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They can take your kids from for not sending them to school but not for home schooling them random thoughts Send a noteboard - 03/03/2010 10:35:48 PM
There must be some people in Germany who believe it is grounds for removing children or they wouldn't have the law.

Surely in the US too there are laws about that kind of thing, even if the American government obviously wouldn't make a legal case out of parents homeschooling their kids.


Of course we have laws for removing kids from their home. I think in to many cases they leave children in homes where they shouldn't. What we don't have is laws designed solely to keep parents from having control of the morals and values their children are taught. There are limits of course, if you teach your children to steal or sell drugs you are at risk of losing them or at least being put in some sort of supervised situation with in home visits. Typically when you have parents who are that bad or you get the skin heads that Silver Warder mentioned they are such piss poor parents that you can find any number of reasons to intervene.

As I understand it from the articles (if you can read German, I provided the links elsewhere), when the parents' case in court was dismissed, the father caught mention somewhere of a possibility of losing custody. The articles aren't much clearer than that about just how realistic that possibility is, what criteria have to be met before it's allowed, or whether any government service ever seriously considered that option - other than the mayor stating that no, they haven't. Considering the political fallout of such a decision, I would be strongly inclined to believe him, but I didn't see anything about guarantees, no (would be rather absurd to make guarantees, too, don't you think? If removing custody is a serious option, they can hardly guarantee not to do it, and if it's not a serious option, they'd only look foolish making guarantees that they'd never do it.)


Yeah my German is a little weak;) Mostly it comes from watching Hogan’s Heroes and old WWII movies;)

I am basing my entire defense of the ruling on the idea that they had justification to feel their kids could be taken away. Without that I think their case would be much weaker. I admit to my ignorance of the specifics here and I know nothing not in the original article. I do give some weight to their fear since a court in Germany very recently ruled that it was justified.

For all I know these people are crap parents who never should be allowed with in 50 feet of children but based on what I seen they are simply sincere parents who are willing to fight for what they believe in. I think personal liberty is the foundation of a free society and I support people who fight for even if I don't support the choices they are fighting for. Maybe it is just me but I consider personal liberty to paramount and believe we should always strive to expand where it possible. There must be limits of course to protect other peoples liberty but I think you error on more liberty not more control.

Edit: And about your reply above in the locked bit (I really don't get why, but okay): yes, I realize that that would be what it looks like to you, them fighting intolerance with intolerance. That would be because you have a different political and social culture.


And that is why it makes sense to give these people political asylum. We have a society and culture that values people who are willing to fight the system for their beliefs and I would guess they will be greeted with much more open arms here then they would have with any of the other countries people felt they should have moved to.

Sorry but it will be a very long haul to convince me that limits to what people can think and say is the best path forward. I think the light of day and honest debate is the best path. I do not support hate laws of any sort and believe that a crime is crime. I think Mill's had it right when he wrote On Liberty and I believe we lessen ourselves as a whole when we try and define what can and can't be thought. It is messy at times but then again what isn't and don’t believe that you can create tolerance through intolerance.

