Educating Germany 

... when the door bell rings?

Well, mine don't! They race down the hallway, like a herd of elephants, heralding the visitor(s)...

... but in Germany they can not.

Please take a minute to read the Millers' (a cycle-touring US family of 6) eye witness account of their stay in Germany visiting with the home schoolers there.

After the start of the day being shadowed by the article in the regional newspaper, Suedkurier, many of us were waiting for the trial of the Gorber's to be over.

The Judge had dictated a closed hearing, and the preceding correspondence and attitude emanating from the various authorities was obstinate.

In all reality the feeling among those I know was that there was little hope of anything pro-family coming out of this. They had seen it all before. They had lived it.

The hearing set for 2pm carried on and on into the early evening before being finished for this round, and it is still not a satisfactory outcome. All 6 children were not returned home...only the 3 year old David. A small victory perhaps, or you could even read into it that it is an admission of guilt on behalf of the state. I mean that if, as in the article above, there was any real concern of Mr Gorber killing himself and his children when his wife was in hospital (and this is the first that I have heard of this reasoning) then would they now be returning the youngest and most 'vulnerable' child back into their care. I don't think so. My theory is that this action saves them face.

Mrs Gorber has been out of hospital after suffering diabetic complications for months now.

The older children must remain separated from their parents and siblings, with visitation possibly being extended to weekends, depending on the opinions of the 'experts'. Still no full custodial rights are being returned.

So there will be another hearing...sometime. Not soon enough though for the welfare of the children.

Oh and in case you were wondering....yes, the other children that weren't returned home are school-aged, so the issue of them being enrolled at a state school vs homeschooling has been carefully side-stepped. So perhaps those emails to the school authority are provoking a re-think of the law pro home schooling before the children are returned, again to save face? - just let me indulge in that hope for a minute....aaaaah.

Rebecca is 7, Esther 10, Thea 12, Priska is 15 and Sarai is 17. So why Sarai hasn't been returned home I don't understand either. She is beyond the compulsory school attendance laws and has certain rights over and above the other children. Just like Melissa Busekros when she slipped out her bedroom window on the night of her 16th birthday. Mind you if I were Sarai, I think I would be very concerned for the well-being of my siblings.


So folks....not good news...only 3 year old David is allowed to return home at this time, but no reason for us to give up!

No reason not to turn our hand to whatever will make a difference, while we enjoy the freedom that we have, and think of those who do not.

Thanks to Netzwerk Bildungsfreiheit for the news.

This update from German sources.....

Yesterday we received a huge blow: Judge Voelk decided to let the children in their various 'homes' go on holiday overseas on the 27th July 2008, and thus without regard to the "making out" issue.

For those just joining this story...the Gorber's court date is set for the 29th July at 2pm, at which the State will decide whether to return the custody and the 6 children back to their parents.

It doesn't look good, and if the children have already gone overseas on holiday then there will definitely be a further delay in getting them back. Perhaps the judge has no intention of returning them to their parents? Where is the justice in that? Is open bias a right to a retrial?

The response that I got from the Child Youth and Family Office was along the lines of "the decision will be made at the upcoming trial for what is right in the eyes of the children". Ahem...please....what about the concern of a single young female being in a tent with boys? Surely there is a law protecting children from this within their very own 'Child Welfare System'? What about Thea's rights?

So what to do now....I'd email, email, email and express your deep concerns about the judge allowing 12 year old Thea to sleep in a tent with young boys and concern also at the children being sent away before the trial. Surely it is more politically correct to at least wait until after the next hearing.

I can't even imagine how the hearts of Mr and Mrs Gorber must be breaking. I bet you they don't get much sleep either.