Replies

Ade floridarolf:

Thanks for posting the links.

I remember reading either this article or another similar article about homeschooling in Germany about a month ago.

From what I remember, school officials have been turning a blind eye to it, in most cases, but in one case, the children were not exposed to any type of curriculum, and the families were high profile about it; i.e., something was bound to happen. I thought that was in Baden-Wurttemberg, though

I'm sure you know, but other people may not, that German schools have been under pressure to transform because of poor PISA study reports compared to other countries.

Basically, they are going to change from half-day to full day schools, requiring a lot of investment in infrasrtructure, kitchens, for example.

German's are also looking into teacher accountability, much like our NCLB, which is a drastic change from what has been the norm. Teachers are lifelong burocrats in Germany, or have been so far.

My kids were in German schools for a while, and have also been homeschooled and in public schools. I'm able to relocate freely, however, and can move to a location best for them if I must.

There's something to be said for all of those institutions, but how effective they are depends on the leadership of the particular institution at the local level, meaning school administration and parents, AFAIC.

Also, as a reminder to others: "Spiegel-Online" is not a neutral source. The list dramatically left, and in this case, leave me with little confidence that they are accurately representing the issues and methods of the parents.

OTOH: I think German greens are a pretty defiant, yuppy, in your face bunch, and I wouldn't trust them within 3000 miles of my own kids' education.

Thus, I am watching the tposts on this thread with particular interest.

longjack