Educating Germany
Send a Card, Encourage a Child or 6!
The story goes....police and child welfare turned up in force to remove children from their family home...children want to return but the German state are procrastinating...and the underlying gripe = homeschooling.
This is so much the norm in Germany these days that you would be forgiven for letting out a not-another-one-sigh, but seeing as this site is dedicated to highlighting just these type of atrocities I present to you the Gorber's case.
GORBER FAMILY
Mum, Dad and 9 children.
Baby (born March 2008) is allowed to remain at home with parents and 2 adult children (19 and 21 years) but 6 others have been removed from their care in January 2008. They are divided in two groups- the two older ones (15 and 17) in one foster home, the four younger ones (3 to approximately 13) in another.
Mum suffered pregnancy diabetes which affected her mental well-being, was treated and has been fine since the last birth. Never-the-less 20 police-officers and 9 social and foster-care-workers arrived as the husband was visiting his wife, to take the 6 younger children between 3 and 17 years into foster care.
The explanation for the children's removal was that the mother was "mentally ill" and unable to take care of the children, and that it would be too much for the father, that the "children's welfare was in danger".
The judge ruled that: The children will return as soon as the mother had undergone a psychiatric evaluation and the children had been enrolled at a school!
Thanks to Familie Busekros for the following correspondence and information.....
| Original German | Provided English translation |
|---|---|
Die beiden ältesten weggenommenen Kinder der Gorbers, Sarai und Priska (17 und fast 15), sind gestern mit dem Fahrrad die 20 km (ohne Erlaubnis der Behörden) nach Hause gefahren, um die Eltern und verbliebenen Geschwister zu besuchen. Danach wollten sie zurückradeln. (Beim letzten Weglaufen, welches auch das erste seit der Wegnahme war, drohte ihnen das Jugendamt, beim nächsten Mal müssten die Eltern den Polizeieinsatz zahlen.) Bei der Rückfahrt stürzte Priska schwer und schlug sich Zähne aus. Darauf kehrten beide zu den Eltern zurück. Der Vater informierte die Behörden, die die sofortige Rückkehr verlangten. Die Eltern erklärten, dass die Kinder unter diesen Umständen erstmal nicht kommen könnten und zu Hause übernachten würden. Gegen Mitternacht erschienen 20 Polizisten und brachten die beiden erstmal ins Krankenhaus, wo es hieß, man könne nichts für Priska tun. Dann ging es weiter ins Heim. Frau Gorber berichtete schon vorher, dass die Kinder sehr unter Heimweh litten. Die Kindeswohlgefährdung durch die Behörden ist inzwischen so offensichtlich, dass eine baldige Heimkehr aller Kinder dringend geboten erscheint, damit nicht noch etwas Schlimmeres passiert. Ein Verdacht auf mögliche Gefährdung des Kindeswohls bei den Eltern reicht nicht zum Einsperren der Kinder, zumal sie deutlich und übereinstimmend sagen, sie wollen heim. Auch haben, um in den Strukturen des Jugendamtes zu denken, die Eltern die ursprüngliche Bedingung längst erfüllt: Die Mutter ist genesen und aus dem Krankenhaus entlassen (schon im Februar). Auch die später aufgestellten Bedingungen sind annähernd erfüllt: Die Schulanmeldungen liegen vor, Gutachter (allerdings selbst gesuchte) werden gerade kontaktiert. Auch informieren die Eltern stets "brav" die Behörden über den Verbleib der aus eigenem Antrieb weggelaufenen Kinder. Was muss noch geschehen? Wir denken, es ist Zeit, den Kindern Briefe zur Ermutigung (evtl. auch von Kindern geschrieben) zukommen zu lassen. Das war auch für unsere Melissa eine große Hilfe. Die Kinder sind - David (3), Rebecca (7), Thea und Esther (ca. 11 u. 12/13) Priska(fast 15) und Sarai (17). Bitte schreibt an: Familie Gorber, Max-Mutscheller-Str. 2 88662 Überlingen Deutschland Mit freundlichen Grüßen Gudrun & Hubert Busekros. | The two oldest Gorber-children of the six who have been taken away, Sarai and Priska (17 and almost 15), cycled the 20 km home yesterday (without allowance of the officials) in order to visit the parents and the three siblings, who have been left at home. After that they wanted to cycle back. (Last time when they ran home, which had been first time at all, the social workers threatened them, their parents would have to pay the next police-action.) On the way back Priska had an accident and got hurt (lost teeth). The girls returned home. The father informed the officials, who said, the girls should return immediately. The parents answered, that the girls could not return at the moment under these conditions, and that they would sleep at home this night. Around midnight 20 policemen came and took the girls to the hospital, where the doctor said, nothing can be done for Priska. After that they were brought back to the foster home. Mrs. Gorber told already before, that the children are suffering a lot of homesickness. Now the danger of the children's welfare by the officials has become so obvious, that a soon return of them to their parents seems absolutely necessary, in order to prevent more damage and disaster. A "suspicion of possible danger of the children's welfare by the parents" is not sufficient for imprisonment of the children, especially because they said clearly and in agreement with each other, that they want to go home. In addition to that, the parents- to use the words of the social workers- have fulfilled the original condition for the return: The mother recovered and returned home from hospital (already in February). Also the later conditions are almost fulfilled.: The school- enrolments are prepared, experts for the evaluation of the parents just get contacted (not the court- appointed, of course). It should also be mentioned, that the parents always informed the officials honestly about the stay of their children, who have run away from their own impulse. What else has to happen? We think, it's time to encourage the children by letters (maybe from children). Melissa had been encouraged a lot by this. The children are- David (3), Rebecca (7), Thea and Esther (approx. 11 & 12/13) Priska (almost 15) and Sarai (17). Please write to: Familie Gorber, Max-Mutscheller-Str. 2 88662 Überlingen Germany Kind regards Gudrun & Hubert Busekros. |
At this stage this action is NOT to contact the officials (as this could harm the family and they don't need the stress of the media on their doorstep too!) - it is solely to encourage the children involved in this action - cards, letters, gifts, prayers - whatever you feel to do or would want someone to do for your child, if heaven-forbid you were in the same situation.
Send me a photo of your support and I will post them here as an online tribute too.
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The Status Quo
For those new to the situation in Germany: home educating is (perceived as) illegal.
The common citation for school attendance is to protect against a pluralist society. I'd like to explore the various arguments for (and against) legalising home education in Germany.
It is my sincere hope that this information may help people internationally to lobby for change on behalf of those who want to or are trying to exercise their human right to raise their children the way they choose to.
Please join me in gathering facts, studies and quotes and add them to this blog.
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