Educating Germany 

Compulsory Education not Compulsory School Attendance.

For those German-speaking readers, to mark the day compulsory school attendance came into force in Germany, 70 years ago, several members of the webring are writing posts about what their lives would be like if they were free to homeschool their children legally. How it would be different if homeschooling were open and accepted and not 'underground'. How legalising homeschooling would strengthen families and communities and what they themselves could see themselves doing together as a group.

Click on the forward or backward arrows of the webring button to the right or go to the webring homepage. [Due to the difference in time zones these posts may appear over the next 24 hours!]

We also welcome our newest member: KiFaSchule.

I like what Evelyn wrote...she made the point that if she were looking to do a refreshers course in English she would have the choice of which school she attended and if one didn't suit she'd find another or do a course by correspondence or somehow or other. And yet what if there was a law that mandated everyone to do a refreshers course and attend only one type of school, and if you didn't you'd be hauled off by police and made to attend, fined or put into prison. The only way out was to leave the country. What if the class size of the English course was too big, or the method didn't suit, or those attending developed psychiatric illnesses as a result of it, and yet the authorities didn't let up.

Do you see the parallel?

The question begs to be asked - "how then does traditional school prepare a child for the "real world"?"

It sure makes me aware of the freedom that we take for granted in so many other countries to be able to home educate our children and focuses me more deeply on the great privilege and short amount of time we have to shape their lives.

Have you shown/told your child you love them today?