Over the past few months, we`ve been hearing a lot about the strict laws in Germany against homeschooling. Families have faced jail time and even had their children taken from them because they were home educating their children. And more recently, entire families have been fleeing the country in order to continue with teaching their own children.
There are many stories of people heading for greener homeschooling pastures. One family was warned by a social worker who delayed the paperwork required to take their child while the family fled to Central America. Another family moved to Austria, but they will never be able to return to Germany, since as soon as they step foot in the country, the government will put their child into protective custody.
Another German family has made the news because of their move to the United States, a move they made in order to maintain control over what their children are being taught. After a terrific stand off with the police that ended in their children being dragged to school, the Romeikes headed for the US and pleaded asylum. Their case was heard today in court and we should learn soon what the results are. You can read more on this story here.
For most North Americans, these stories are something of a horror show. But what we don`t recall is that only a few short decades ago, teaching your child at home was illegal in both Canada and the US. In fact, when I first started school at home, in first grade, my parents instructed us not to tell anyone that we were homeschooled, for fear of the law!