June 16, the new school law was presented to the Swedish minister of education. Based on its understanding of the European Convention on Human Rights (itself based on the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights), homeschooling will be made illegal. The following is a letter forwarded to me from a homeschooler in Sweden:
*******************
Dear friends,
Today the Swedish Government released its suggestion for a new Swedish school law which has been in the works for many years.
The position on homeschooling in the suggested law is a return to darkness. It is unbelievable. Homeschoolings will NOT be permitted for those referring to philosophical or religious reasons according to the European convention on Human Rights!
The reason given is:
“…that the education in school should be comprehensive and objective
and thereby designed so that all pupils can participate, regardless of
what religious or philosophical reasons the pupil or his or her care-
takers may have.”
Thus, the suggested law argues:
“…there is no need for the law to offer the possibility of
homeschooling because of religious or philosophical reasons in the
family. All together this means that this suggested change cannot be
said to contradict Swedens international obligations Human rights
conventions].”
The quotes above are my [the author of the original letter!] translations from the suggested law on page
584. The suggested law can be downloaded in Swedish from the Swedish Government homepage: http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/11355/a/128290
That the Swedish Government is making homeschooling illegal is Sweden showing off its worst totalitarian socialist roots. We will need international support to show that Sweden, as a member of the international democratic community, cannot take such a position. As Sweden is often seen as the great social utopia of the world, it is important for Swedish homeschoolers to win this battle.
Sensible international suggestions about the new Swedish school law can be sent to: skollagen@education.ministry.se
You are welcome to contact me at: jonas@rohus.se or the whole Rohus board at: styrelsen@rohus.nu
Best regards
Jonas Himmelstrand
Member and pedagogical advisor of the Rohus board
*************************
Hopefully this does not go through, but from my understanding, homeschooling in Sweden is a very rare event. According to A to Z Home’s Cool, there are only about 200 homeschooling families. Like the situation in England, it appears that it is official interpretation of international treaties that is behind the attempt to restrict homeschooling. At the same time, homeschoolers in Sweden are using the language of the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a defense.
homeschooling homeschool home education Swedish homeschooling
It’s sounding more and more like the UNCRC has been and is being orchestrated by Satan himself. Christians do not need to become lax in praying that the U.S. will continue to stand against this ridiculous treaty.
I am very sorry to read that this is going on. Coming from Ireland and myself a home schooler, I would hate to see this going through, not least for the reason that my own country may one day use Sweden as an example/excuse to changge the laws here at a future date…
Thankks for keeping us up to date.
I have a friend who just moved with her family to Sweden. She homeschooled here but told me it is very rare there. I’ll have to contact her and see if she knows anything.
That would be great, Spunky! I wish I could read Swedish.
Wow – first the UK comes out with news that they want more stringent regulations around homeschooling, and now this?
What disturbs me most is that here in the U.S., Education Secretary Arne Duncan is pushing for our school system to be compared against international benchmarks and the current administration is also pushing for nationally-certified teachers.
If you connect all the dots, it seems to suggest that there’s a potential to impose more limits on homeschooling here in our nation.
Bizarre. Especially since we homeschoolers frequently point to Sweden’s school system as an example of why formal education is not required for the very young (since their formal schooling does not begin until age seven, and young children are expected to – get this — PLAY!)
Honestly, with Sweden’s school system, there is LESS reason to homeschool, since it really is done much better than over here. So homeschooling for academic reasons is much less likely. And because families and connections and childhood are more respected, that side of things is less of an issue as well. But just because it’s uncommon, does not mean it should be illegal.
I have a fried who is a Swedish immigrant and he is totally supportive of our homeschooling, thinks it’s a great idea — though of course, that’s in reference to our school system HERE!
This is very disappointing. I’ve always been impressed by how much choice Sweden allows parents when it comes to schools, including vouchers for private & religious schools. Why do they have such a problem with extending parental choice to home education?
I’ve been on the fence when it comes the proposed Parental Rights Amendment but with the UNCRC being used as justification for proposed restrictions on homeschooling, I’m leaning more and more towards supporting it…
Ultimately, the goal of a social state is to break down any private relationships and thoughts that aren’t oriented towards the state’s utilitarian needs. Sweden’s education system, like the rest of the EU, results in a homogeneity of thought. The education system in Sweden can only be called good if your yardstick is based on quantifiable metrics and not virtues. Weimar Germany also excelled against that yardstick. As for me, I’ll choose the love of my mother over the knowledge of a state certified teacher any day.