In America, we may feel that the government is unfriendly to homeschooling.  However, the situation in the U.S. is nothing compared to what homeschoolers in Germany are facing.  In this country where homeschooling has been illegal since Hitler outlawed it, homeschoolers are facing increasing attacks from the government.

The German government claims that it has an "educational duty" to teach children, and that the government, not a child's parents, is in charge of his education.  Heinz Kohler, county education board director in Paderborn, Germany, stated that a child has the "right not to be kept away from the outside world."  He also says that "the parents' right to personally educate their children would keep the children from growing up to be responsible individuals within society."

However, a large number of Christians in Germany object to what is taught in the public schools.  Many parents take issue with the teaching of evolution, as well as with a school system which they say undermines Christian values such as modesty and obedience to parents.  The German government would not listen to these appeals, and said that the only way for children to be properly educated is in public school and that proper schooling is more important than religious beliefs.

Here are just a few examples of some of the recent attacks on homeschoolers:

The Rudolphs, who homeschool their six children, were fined 840 euros ($1,090) for homeschooling, and the father was placed in jail for six weeks. After Mr. Rudolph was released from prison, government officials began to forcefully take the children to public school every day.  One day, the government officials discovered that the family had fled to another country in order to continue homeschooling their children.

The Plett family from Paderborn, Germany, continued to homeschool their twelve children after they were told not to by the German government. After police broke into the Plett's house and arrested Mrs. Plett, Mr. Plett fled with their children to Austria. Mrs. Plett is facing heavy fines as well as a jail sentence.

The Herrmann family from Baden-Wurttemburg decided to homeschool their twin children, who had many health problems.  The Herrmann family was forced into hiding by the German government and is trying to find somewhere else to live.

There are many more families like these in Germany.  In fact, the German homeschool foundation, Schulunterricht zu Hause (School Instruction at Home), reports that 40 of its 150 members were in court as of September 22, 2006. 

If you wish to support homeschoolers in other countries and organizations like SIH, you can make a donation to the Homeschool Foundation's international fund.  For more details, visit http://homeschoolfoundation.org/.  Also, German homeschoolers would appreciate your prayers as they try to defend their right to teach their children as they believe is best.

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