Educating Germany

This review, by Milton Gaither, popped up on my radar today and I thought that it serves as a quick refresher of the issues of home education in Europe and Germany, especially for those new to understanding the situation.  I believe he also raises a valid point questioning whether Islam is playing into the added reticence of authorities towards legalising home education in Germany today.

Here is a trailer to a film being made by Andreas Holzhauer, Woodcutter Film Studios, about home education in Germany.  It is in German with English sub-titles.

Have just watched this documentary (in German), that aired on Das Erste on Sonntag, 23. Januar 2011, 13.15 Uhr, thanks to Youtube.  A little biased, in my humble opinion, but I am sure it is bringing the topic to the attention of a wider audience.

[For the record we don't have a television, (but we do have a computer,) and in no way do I think of our children as under-privileged or dis-advantaged - just the opposite!]

Despite such short notice here is an invitation to a discussion on the differences between Belgian and German stances to home education, to be held at the Belgian Embassy on Thursday 20th January from 12 - 2pm in BERLIN.

It will be simultaneously translated between French and German.

"Compulsory school attendance in Germany - Compulsory education in Belgium: the difference between the 2 countries doesn't only lie in one word. There are at least 1000 students in the French-speaking part of Belgium who are taught at home, which often lands the counterparts in Germany before the courts. What grounds are there for these divergent approaches? Who are the children - or rather who are the parents - that have chosen homeschooling in Belgium? "