They taught their kids at home. Now a judge wants them in prison because their daughters prefer classical music to pop.
A Brazilian court sentenced Audato and Ieda Denardi to 50 days in prison for 'intellectual neglect' after rejecting prosecutors' advice to clear them.
Imagine facing prison just because your kids love classical music instead of the latest radio hits. That is the reality for two parents caught in a cultural war over how to raise their own children.
WHAT HAPPENED
A court in São Paulo, Brazil, sentenced Audato and Ieda Denardi to 50 days in prison. The judge charged them with 'intellectual neglect' for homeschooling their daughters, aged 15 and 11.
The court said the girls missed state lessons on sex education. The judge also criticized the girls for liking classical music instead of popular folk and trap music.
The parents say they started homeschooling in 2020 because regular schools were failing. Their daughters are pianists and speak many languages. Even the state's own prosecutors asked the judge to clear the parents.
FACT BOX
- 50 days: The prison sentence given to the parents.
- 15 and 11: The ages of the couple's two daughters.
- 3,000: Pages of learning evidence the parents gave to the court.
- 2020: The year the family started homeschooling during the pandemic.
- 0: The number of previous criminal homeschooling cases like this in Brazil.
WHY IT MATTERS
This case shows how far a government can go to control what children learn and listen to. It turns a family choice into a crime, even when the children are doing well.
It also shows the danger of laws that are not clear. Because Brazil has not passed final rules for homeschooling, families are left in a legal gray zone where judges make their own rules.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The parents are currently free while they fight the ruling. Their appeal will go to a higher court in São Paulo.
If they lose, the parents face 50 days behind bars. This would force them away from their jobs, their home, and their young daughters.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- Who will care for the two young girls if both parents are sent to prison?
- Will the Brazilian Senate finally pass laws to protect homeschooling families?
- Will other judges use this case to target more parents who teach their kids at home?
Transparency notes
Published: Jul 8, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.