Nothing really changed after a New Jersey state social worker banged on Christopher and Nicole Zimmer’s front door, and yet everything was different.
Over the next two hours, the social worker quizzed their 15-year-old son, Chris, including questions on whether his parents fought or did drugs. She wanted to see his homeschool curriculum. She wanted to inspect their firearms. She told the Zimmers to sign papers agreeing to turn over their son’s medical records.
And then she left, and the Zimmers never saw her again. But they can’t let it go. They can’t erase the memory of what it felt like when they thought the state might take away their son.
In April the Zimmers filed a $60 million federal lawsuit against the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency, along with several division officials and the social worker, Michelle Marchese, for an “unlawful and unconstitutional home intrusion.”
“It’s the fact that the government just came walking into my door without any cause,” Mr. Zimmer said.
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$60 million?! I'd say they are a little greedy...
ReplyDeleteGood for them! (Although, I agree that $60 million is greedy.) Maybe the State of Maryland - especially Wicomico BOE - will learn a lesson from these guys and stop bullying homeschooling parents.
ReplyDeleteHomeschooling has the potential to be very dangerous. Of course these parent have to be checked on, they could potentially hold their children prisoner.
ReplyDeleteDo parents own their children? They have rights beyond their parent wishes.