Now, I`ve seen a lot of families turn to homeschooling because they felt it was a good idea or their children had trouble with mainstream schooling and I`m curious . . . would these people teach their children at home if it were against the law? As law abiding citizens, at what point do we buck the system and go against it?

Personally, I would go against the law on this one. I`m not exactly pro-government in many situations at any rate and I wouldn`t allow the government to decide how I get to raise my children. Fortunately, that won`t be an issue here in Guatemala, but for some people living in other countries, it could be a consideration at some point in the future.  It`s a difficult issue since most of us try to raise our children to respect the laws of our country and how can you do that if you are going against them? This is an area that each family would have to decide for itself and I suspect there are many people who would choose to send their children back to school if push came to shove.

Would you continue to homeschool if it suddenly became illegal to do so? Which is more important, having control over your child`s education or obeying the law and setting a good example?

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!