Activists Protest Court's Upholding of Germany's Ban on Homeschooling

Bob Allen
10-06-06
Homeschool activists are raising alarm about a controversy in Germany involving church, state and school they fear could have long-term repercussions affecting parents' rights to educate their children in the United States.


In September the European Court of Human Rights denied an appeal of a fundamentalist Christian family who sued the German government for the right to educate their children at home.

They are among seven Baptist families in the northwest state of Westphalia boycotting public schools they view as humanistic and godless.

In January a court in Westphalia sentenced a mother to six days in jail, followed by six days for the father, because they would not pay a fine for refusing to let their children attend a Christmas play based on the 1812 Grimm's fairy tale "King Thrushbeard," which they considered to be blasphemous.

Another family, in the case decided by the European court, said school teaching in Paderborn conflicted with their religious beliefs, such as promoting superstitions like witches and dwarves in fairy tales and in sex education.

The European court upheld German laws requiring compulsory education and agreed with lower courts that requiring children to attend school did not violate the parents' rights to privacy or religious freedom.

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