Want to help homeschoolers in Germany?

[Unicorn]

I don't know if the voting will actually do any good, since bureaucrats rarely listen to the little people anyway, but it can't hurt. I recieved this email today from one of my local hs groups:

Hello Everyone,
This is somewhat OT I guess, but it is close to my heart to help the homeschoolers in Germany. As most of you know, they are heavily persecuted by the government. Families have to leave their country in order to protect their children and keep the government from taking custody of the children.
One way to help would be to vote in a poll, even though it is in German. It is a direct link to the German chancellor, where the public can voice their concerns. I’ll try to give a step-by-step instruction to do this very easily. Many more votes are needed in order for the chancellor, Angela Merkel, to even consider it and possibly answer to it. So please take a couple minutes. This could be very important for the homeschoolers in Germany.
Go to this link; www.direktzurkanzlerin.de . This is the window with the poll. Click on the right top blue button that says “Beitrage abstimmen” (vote for article). This takes you to the page with different articles. The order of the articles changes, so please look for the one that says: “Warum ist Heimunterricht nicht moglich” (Why is homeschooling not possible) and click on the blue word that says “mehr...” (more). This takes you to the full article and an opportunity to vote at the end of it. Click on the blue words “dafur stimmen” (vote for) under the “+” sign.
In short, this is what Susanne Volkmann wrote to the chancellor of Germany:
She is asking to legalize homeschooling in Germany. Due to the court hearings, more and more families are forced to leave their country in order to keep their children. No other social group in the EU, like the homeschoolers in Germany, is being persecuted. Does Germany really risk the safety and future of children if homeschooling is allowed? Just like in other countries where homeschooling is legal, it won’t cause the development of a parallel society.
Please continue to pray for the homeschoolers in Germany. Maybe this will contribute to changes to the homeschool laws in Germany.
God bless,
Isolde Ried
P.S. I checked the sight again, and the votes have gone up just since yesterday.

I voted-will you?

[Tracey in TX]

Ironic timing, as I was curious why our German foreign exchange student's mom was so intrigued as why I was a) allowed to homeschool; b) chose to homeschool. Our student is very opposed to it, but his opinion clearly doesn't count. (He attends public school, but I pulled my kids out 6wks ago.)

Thanks for the link.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Ironic timing, as I was curious why our German foreign exchange student's mom was so intrigued as why I was a) allowed to homeschool; b) chose to homeschool. Our student is very opposed to it, but his opinion clearly doesn't count. (He attends public school, but I pulled my kids out 6wks ago.)

Thanks for the link.

Don't take any comments from your exchange student to heart. It is worth remembering that he is probably in the thick of his university preps. For him, there is a very well defined path to university. There is no room for a side path called homeschooling, no AP courses or community college dual enrollement. For that matter, admissions rests on his marks on one set of exams. There is no whole man multiple or letting outside activities and essays and interviews play a role.

Just stay sweet. Answer his questions gently. Who knows, you may be hosting a future governor or judge.

[Tracey in TX]

Thanks for the support. I realize he's still practically a child, and his opinion is based on one set of social mores. It's always interesting to see our lives through the eyes of another person. Nevertheless, it's still a family decision.
btw, do you know if it's legal for an ex-pat to homeschool in Germany?
Thanks,
Tracey

[Sebastian (a lady)]

btw, do you know if it's legal for an ex-pat to homeschool in Germany?
Thanks,
Tracey

It depends. Foreign military stationed in Germany have various legal obligations and rights under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The SOFA between Germany and the US governs things like getting the Value Added Tax refunded, drivers' liscence reciprocity, vehicle liscencing and education. Through this, American military are subject to US school laws. So they are able to homeschool. The SOFA may also apply to some civilians employed by the military (but not to others).

Non-military expats are a whole different kettle of fish. This group would include Americans married to Germans, Americans married to other Europeans who reside in Germany, American families who have relocated to Germany and folks who are working in Germany for international companies. They are generally subject to German laws. Sometimes they can fly under the radar for a while or use a US correspondence school as an umbrella if they are on a short term contract. But even these options have been getting tighter and tighter in recent years.