True Lutherans will always have a soft spot in our hearts for the nation of Germany for giving
us the great reformer, Martin Luther.
Among his many accomplishments, Luther’s support of education for youth is noteworthy.
Many books have been written on that subject.
Of course, Luther didn’t want to leave education just to teachers employed for that purpose.
He also stressed the role that parents have in teaching their children the ways of the Lord.
So it’s very discouraging to hear what is now happening in the land of Luther. Ignoring Luther’s
strong advice, the German government is cracking down on home schooling parents.
According to the Web site, www.onenewsnow.com, German home school parents have been
fined large sums, sentenced to jail, and even have had their children taken away from them.
Juergen and Rosemarie Dudek of Archfeldt, Germany, have been ordered to serve three
months in jail. They also were assessed a fine equal to $1,500, all because they chose to
home school their children instead of sending them to German schools.
The parents have retained attorneys to fight the case, but an interested American, Mike
Donnelly of the Home School Legal Defense Association, is not optimistic about the outcome.
Germany contends it requires children to go to the government schools in order to integrate
them into one society. Donnelly thinks the real reason is Germany wants to prevent creation of
“parallel societies,” but home schooling doesn’t do that, he says.
In our own country, in February an appeals court in California ruled parents have no right to
home school their children if they are not certified teachers. However, authorities there now
seem to be backing away from pursuing home school cases.
Is this matter important enough for the German parents to be disobeying the government?
Probably not. Yet, Germany should recognize that most home school parents are educated
and highly motivated, and those schools offer no threat to the country or its government.
When Lutheran schools are not available, home schools should be an option. LSI
—Warren Krug, editor
us the great reformer, Martin Luther.
Among his many accomplishments, Luther’s support of education for youth is noteworthy.
Many books have been written on that subject.
Of course, Luther didn’t want to leave education just to teachers employed for that purpose.
He also stressed the role that parents have in teaching their children the ways of the Lord.
So it’s very discouraging to hear what is now happening in the land of Luther. Ignoring Luther’s
strong advice, the German government is cracking down on home schooling parents.
According to the Web site, www.onenewsnow.com, German home school parents have been
fined large sums, sentenced to jail, and even have had their children taken away from them.
Juergen and Rosemarie Dudek of Archfeldt, Germany, have been ordered to serve three
months in jail. They also were assessed a fine equal to $1,500, all because they chose to
home school their children instead of sending them to German schools.
The parents have retained attorneys to fight the case, but an interested American, Mike
Donnelly of the Home School Legal Defense Association, is not optimistic about the outcome.
Germany contends it requires children to go to the government schools in order to integrate
them into one society. Donnelly thinks the real reason is Germany wants to prevent creation of
“parallel societies,” but home schooling doesn’t do that, he says.
In our own country, in February an appeals court in California ruled parents have no right to
home school their children if they are not certified teachers. However, authorities there now
seem to be backing away from pursuing home school cases.
Is this matter important enough for the German parents to be disobeying the government?
Probably not. Yet, Germany should recognize that most home school parents are educated
and highly motivated, and those schools offer no threat to the country or its government.
When Lutheran schools are not available, home schools should be an option. LSI
—Warren Krug, editor
| Published 2008 |
Crackdown on German
Home Schools is Scary
by Warren Krug
Home Schools is Scary
by Warren Krug