An American judge makes a laudable decision that should embarrass the Germans, and force them to reconsider their systemic persecution of homeschooling families:
A Christian family from Germany have been granted political asylum in the US after facing the threat of prison for home schooling their children. Uwe and Hannelore Romeike, who are evangelical Christians, were forced to flee Germany as they wished to educate their five children at home.
Home schooling is still illegal in Germany under laws introduced during the Nazi era. The German law means that parents who choose to home school their children can face fines or even imprisonment. The family endured harassment from the authorities, and on one occasion police officers came to the family’s home and forced the children to attend school. The family fled to the US after Germany’s highest court ruled that in severe cases of non-compliance social services could remove home schooled children from their parents.
Describing the case, Immigration Judge Lawrence O. Burman said that “the rights being violated here are basic human rights that no country has a right to violate”. He added: “Homeschoolers are a particular social group that the German Government is trying to suppress. This family has a well-founded fear of persecution…therefore, they are eligible for asylum…and the court will grant asylum.”
(Via: Acton Institute Power Blog)
January 29th, 2010 | 10:48 am
Very heartening to see this precedent set in American law.
In various places in our country, there is a certain persecution by the authorities of home-schoolers. It is predictable that the NEA teachers’ union could lobby for more such persecution, as it lobbies against other forms of competition, notably vouchers allowing school choice for poor families.
In the context of our current political scene, and the growing anti-Christian tone of public discourse, this seemingly unthinkable development is actually quite likely.
January 29th, 2010 | 10:55 am
Thank goodness the judge was reasonable in this case. Homeschooling persecution seems to be prevalent in some areas of Europe.
For example, in Sweden:
“Christian home-schooling parents who had their son taken away by Swedish Government officials have lost their court case to have him returned.
Dominic Johansson, who is just seven years old, was taken away from his parents in 2008 and a court has now ruled that the Government was within its rights to do so.”
“Swedish social services initially limited the couple’s visits to Dominic to two hours per week but have since cut that to one hour every fifth week.”
From:
http://www.christian.org.uk/news/swedish-govt-slammed-for-seizing-home-ed-boy/
It’s hard to imagine anything more heinous. It’s simply the state wanting to control every aspect of life.
January 29th, 2010 | 11:00 am
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January 30th, 2010 | 8:20 am
But at the same time, the Swedes are gravely, gravely concerned that Americans execute rapists and murderers…
January 31st, 2010 | 7:54 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by First Things, Roxanna, DNC DUDES, Stefan Nyman, Family F and others. Family F said: Homeschoolers as Political Refugees » First Thoughts | A First … http://bit.ly/9QjxgG [...]
February 1st, 2010 | 9:26 am
[...] Homeschoolers as Political Refugees – First Things It is unfortunate how far left Europe has gone. Who would have thought, the United States would be accepting political refugees from Germany? [...]
February 2nd, 2010 | 3:03 pm
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child would do nothing if not provide a rationale for Germany’s actions in this matter. See this link for more info:
http://parentalrights.org/
There are many in Congress who are pushing for ratification of this UN Convention by the United States. This would be a terrible mistake. Read some of the background on it here:
http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30160.html
March 2nd, 2010 | 10:25 am
Good on Judge Burman. He made a just and right decision in granting the Romeikes asylum. I pray it will stand.
March 2nd, 2010 | 5:44 pm
Finally, a judge that actually deserved his law degree!
Go Judge Burman!!!
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