As for the rest of we can leave that locked and if you want to discuss it further feel free to NB but I really don’t want to start another pissing contest further down the thread.
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Homeschooling: German Family Gets Political Asylum in U.S. - 02/03/2010 10:30:01 PM 1466 Views
Looks like a win-win situation to me. - 02/03/2010 11:01:22 PM 746 Views
Exactly - 03/03/2010 08:54:10 AM 700 Views
yah...but...but.... - 03/03/2010 01:13:31 PM 610 Views
Germany does have a history of getting rid of people it doesn't like *NM* - 03/03/2010 02:08:37 PM 463 Views
Yawn. At least beckstcw was joking when he invoked Godwin's law below. I hope. *NM* - 03/03/2010 02:10:18 PM 381 Views
That is a load of crap - 03/03/2010 02:53:02 PM 465 Views
uhm, how would Germany be offending the US? - 03/03/2010 02:56:52 PM 426 Views
I meant in general not in this specfic case - 03/03/2010 02:59:01 PM 377 Views
ahh mk *NM* - 03/03/2010 03:09:39 PM 409 Views
Um. - 03/03/2010 02:57:53 PM 309 Views
But our religious beliefs and belief in allowing religious freedom is fair game? - 03/03/2010 03:09:48 PM 319 Views
Yes? - 03/03/2010 03:40:30 PM 297 Views
If you made fun of the Native Americans I would be offended - 03/03/2010 03:46:05 PM 540 Views
It's actually quite the opposite. - 03/03/2010 03:57:19 PM 515 Views
and I would say they trying to fix intolerance with more intolerance - 03/03/2010 04:13:49 PM 300 Views
That was probably the stupidest thing I ever saw you write - 03/03/2010 03:28:39 PM 470 Views
You were the one who said good riddance - 03/03/2010 03:43:24 PM 326 Views
It's the usual story of American ideology and European pragmatism. - 03/03/2010 03:52:51 PM 485 Views
exactly. - 03/03/2010 03:56:11 PM 426 Views
Yes, because I won't miss them much. - 03/03/2010 03:55:29 PM 514 Views
well said - 03/03/2010 06:34:18 PM 503 Views
I think it's outrageous they'd fine people for that - 02/03/2010 11:07:57 PM 754 Views
Re: Homeschooling: German Family Gets Political Asylum in U.S. - 03/03/2010 01:09:23 AM 879 Views
The socialization thing is mostly garbage - 03/03/2010 02:32:19 AM 755 Views
Yep, exactly. - 03/03/2010 02:41:14 AM 544 Views
Re: Yep, exactly. - 03/03/2010 03:12:48 AM 525 Views
Re: Yep, exactly. - 03/03/2010 03:34:33 AM 775 Views
Re: Yep, exactly. - 03/03/2010 04:34:30 AM 764 Views
*shrugs* I said it was anecdotal. I have no hard figures, only experiences. - 03/03/2010 03:28:29 AM 520 Views
The operative word IS mostly - 03/03/2010 04:33:20 AM 718 Views
'Mostly' is all that matters - 03/03/2010 05:46:01 AM 758 Views
Uhm, socialization is incredibly important. - 03/03/2010 06:03:30 AM 727 Views
Yes, but you don't need to be taught to do it - 03/03/2010 06:47:06 AM 676 Views
cats aren't pack or herd animals - 03/03/2010 06:53:02 AM 666 Views
Something of an inside joke, sorry - 03/03/2010 07:41:50 AM 707 Views
I'm a homeschooling parent. - 03/03/2010 07:09:03 PM 691 Views
LOL, we seem well represented on this site - 03/03/2010 10:02:16 PM 772 Views
to jump on the "I was homeschooled and I have social skills" bandwagon... - 03/03/2010 06:27:05 AM 1077 Views
I think you may be missing some things - 03/03/2010 02:48:27 PM 816 Views
Re: I think you may be missing some things - 05/03/2010 12:16:37 AM 884 Views
I was homeschooled through grade 12, and my mom has done pro bono legal work for HSLDA. - 03/03/2010 02:20:38 AM 668 Views
I agree that it can be a very good option for some families - 03/03/2010 04:42:21 AM 804 Views
Re: I agree that it can be a very good option for some families - 03/03/2010 05:16:17 AM 637 Views
It depends on the public school. - 03/03/2010 05:23:09 AM 673 Views
Re: It depends on the public school. - 03/03/2010 05:45:07 AM 677 Views
"done right" is not always the case - 03/03/2010 05:58:26 AM 504 Views
Re: "done right" is not always the case - 03/03/2010 06:14:43 AM 823 Views
Re: "done right" is not always the case - 03/03/2010 06:31:04 AM 735 Views
