Why HSLDA is Wrong about Romeike v. Holder
The HSLDA started off as a helpful organization, but about 10 years ago I stopped supporting them. Much of what they do will probably end up hurting homeschoolers instead of helping. The fear-mongering e-lerts that come in my inbox aren’t helpful either. I know homeschooling parents who still don’t allow their kids to play outside during the day because they are afraid they will be turned in to CPS. That is not homeschooling freedom.
The issue of home schooling in Germany is not so simple, nor is the answer to the Romeike Family’s so simplistic as the article pretends.
Evolutionary teaching is required in German schools. That is (among) the lesser problems of their system. In the last several years the German government has very aggressively implemented Gender Mainstreaming (= there is no difference between “genders’) into their curriculum “Fach übergreifend” - mixed into every subject. The constitutional freedom of religion and of conscience has been weakened to the point that it is of no import to this moral cesspool. Children beginning in pre-school are included in the curriculum. No children are able to be exempted from the offensive immoral teaching. Parents cannot visit classes and niether the teacher, nor the student can be required to divulge to the parents what is taught. Optional sexual lifestyles (including homo- and bi-sexual) with one or more partners are openly discussed and graphically taught. (cf, the doctrine of Baalam Rev. 2,14!)
The German home schoolers have exausted the legal options in the German lower courts and through multiple rounds in the German and European Supreme Court(s). Many have fled to other European and the world’s countries. Such a move is permanent! If the Romeike’s return to Germany, they will very likely loose their children and have their bank accounts / assets frozen and be assessed with hefty fines. The writer may have written passionately - but as far as the reality of German Politics ignorantly!
JoelCS
How would an American missionary in Germany school their children? Are they able to homeschool?
No one is actually arguing with that. What the Germans are doing is horrible, the question is whether that grants asylum in our country. From the looks of things the law says no. But I would think that immigration would be an easy possibility. In fact, I really question the words “fleeing” when Europe’s borders are so open. It’s no more difficult to move to another European Union country then it is to move to another state here in the US. I think there are far better ways for some families then what they are doing. I seems to me they are getting in trouble because they are disobeying the government. If the just left to another place before they disobeyed wouldn’t things be a different story? Wouldn’t the exodus of German families force German lawmakers to reconsider their stance? This is obviously a complex issue and none of us know the full story and I feel for the families that are affected, but something doesn’t add up in my mind.
As far as German missionaries. I am fairly confident they are also required to send their kids through the public school system, but I will speak to some MK’s here at Faith to get a confirmation.
[Jim]How would an American missionary in Germany school their children? Are they able to homeschool?
Jay,
People are “able” to do what they must. There is a constitutional and legal provision for schooling outside of the public schools. But the Courts have interpreted the provision out of practical existence.
[paynen]No one is actually arguing with that. What the Germans are doing is horrible, the question is whether that grants asylum in our country. From the looks of things the law says no. But I would think that immigration would be an easy possibility. In fact, I really question the words “fleeing” when Europe’s borders are so open. It’s no more difficult to move to another European Union country then it is to move to another state here in the US. I think there are far better ways for some families then what they are doing. I seems to me they are getting in trouble because they are disobeying the government. If the just left to another place before they disobeyed wouldn’t things be a different story? Wouldn’t the exodus of German families force German lawmakers to reconsider their stance? This is obviously a complex issue and none of us know the full story and I feel for the families that are affected, but something doesn’t add up in my mind.
As far as German missionaries. I am fairly confident they are also required to send their kids through the public school system, but I will speak to some MK’s here at Faith to get a confirmation.
Nicholas,
Things look different here on the ground than through the lens of US Media. Picture the present US Administration implementing complete, compulsory graphical sexual/homosexual/asexual education from preschool through high school with no exemptions or exceptions. Failure to comply resulting in: fines, jail, losing parental rights, children being forcibly escorted to school by police, extended court appearances, confiscation of property, freezing of accounts and possible prison for parents, psychological therapy for children.
Then you would have a general picture of the reality here.
There have been many cases just as I have described above here. Some have fled and been extradited back to Germany. Others have attempted to flee and been turned back.
Google German home schooler! And read up on HSLDA’s website under Germany!
I am not sure if people stateside have fully thought through what “fleeing” a country means!
Family, friends, inheretance are gone! Return only under threat of prosecution! The Romeikes need US protection! If they don’t receive US Protection, the home schoolers in USA will soon be denied the same! HSLDA is not a right wing paranoid fearmonger! They have sacrificially helped many on both sides of the ocean!
JoelCS
Again your not answering any questions, does that persecution grant asylum? Legally according to our laws on it, it doesn’t. That doesn’t mean I think that Germany is justified in what it is doing. Secondly, that still doesn’t answer the other question. If the story goes as it seems The Romeike’s had plenty of chance to comply to Germany’s law. So in my mind, that gave them plenty of opportunity to either 1 comply and send their children to school and counteract moral issues of the school system in the home (which many families and MK’s do), or if they definitely felt that they should not send their kids to the public school, then they should of legally applied residence in another country and renounced their German citizenship. From what it sound’s like they waited until they were in trouble to flee the country, because they were considered criminals. Now if their is something is preventing them from doing that legally (before one would actually get in trouble for it) then that is a completely different issue.
that the McDonalds I visit is full of obvious non-citizens with questionable legal status…no one checks up on them. A family from Germany comes here and they get the microscope out to enforce our immigration laws!
Mark I bet you if they came over as immigrants and just stayed here no one would of cared. I think the reason that they do care is because their visa’s are probably no good because they are wanted in their country and fleeing. Which is why they are asking for asylum. I don’t think immigration is the issue here, as the Romeikes are not immigrants.
Discussion