Despite Deception by Authorities, Brazilian Family is Optimistic

MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL, August 22, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - After receiving four days of intense testing by government authorities in a showdown over the future of homeschooling in Brazil, David and Jonatas Nunes are optimistic, despite the fact that the tests were changed on them only one week before, allowing little time for adequate study.

Although the Nunes family was initially told that the tests the children would be given were to be on mathematics, geography, science, and history, they were told only a week in advance that they would also be tested on Portuguese, English, arts, and physical education, including questions about the history of handball, basketball, soccer, and other sports.

The change put enormous pressure on two children who were already studying in a stressful situation.

"They’re two adolescents of 14 and 15 years of age who are studying for a test that could determine if their parents are going to be imprisoned or not," said Cleber Nunes to the television network Globo.  "It’s a huge burden for them."

As LifeSiteNews reported previously, the Nunes children passed law school entrance exams at the ages of 13 and 14.  Despite this success, Brazilian authorities decided to prosecute the family for "intellectual abandonment" because they were schooling the children at home rather than in a government-approved institution.   If the Nunes lose the case, they could forfeit custody of their children, pay a steep fine, and even spend time in jail.

The Brazilian media, including the nation’s major television networks, are following the case closely, and the public is supportive of the Nunes’ struggle.  Reports posted on network websites have received hundreds of comments, mostly indignant at the treatment being received by the Nunes family.

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