Well let's talk stats then. - 03/03/2010 06:55:14 AM 695 Views
please do not get me started on statistis. - 03/03/2010 07:11:19 AM 616 Views
Re: please do not get me started on statistis. - 03/03/2010 07:28:41 AM 668 Views
you missed my point. - 03/03/2010 01:10:26 PM 688 Views
You seem to be ignoring the matter of qualified teachers. - 03/03/2010 01:29:01 PM 649 Views
Your comments on public school educations have rather limited relevance to other countries, though. - 03/03/2010 09:53:30 AM 747 Views
+ ^ *NM* - 03/03/2010 01:11:04 PM 380 Views
While I support homeschooling, this is ridiculous. - 03/03/2010 04:48:40 AM 803 Views
Meh. - 03/03/2010 05:20:50 AM 727 Views
one year in a public school - 03/03/2010 05:32:13 AM 774 Views
Re: one year in a public school - 03/03/2010 05:58:48 AM 549 Views
No, I think i will nitpick. - 03/03/2010 06:11:44 AM 678 Views
This is getting off track and wasting time. - 03/03/2010 06:26:36 AM 715 Views
I'm not even certain it's 100% legal. - 03/03/2010 06:34:44 AM 501 Views
Yes, but we can't argue abuse of law. - 03/03/2010 06:51:23 AM 611 Views
I only used Mexicans because I'm from Arizona - 03/03/2010 07:04:29 AM 739 Views
I think I have the gist of it, - 03/03/2010 07:17:40 AM 631 Views
we haven't heard anything about their beliefs for me to think they're stupid. - 03/03/2010 02:54:25 PM 719 Views
According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung... - 03/03/2010 03:38:13 PM 641 Views
they don't have private christian schools in germany? - 03/03/2010 03:54:07 PM 597 Views
Not many, I dare say, but a few probably. *NM* - 03/03/2010 03:59:11 PM 405 Views
Say what? - 03/03/2010 09:38:40 AM 589 Views
Being able raise your kids by your beliefs is a frivolous matter? - 03/03/2010 03:21:23 PM 524 Views
Germany is not saying "you can't raise your kids by your beliefs" - 03/03/2010 03:31:01 PM 647 Views
It's not a recent law, and supposedly other German families have moved to France and the UK. - 03/03/2010 03:45:56 PM 740 Views
figured that. - 03/03/2010 03:58:57 PM 625 Views
I think that would fly in very face of political assylum - 03/03/2010 04:12:48 PM 690 Views
Yes, but they did not need political asylum. - 03/03/2010 04:28:16 PM 704 Views
how is that different then other political refuges we allow in? - 03/03/2010 04:55:14 PM 618 Views
I believe Legolas linked an article - 03/03/2010 04:57:09 PM 594 Views
I never saw the link - 03/03/2010 05:08:21 PM 511 Views
I'm not sure if they offered "formal" assurances or some such - 03/03/2010 05:21:54 PM 431 Views
that was a mayor, I doubt he would have the final word on the issue - 03/03/2010 05:46:22 PM 488 Views
You don't have a law about removing children from parental custody? At all? - 03/03/2010 09:43:15 PM 635 Views
They can take your kids from for not sending them to school but not for home schooling them - 03/03/2010 10:35:48 PM 643 Views
Compared to not being able to feed your kids, yes, it is. - 03/03/2010 03:42:58 PM 520 Views
yes but we don't grant political assylum for being hungry - 03/03/2010 04:34:23 PM 606 Views
no we don't. - 03/03/2010 04:50:31 PM 477 Views
Do you have a better system? - 03/03/2010 05:05:42 PM 768 Views
Immigration processes could certainly use some reform - 03/03/2010 05:32:22 PM 571 Views
The system sucks, big government typically does not function well - 03/03/2010 05:48:25 PM 508 Views
we probably would all be better off... - 03/03/2010 07:27:28 PM 622 Views
good because Texas is taken - 03/03/2010 07:47:46 PM 630 Views
No, true, that was about the illegal immigrants. - 03/03/2010 09:53:18 PM 731 Views
Absolutely. - 03/03/2010 09:32:41 AM 708 Views
Doesn't matter why, but all parents should have the right to homeschool..... - 03/03/2010 04:48:57 AM 545 Views
there are far worse faults for a country to have *NM* - 03/03/2010 05:14:11 AM 379 Views
That whole thing is pretty silly - 03/03/2010 12:18:45 PM 781 Views
