The Neubronner case in Germany is an interesting one. At the moment, they are being required to pay 6,000 Euro or face imprisonment due to their decision to homeschool. Unlike other cases which have gained international attention, the Neubronners are not homeschooling for religious reasons. In fact, they have been homeschooling under the authority of two school teachers with regular monitoring. This makes them much more easily to identify with from a German standpoint. They pose an interesting question.
We are ready to endure this because it could be a strong signal for the public discussion if well-educated, well-integrated, intellectual [Is it possible that intellectual doesn't fit here? More along the lines of "rational" or "rationally thinking"?] parents (no trace of a “parallel society”) get imprisoned because of compulsory schooling. Learning Freely Network
They are right that this would be a case more likely to attract the sympathies of the average German. Something else which caught my attention that just did not seem right to me:
The appeal court denies us the usual financial legal aid for poor complainants because of “missing prospect of success”, so we will have to pay for all court costs. Ibid.
Don’t we offer court-appointed attorney’s to defend everyone we prosecute?
At any rate, if this case is successful, it could open a door for other families seeking to homeschool in Germany.
And why are the Neubronners homeschooling? Quite simply because their children came home physically ill from school and do not wish to return. The court rejected the argument, obviously. But in the paperwork was an interesting attachment with this table on school violence in Berlin, Germany. Note the general trend:
(In order: Threats, Insults, Blackmail, Bodily Injury, Dangerous Bodily Injury, Mobbing, Robbery, NeoNazi activity, Vandalism, Sexual Assault, Other., Total)
That would leave me feeling sick to my stomach, too.
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This is really interesting. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.
It still amazes me that parents have to get “permission” to do what they wish with their own children (so long as it is not of a negetive nature, of course.)
And look at those increases…those aren’t slight by any means; how could a court reject that with any clear conscious!
Especially in this case. They are using the state curriculum. Their children are taking and passing the state tests. They are monitored by state-certified teachers.
The only thing the state can object to is that the education is not taking place within the walls of a school. There is zero “parallel society” argument, as ridiculous as that is to begin with. No concerns of incapable parents. No one can slip through the cracks.
But that clearly doesn’t matter. This case highlights that. A handicapped child being forced to attend school, against the doctor’s judgment?
The state constitutions generally have some wording about extenuating circumstances that was attempted in the Neubronner case. But if a severely handicapped child with the warning from her doctor that school would be detrimental to her health cannot escape on this basis, I doubt the Neubronner children will, either.
The Neubronners have to pay for the costs of the case as it is one which they are bringing against the state of Bremen. They are the complainants. Sigh.
Thank you for the clarification, Scatty. From what I read, I thought this was their defense case. So my misunderstanding!