Also, it might help to place “against his will” in a different spot. As it reads now, it sounds like the kid does not want to go to the public school. Doesn’t sound like that’s what was intended.

The religious spouse(usually the woman-double whammy) has that religion card up her sleeve and can play it at any time.

Back on subject, tradition and the courts have long favored mothers in any parental rights issue. There has been some movement away from this but it?s spotty and slow. Logic would dictate a public or other secular school as the appropriate compromise. But as all atheists know, being able to apply logic to an issue is also spotty.