Amador County Trade School Wins First Amendment Fight Against California
December 15, 2021
PLYMOUTH (CBS13) — An Amador County trade school has won a major First Amendment fight against the State of California, and now, new rules will go into effect on January 1 as a result of its legal battle.
For 30 years, thousands of students have attended the Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School in Plymouth learning how to become professional farriers.
But several years ago, California state regulators notified owner Bob Smith that the school was facing fines and closure for violating a law that requires trade school students to have a high school diploma, a GED or take an ability test.
“It didn’t have relevance to what my guys do – shoe horses,” Bob said.
He says some of his students never graduated for a variety of reasons.
“Eighty-five percent of foster kids drop out of high school, and they can’t be trained not just in horseshoeing but welding and cosmetology massage therapy,” he said.
