The Vieira family from Blumenau, Brazil, has been home-schooling their seven children for over a decade, an approach that the parents, Diego and Patricia, view as an educational mission focused on human, spiritual, and academic formation.
"We have a well-structured routine. We value sound pedagogical planning. Each child has a plan tailored to their age, and we prioritize personalized education for each of them," the family explained to "EWTN Noticias," the Spanish-language nightly newscast of EWTN News.
For the Vieiras, home schooling is not merely an academic alternative but a mission directly linked to Christ's call to become holy.
"That is the goal of Catholic education: heaven, the pursuit of virtue, the pursuit of holiness, and the acquisition of wisdom to truly contemplate the truth," they stated.
Personalized family-based education
The children's daily schedule is organized according to their needs. In the mornings, they study the subjects in their educational plan, while in the afternoons, they engage in musical, athletic, and cultural activities, as well as practice chess.
However, this form of home schooling ended up in court.
In late July, a trial court judge ordered that four of Diego and Patricia's children be enrolled in and attend a traditional school. Additionally, the couple was ordered to pay a fine of nearly $13,000.
The parents said they believe the decision is linked to their public role in advocating for home schooling.
"Because we are public figures and are actively pushing for regulation, we firmly believe this is a case of persecution against leaders of the movement, as the persecution has escalated with each passing year," they stated.
They also noted that their Catholic identity has influenced how their stance is perceived.
"Because, whether we want to or not, we always uphold the banner of canon law, parental authority, and the family's authority in the education of children. And when we demonstrate this, we encounter a great deal of prejudice in various situations," they explained.
'Home schooling is unstoppable'
Diego Vieira is the president of the Santa Catarina Association of Homeschooling Families and serves on the board of the National Association for Homeschooling. For years, he has supported other families facing legal challenges for educating their children at home.
Together with Patricia, he also spearheads the "Educating for Heaven" project, which offers guidance and materials to families interested in home schooling.
The couple has been promoting this educational approach for over a decade. Their eldest son, Igor, 19, was home-schooled and is currently studying literature and history at a university; he also teaches classes and is a national chess master.
The young man noted that being home-schooled allowed him to develop his abilities at his own pace.
"I was taught to read and write at home, and from a very young age, my parents encouraged me to study. Being able to study at home gave me the freedom to develop at my own pace and have a flexible routine; I could devote more or less effort to tasks I found difficult and truly focus on studying what I enjoyed most," he stated.
A family active in their community
Despite criticisms leveled at home schooling, members of the Blumenau community highlighted the Vieira family's social engagement.
City councilman Flavio José Linhares stated that the family maintains an active presence in the city, particularly through sports and culture.
"In chess, the family has already won over 300 medals representing the municipality in the game. So, they lead an active life in the community," he noted.
The official also expressed his opposition to the court ruling against the family.
"When we saw the decision ordering the family to pay a fine equivalent to 40 minimum wages, we were outraged. We appreciate the quality, care, and love they show for their children's education," he stated.
The debate on home schooling in Brazil
There are no official statistics in Brazil regarding the number of families who home-school. The National Association for Homeschooling estimates there are more than 75,000 families and 150,000 students, although these figures come from the organization itself rather than government records.
Currently, home schooling is not regulated by federal law.
In 2018, Brazil's Supreme Federal Court ruled that, for the time being, families do not have a recognized legal right to educate their children exclusively at home. However, the court also noted that the constitution does not prohibit home schooling and that it is up to the congress to establish regulations.
A bill to regulate home schooling was approved by the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) and is proceeding through the Senate.
For Diego and Patricia, their defense is grounded in religious and legal principles as well as a matter of conscience.
"We base our position on our faith, our beliefs, Church law, natural law, and human rights. All treaties guarantee this freedom, as well as the primacy of parents," they stated.
"We're not doing anything wrong. Therefore, we have a clear conscience regarding this matter and will continue to fight. Home schooling is unstoppable," they added.
The family has already filed an appeal against the ruling and stated that, if the decision stands, they will take the case to higher courts.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
