted on the N&O website.

Mangum's decision centered on the couple's conflict over Venessa's membership in an out-of-state church which some former members described as abusive and manipulative. As a result of this conflict, Mangum carried out his proposed order requiring the three homeschooled children be enrolled in Wake County public schools beginning this fall. The judge wrote:

"It is clear to this Court that all three children are intelligent and have thrived academically by performing at grade level while in home school and have participated in valuable extra curricular activities, as evidenced in sworn affidavits ... "

"As previously stated in open court ... this Court clearly recognizes the benefits of home school -- and any effort to characterize it differently is incorrect ..."

Both North Carolinians for Home Education and the Home School Legal Defense Association have declined to enter into the dispute, saying the case was fundamentally about divorce and not home education. Venessa Mills plans to appeal the decision.