Posted on 01/26/2010 8:35:05 PM PST by girlangler
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A German couple who fled to Tennessee so they could homeschool their children have been granted political asylum by a U.S. immigration judge.
The decision, announced Tuesday in Memphis, clears the way for Uwe Romeike, his wife and five children to stay in Morristown, Tenn., where they have been living since 2008.
German state constitutions require children to attend public or private schools, and parents can face fines or prison time if they don't comply.
Romeike, an evangelical Christian, said he believes German curriculum is "against Christian values."
Attorney Mike Donnelly of the Home School Legal Defense Association advocacy group said he hopes the ruling will influence public opinion in Germany.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Good news. Welcome to a little bit of heaven.
Goes back to Luther?! Hm, I’m gonna Google that!
I must admit I have conflicting views about home schooling. We don´t have it here in Iceland any more, although I have heard of instances. Most people would think it out of the question as there has never been any public debate about it. I have read about it in america and scandinavia and it looks good, but there is a danger.
European countries have a small evangelical christian groups that could benefit from homeschooling, but the group that is mostly likely to benefit are the muslims who are no longer a small group. I have heard from scandinavia that it has been used by them and it has hindered assimilation into the society, kids not even learning the adopted countries language.
Of course I wan´t religious liberty but sadly the muslim communities are becoming a threat to state security in Europe, assimilation is one way to counter that. Even though I would want christians to use such schools to strengthen the foundation of the native populations I am afraid we can´t “discriminate” by allowing certein groups to teach at home but not others.
Freepers need to know the Name of that Judge!
Then, those of Us that are “of the ubber-left’s radar” could urge that Judge be moved UP!
That Judge should be a on Obama’s “short list” for the Highest Possible Judgeship.
I have read the argument you make against homeschooling in Europe many times before. I don't see that government schooling is accomplishing the assimilation of Muslims in Europe. I think having children learn the national language is not sufficient to ensure they won't be a threat to state security. I doubt that all or most unassimilated or dangerous muslims in Europe are the product of homeschooling, at least I haven't seen any data supporting that.
Does Europe not allow privately-run schools?
Speaking of Germany, it allows private schools, even religious schools. But all these schools have to teach a basic curriculum, made by the government (e.g. evolution). That is to maintain a certain standard for all students, and to keep the graduation comparable.
How many languages do German students learn? And when do they start to teach them? I had to study 1 language and they didn’t start teaching that to us until I was in jr. high (14 years old) - which in my opinion is rather late to learn another language.
Yes, schools in Europe have done a bang-up job assimilating Muslims so far...
Note that I did not (or did not intent to) make an argument against homeschooling, I am myself very interested in the notion. But that is the only counterargument that I have heard that is a little bit valid.
I of course would like to stop immigration of people of too foreign a culture, at least most of it. We here in Iceland have been quite fortunate in not having way too relaxed immigration policies and most of our immigrants come from european countries, most notably conservative Poland.
But given how many muslims are in Europe already, and stories I have heard from most notably Norway about lack of assimilation and learning the home language precisely because of home schooling, it could be putting oil on a fire.
But it could also help to make them maybe less disafected about western society if they could thus raise them in a more wholesome family values (even though muslim) than seeing them being sucked into the low class culture in many government run schools, especially in lower income areas and immigration ghettoes.
And thus not as easy targets for fanatics hell bent on installing in them ideas about group solidarity and clash of civilation, and a manifest destiny of muslims to overrun us.
Best wishes,
Leifur
Check my above reply.
I forgot to answer the question about private schools, of course they do exist, but in many countries students in them do not get their share of tax dollars that would otherwise be used for their education in the government run schools.
Sweden does though have a voucher system, both for private and public schools.
Iceland does require municipialities that allow private schools (I think they have to allow it) to pay for each student in them at least 75% of what they pay for students in their public system.
Ah, a voucher system; that makes sense.
Still, I think that the principle of the thing is important. The thought of being fined or imprisoned for taking responsibility for my own children turns my stomach.
Here’s a happy hoomeschooling thread. We don’t get those every day.
In the United States of America there are schools that are soooooooo unsafe that it would be better for a child to never attend even if it meant that the child remained illiterate and innumerate. I **seriously** mean it.
Next...Our government schools teach ( by law) a godless worldview. They teach children, every minute of every day, to think and evaluate the world around them in a godless manner. Given the amount of time a child spends in school, traveling to and from, in school activities, with homework, and playing with school friends, there is very little time in a child's day for a parent to counteract this godless worldview. Statistics show that 85% of children from active church attending families are NOT active in their faith 2 years after graduation. In contrast, homeschoolers are more than 95% likely to BE active in their faith.
As for Muslims:
You have an immigration problem not a school problem. The first place to look to solve this problem is to fix immigration. If you need workers and immigrants look to South and Central America.
Also....The very **best** defense against the threat of Islam is a population that is **STRONG** in its Christian faith. The best place to raise up righteous Christians is in the HOME and ( only if necessary) in a private Christian school of the family's denomination.
Finally,...My own children were homeschooled. By the age of 13, 12, and 13 they were in college. By the age of 15 they had finished all their general college requirements and Calculus III. The two younger were finished with their B.S. degrees in math by the age of 18. One of these was **teaching*** in college at 18 as part of her masters program.
My oldest also excelled in his endeavors. He is an internationally ranked athlete. Since he has been 15 he has literally supported himself through coaching. He worked for some years for our church in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia and is **fluent** in Russian. He will soon finish his masters degree in accounting at an age typical for a young adult who was institutionalized for their education. He trains every day in his sport and has recently placed very high in our national competition.
If my children had been institutionalized for their education these accomplishments would have been impossible.
Fascinating! Thank you, Impy. Great news. I just hope our refugees from Germany aren’t given a hard time by US bureau-rats.
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