German Family Seeks Asylum in the US

Our freedoms are so vital, so much a part of America, and often something we take for granted. Our freedoms are so precious. And sadly they are not shared throughout the world. I have recently learned about a homeschool family that the HSLDA is helping from Germany where homeschooling is not allowed. They consider homeschooling dangerous because parents might teach ideas different from those espoused by the state. And so, homeschooling is illegal... and the Romeike family was forced to flee Germany with their children.

For a while now, I have been discussing how vital it is that we remain engaged and vigilant. This is an example of why we MUST be active in our country. This issue is not simply about homeschooling but about freedom to think our OWN thoughts and raise our OWN children.

HSLDA Files Asylum Application for German Homeschool Family (read the full account at hslda)

Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is supporting a first-of-its kind application for political asylum by a German homeschooling family. Uwe and Hannelore Romeike left their home in Bissingen, Germany to escape government persecution directed at them because they homeschool. They arrived in the United States in August of this year and are settling in Tennessee where they have been warmly welcomed by local homeschoolers. ....

Political asylum is available to people already in the United States who fear returning to their home country due to actual persecution or who have a well-founded fear of actual persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Homeschoolers certainly have a “well-founded fear” of persecution in Germany.

According to Staff Attorney Michael P. Donnelly, HSLDA’s contact attorney for Germany, “German homeschoolers, of which there are few because of the persecution, are fined thousands of dollars, sent to prison or have the custody of their children taken away. Many of these families have fled Germany when threatened with the custody of their children. Some have told me that they are willing to go to jail for their beliefs if they have to, but they will not allow the state to take their children. This year alone nearly a dozen families have fled this in the face of this harsh persecution.”

Such persecution is becoming increasingly commonplace. In July of this year, homeschooling parents Rosemary and Juergen Dudek were each sentenced to 90 days in prison for homeschooling. They are appealing. Another family, the Gorbers, had their children viciously taken from their home in a raid in January. However, a family court judge on November 12 finally issued an order restoring custody to the family on the condition that the children attend public school and that the youngest son be enrolled in a playgroup.

According to the U.S. Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, nearly 55,000 applications for political asylum were received in 2007 with nearly 13,000 being granted. Last year, according to the report, there were 20 applications from Germany with four granted. The U.S. State Department has noted that homeschooling in Germany is an issue they are watching. In its 2007 Human Rights Watch report on Germany, the State Department writes that “[t]he legal obligation that children attend school and the related prohibition on home schooling were problems for some religious groups.”....

Uwe Romeike, a music teacher, and his wife Hannelore, are grateful for the support they have received from HSLDA and American homeschoolers. “We love living in Tennessee. It is so beautiful, and the freedom we have to homeschool our children is wonderful,” said Mrs. Romeike “We don’t have to worry about looking over our shoulder anymore, wondering when the youth welfare officials will come or how much money we have to pay in fines.” ....

“The Charter guarantees the right of parents to choose their way of education. Pluralism is the right way,” Commissioner Figel answered in response to a question about Germany’s homeschooling policies, “and we start with the parents.” The commissioner noted that, “Education is a state matter, but it is important that we respect differences. Europe is a mosaic.”

I found the following information on wikipedia:

In September 2006 the European Court of Human Rights upheld the German ban on homeschooling, stating "parents may not refuse ...[compulsory schooling] on the basis of their convictions", and adding that the right to education "calls for regulation by the State". The European Court took the position that the plaintiffs were the children, not their parents, and declared "children are unable to foresee the consequences of their parents' decision for home education because of their young age.... Schools represent society, and it is in the children’s interest to become part of that society. The parents' right to educate does not go as far as to deprive their children of that experience." The European Court endorsed a "carefully reasoned" decision of the German court concerning "the general interest of society to avoid the emergence of parallel societies based on separate philosophical convictions and the importance of integrating minorities into society."

To me, it seems as though Germany did not learn its lesson from WWII... government controlled thought and education can lead to gross abuses. Being able to have people think for themselves and have accepted diversity is GOOD. It is not desirable to make one race (as in Aryan) or one religion or one set of thoughts and values. If the government controls all education and acceptable thought then it has the ability to twist the thoughts of the people as it did in Nazi Germany. The American ideal is that freedom of speech and thought and religion is crucial. And I agree.

I am so thankful that I was born and raised in America. And because I value these liberties I must protect them.