Re: socialising. - 03/03/2010 06:13:49 PM 741 Views
And then there are secular people like myself, who - 03/03/2010 06:44:13 PM 687 Views
I think I'd do that too, if I had the patience. - 03/03/2010 06:45:20 PM 559 Views
*agree* - 03/03/2010 07:41:56 PM 737 Views
That is the catagory I'm in. - 03/03/2010 07:46:12 PM 599 Views
Re: probably more likely - 04/03/2010 12:19:37 AM 748 Views
I am opposed to homeschooling but believe it should be a legal option. - 03/03/2010 02:32:34 PM 689 Views
I think you make a good point here - 03/03/2010 05:22:59 PM 731 Views
but...but...parents can't educate their children outside of school!! - 03/03/2010 05:40:30 PM 657 Views
I don't agree with them I just support their right to be wrong - 03/03/2010 06:04:11 PM 705 Views
The statistics are flawed, as I've noted above - 03/03/2010 07:07:11 PM 569 Views
Your views on this are not fact-driven - 03/03/2010 09:13:07 PM 746 Views
No, what you're saying is that my answer isn't driven by STATISTICS. - 03/03/2010 10:36:50 PM 673 Views
Granted, but there is no obvious source for bias - 03/03/2010 10:57:19 PM 604 Views
Again, I'm not saying it applies to everyone - 03/03/2010 11:51:17 PM 515 Views
Re: Again, I'm not saying it applies to everyone - 04/03/2010 12:16:29 AM 751 Views
You mean aside from the fact that you are already arguing about it? - 04/03/2010 12:14:02 AM 508 Views
Yes, I mentioned this in my reply to Tom, see below... - 04/03/2010 12:19:42 AM 645 Views
Fair enough - 04/03/2010 12:21:41 AM 562 Views
Re: Fair enough - 04/03/2010 12:37:06 AM 969 Views
Re: Fair enough - 04/03/2010 09:39:38 AM 677 Views
Umm Massachusetts did have slavery in 1717 - 03/03/2010 02:55:25 PM 610 Views
Wow....so this got the board going. A question for everyone... - 03/03/2010 06:02:57 PM 787 Views
I think it is incumbent on the state to show that kids are being in some way harmed - 03/03/2010 06:07:13 PM 709 Views
Interesting - 03/03/2010 06:25:43 PM 813 Views
I never said there should be no limits on what parents should be able to do - 03/03/2010 06:38:53 PM 761 Views
What you said was: - 03/03/2010 06:51:26 PM 748 Views
I think it's safe to say teaching your kids to be little sociopaths qualifies as harm. - 03/03/2010 09:17:48 PM 530 Views
I think so too - 03/03/2010 10:46:41 PM 762 Views
Yes they do. Provided... - 03/03/2010 07:04:46 PM 636 Views
One of the reasons... - 03/03/2010 07:40:54 PM 713 Views
that is fair enough - 03/03/2010 07:51:31 PM 600 Views
Hmmph. Inappropriate action on the part of the judge who allowed them to stay. - 03/03/2010 06:22:08 PM 655 Views
I agree completely with this. *NM* - 03/03/2010 06:42:01 PM 404 Views
agree. *NM* - 03/03/2010 06:49:01 PM 268 Views
You just skip the part where they have to show they are being persecuted - 03/03/2010 06:54:20 PM 779 Views
"Persecution" can be a matter of opinion, though. - 03/03/2010 07:04:46 PM 748 Views
officers will track down kids ditching school here. - 03/03/2010 07:17:57 PM 801 Views
I'm not sure what they do in Canada - 03/03/2010 10:49:00 PM 648 Views
Agrees - 03/03/2010 06:54:59 PM 619 Views
New Cosmic Powers of the admins - 03/03/2010 06:52:57 PM 537 Views
It is the Power of the Ben™ *NM* - 03/03/2010 08:48:11 PM 394 Views
*walks in, looks around* - 03/03/2010 07:52:09 PM 727 Views
Re: *walks in, looks around* - 03/03/2010 09:25:46 PM 500 Views
What, no defending Germany today? *NM* - 03/03/2010 10:03:01 PM 403 Views
Even I need a day off *NM* - 04/03/2010 01:02:17 AM 389 Views
Re: *walks in, looks around* - 03/03/2010 10:33:24 PM 549 Views
Interesting - 03/03/2010 11:02:27 PM 727 Views
Am I recalling correctly that you know some German? - 03/03/2010 11:07:00 PM 680 Views
Sorry, nope. - 04/03/2010 09:14:49 PM 479 Views
Oh. Ah well. - 04/03/2010 09:23:11 PM 648 Views
One thing all of us homeschooled kids are missing is... - 04/03/2010 01:53:22 AM 608 Views

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