The law persecutes those who choose to home educate for other reasons, as well. Even parents who choose to educate their children at home due to poor academics in the school, a school that cannot or will not protect their children from bullying or even health issues where DOCTORS have suggested educating the child at home.

It is an irrational fear based in stereotypes rather than experience. America has a much more pluralistic society than Germany, with far more social problems, but none of it stems for our homeschoolers, even in states where the practice is fully unregulated.

I am happy that our judges forbade this. We don’t allow fundamentlistic muslims to indoctrinate their children either so why should we allow Christians? Parallel societies never led to anything good in our history – so why should we help those who want to start them? If it was only about Christian values then I must say it is something the parents could have taught their children after the normal school as well (which ends at around noon in the first grades).

And just because the law was written when the Nazis were ruling our country (which it was) it doesn’t mean that the law itself may not make sense. Nobody is arguing whether it makes sense to have motorways either despite them having been built mostly to enable the war machinery to go quickly from east to west.

If this was a muslim family seeking asylum because their daughter had to partake in swimming classes with other boys, the USA would decide very differently indeed.

To the Romeike’s I say: Good riddance, stay with your fundamentalist friends, bigots!

I read your article, and I found it filled with stereotypes which have no basis in reality. I note, not surprisingly, that you do not cite any studies to back your views, but just make statements without any factual support. My own experiences of homeschooling – and the experiences of millions of other homeschooling families – have shown your stereotypes to be false.

I would suggest that you actually interact with homeschoolers and also engage in the studies which have found homeschoolers to be well-prepared to engage in society as adults.

There was a large international contingent where we were. When it got out that we were homeschooling our girls, the reactions were very interesting.

I do not recall a German response, but the Dutch folk were absolutely aghast that we could consider it. The British were similar (and seem to be in the process of making THEIR homeschoolers miserable).

We have it very easy in North America. I am glad the US will accept the refugees! I suspect the Romeikes will not be the last.