Feb. 11, 2008
Charges dropped! :-)
Proceedings were opened against us in the middle of September last year, to which we had one week to respond. We did respond within that week, and heard...nothing. Once we arrived in South Africa at the beginning of January, we sent a fax to the school authorities (Schulamt) in our city in Germany, saying that we're now in South Africa, and would they please let us know where we stand with them legally. Today (February 11th--it took awhile!!) we received a letter, that they have dropped all charges against us! Yay!! Of course, on the one hand, I would definitely say that they didn't really have any other choice, but on the other hand, if you get a speeding ticket, you don't get it dropped just because you move, either, so...it's just a great relief to know that they've dropped charges!
I regularly receive updates about families still fighting in Germany, unfortunately, nothing any more positive than a court date being pushed back by a few weeks and so on, no positive rulings of any kind, at least not that I've heard of. The "positive" stories are all about the families who have managed to escape--who no longer live in Germany. There's a not-very-funny joke going around (actually has been for some years): What do you call a German homeschooler? Answer: a foreigner. The point being that German homeschoolers are leaving Germany and are now foreigners wherever they are. As far as most of the authorities are concerned, homeschoolers leaving the country is simply a matter of "good riddance." None of them have any interest in hearing that these families have been "forced" to leave--they emphasize that they had every right to stay--as long as they put their children in school. Over and over again there are mentions of "reconciliation talks" that have accomplished nothing, because the parents aren't willing to compromise. The thing is, many ARE willing to COMPROMISE: to submit to testing, evaluations, even to using a certain curriculum...but the authorities are not willing to compromise in any way, shape, or form: as far as they're concerned, "compromise" means that parents give in completely.
Anyway, we're out of the fight for the time being, but as I always say, watch this space...
Comments
Feb. 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 4sweetums
I am glad you are out of danger for the moment. It is such a blessing to be able to homeschool. I wish it was as easy everywhere as it is here.
Blessings,
4sweetums
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Feb. 11, 2008 - Whoo Hoo!!!!
Posted by deedeeuk
Praise the Lord! I'm so glad that weight has been lifted from your shoulders. What a super - duper answer to prayer! Thanks for letting us know.
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Feb. 17, 2008 - Whew, that's a load off your shoulders!
Posted by vegiemama
You're right tho, the situation for German hsers is no closer to be resolved, sadly :-( Saying Germans are blockheads would be biased and untrue, but it certainly IS true of those in charge of the country's education. It's a sad state of affairs for German children.
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Feb. 20, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Isla
Congratulations, Sheila! There ARE actually some families succeeding with home-education in Germany.
Many don't, though, and are criminalized.
We are still trying to fight for our rights, and we are also trying to promote Homeschooling (many people don't actually know anything about homeschooling!).
The more homeschoolers there are and the more we get supported the better the chances that the authorities 'give in'.
Anyway, we are trying to stay positive. ;-)
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Feb. 25, 2008 - Have you seen??
Posted by ltjewel
Have you seen the new amendment the HSLDA is trying to pass here in the US? It is an amendment to the constitution to protect the rights of parents. It is expected that when we have a DEM president and a DEM congress that we will ratify the UN Treaty called the Child Protection Act which makes homeschooling and spanking illegal. So we may be joining you in becoming illegal foreigners sooner then any of us expected! Praying here, Amy B in VA
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Mar. 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Hi, Sheila, I read your other post too, congratulations on your pregnancy. You'll be continuing to set a great example to all those mothers coming to you for "other" kinds of support ;-), just like Ute.
BTW, we also had fine proceedings dropped against us on TWO occasions after we "left" Germany (though I don't know if we would get away with it a third time). I had a confrontation with one of the officials from our Gemeinde who told us he was keeping an eye on us, because he was convinced that we were only pretending not to live here. There are about a dozen families living in our town who do exactly just that, so that they can send their children to the schools in other little Bundesland which is just up the road. (Goodness knows why though - it has a reputation for the worst education system in Germany.) So I told him that and pointed out that there was nothing wrong with us being a couple of weeks here and a couple of weeks in Ireland (with Ryanair, it's as cheap for me and the kids to do that as it is to send our youngest to Kindergarten).
Looking forward to seeing you when you come back to Germany. Are you going to the Colloquium in the Netherlands? Maybe we can put on another performance there, just as long as none of my children pee in their pants or drop any glass bottles while we are busy doing it again.
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