Is Homeschooling Under Attack by the US Government?

Have you seen the petition for the German homeschooling family going around the homeschooling community?  I have.  It's eveywhere!  It is so frustrating to me that homeschoolers are falling for this fear mongering hook, line, and sinker!!  Before you sign the petition......before you fall prey to the idea that homeschooling is under attack in this country, which the HSLDA (of whom I'm not a fan) is propagating, let's review the issues from a place that isn't about causing fear and panic. The Romeikes didn't get kicked out of Germany, they were asked by the HSLDA to come to Tennessee to homeschool.

In a nutshell-

- Family claims that the schooling in Germany goes against their religious beliefs. Though they do not actually state their religious beliefs only that they disagree with science, sex ed, and other academic lessons being taught. The HSLDA attaches the term "evangelical Christian" to them, although I have also heard them referred to as "fundamental Christian."

- Family decides to homeschool instead of choosing a private school that aligns with their beliefs. Homeschooling is illegal in Germany in most cases. I've seen conflicting information so I'm just leaving it at that.

- The family is fined, has issues with local authorities, and a number of issues because they decide to homeschool. Right or wrong, the law in Germany does not allow homeschooling for religious reasons no matter what.

- The family could have gone to the U.K. or France which are both homeschooling friendly, instead, they follow the advice of the HSLDA and come to America. They are given a visa, but overstay that visa by several months, then decide to seek asylum on the grounds of "Persecution for their religious beliefs." The family is initially granted Asylum, however, the DOJ appealed that decision and it was overturned by the BIA on appeal. Thus, the family was informed that they would have to leave the country and go back to Germany.

- The family is now appealing the decision of the BIA to strip them of asylum to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Part of the reason the asylum was removed is because Germany is a western, Democratic country, and most asylum seekers from countries like Germany are denied asylum. A big reason though is that they did not meet the qualifications for Asylum because German Homeschool Law is applied equally and does not single out homeschoolers based upon religious beliefs. However, the HSLDA in the current appeal claims that it is applied unequally and that Secular homeschoolers have no problem homeschooling in Germany as many are given waivers that allow them to homeschool. Whereas religious homeschoolers are denied outright no matter what. The HSLDA claims in the briefs that secular homeschoolers often receive these waivers as they claim they are travelers, do not have a permanent residence or other reasons like medical or psychological issues.

-The HSLDA has failed to mention that they advised this family to move to the USA instead of advising them to go to the UK of France where they could have homeschooled without issue and could have gone without the need for Asylum. The hslda has used this issue to further promote the belief that the US government hates homeschoolers, is going to ban homeschooling, and all sorts of propaganda that preys upon the fears of many homeschooling families.

The rights of homeschoolers are NOT under attack from the US government. They are under attack from groups like the HSLDA who helped write some of the strictest homeschool laws in the country- N.Y. and P.A. - and now they spend thousands defending homeschoolers against the laws they helped write! Laws they felt the rest of the country should be modeled after. The HSLDA is no friend to secular homeschooling families and/or families that have chosen the best homeschooling approach for their children, which may not adhere to the supposed "standards" of the HSLDA.   (This includes unschoolers and relaxed/eclectic homeschoolers).

I support the right to homeschool for ALL families. Which includes Same-Sex families, Virtual school families, Unschooling families, Atheist families, Pagan families, Jewish families, Muslim families, Pastafarian families, Taoist families, Deist families, Agnostic families, Catholic families, and more. I do not support HSLDA's contention that only Christian Families should homeschool and that the rest of us are not worthy of homeschooling or the so-called "protections" offered by the HSLDA. I do not support the infringement of our rights, as Secular homeschoolers, by a group who would love nothing more than to have no one allowed to homeschool except for religious reasons.

If anything, supporting this family, signing the petition, could make things worse for secular homeschoolers. HSLDA's basis for declaring this a human rights violation is based on religious freedom. HSLDA wants homeschooling to be more narrowly defined to include Christian homeschoolers using approved curriculums. That doesn't help any of us who are Secular homeschoolers, unschoolers, or even relaxed schoolers.

~Mari B.

with contributing writer:  Gayle Miller