Is homeschooling REALLY illegal in Germany?

Is homeschooling allowed where you live? DW Reporter Brant Dennis explains what it’s like in Germany. #shorts #germany #germanculture #lifeingermany #homeschool #livingabroad #cultureshock

[@ashesfalling4724]

I was homeschooled in America because I had a health condition that prevented me from attending public school. I’m glad Germany does allow exceptions for cases like mine.

[@Ecstasia1]

Depending on your condition there would usually be programs installed to make it possible for you to attend either regular school or school programs for children with special needs. The German social system also provides the transportation to those places as well as school companions for children who just lack the physical ability to read or write. Those companions would assist by writing down things for you, assisting with homework and advocating between teachers and parents. I know many people with disabilities and I don't think I know anyone who didn't attend either public, inclusive (with mixed classes) or special needs school.

[@jennyh4025]

If children are too ill to attend school in person, they either get their „homework“ from a teacher and have to learn everything on the schedule they get or (nowadays for immune deficiencies for example) children can get small robots as stand ins for them to „be in school“ while they are at home or hospital and control the robot and interact with their fellow students and teachers through the robot. I hope that last one was understandable.

[@Alaskan-Armadillo]

Oh hey look a reactionary who knows the bare minimum about the German education system and insists the American one is better.

[@MixerElixer]

@@jennyh4025As a Berliner I've never heard of the robot, but it sounds pretty cool and like it would work! The homework thing just doesn't work though. It's basically like homeschooling back in lockdown, but you don't even have a class online with your teacher, you just watch videos of your teacher teaching, or videos from the internet. Had a younger cousin who went through that because of a condition, and not having a teacher there made it incredibly difficult for him to grasp things.

[@jennyh4025]

@@MixerElixer I know what it was like and often still is (thanks to a friend, whose sibling had a similar experience twenty years ago, but with a very good teacher, who actually visited after work twice a week). The robot is quite new and I actually saw it on tv (Sendung mit der Maus) some time ago.

[@benislenis9932]

its also good for other Adults to see the child, cause not all parents are angels.

[@edwinamendelssohn5129]

Nor are teachers

[@micromot]

​@@edwinamendelssohn5129right but the children don't spend the majority of their time with teachers, as they do with parents. Also the teachers are usually very well tested before they start

[@edwinamendelssohn5129]

@@micromot Parents love their children more than teachers do

[@micromot]

@@edwinamendelssohn5129 Not all parents, some think they love their child while ruining their lives which is why they need contact with other children to know if the parents are doing something bad to them and to be able to tell others so they don't have to suffer.

[@edwinamendelssohn5129]

@@micromot when did I say ALL? And homeschooled kids have contact with other children their own age and children of other ages. They also spend time with group not segregated by age. They are far more comfortable speaking with a wide range of people.

[@liammeech3702]

Germans watching films featuring homeschooled characters must be really strange.

[@jungschon4003]

Watched a lot us movies but never had this issue really 😅

[@checkcommentsfirst3335]

It is indeed a concept that is hard to grasp for me

[@gentlebabarian]

As a dutch guy where there is also mandatory schooling. We can understand the concept, it is not that strange because we aren't dumb or ubder developed because we aren't home schooled. We have developed critical thinking abilities because and sympathy because we developed then by socialising.

[@catovr]

For me it's just like "I guess people can do that somewhere, no idea it they will learn what they should so I kinda criticize it"

[@56independent42]

I'm going to apply the same logic and say that watching films with murder is very disorienting for Germans as murder is illegal in Germany.

[@philippk736]

And it should be mentioned that for those cases, where it is okay to be taught at home (e.g. due to severe illness etc.) the curriculum is at least regulated here in Germany, unlike in multiple states in the US where parents can pretty much decide whatever... There was a great episode on homeschooling by John Oliver recently...really worth watching.

[@Dojan5]

Aah so there are exceptions. It sounds like here in Sweden then. We also have skolplikt, but in case of illness etc, children may be homeschooled, but I think it has to be done by a teacher.

[@indigodino3897]

i didn't realise that there was no obligation to follow a curriculum in some states, how do they know if a kid is getting a proper education? do they do tests or something?

[@marquisdehoto1638]

It depends strongly on the parents if it is better or worse then the curriculum. I don't know where people take the time and the money to homeschool their children.

[@courtneyhaas9286]

It varies state by state, but we homeschool and we do standardized testing every year to make sure they are on track. All the homeschool families I know are very dedicated and their kids are excelling. We also have way more time for extracurricular activities and for the kids to explore their own interests and hobbies since the actual school work only takes 3-4 hours a day. And they build really strong relationships with their siblings, which I love and think is very important. My oldest is in high school and has a very busy social life but still wants to be home with us for movie nights and goes to all of her sister’s games. It’s such a blessing to have the freedom to homeschool.

[@AbyssalSoda]

Fun fact: Homeschoolers in the U.S. outperform academically in every subject compared to their public and private school counterparts

[@ladyalexandra2980]

In Austria we have "Bildungspflicht" instead of "Schulpflicht" - duty for education not for school. Children can be homeschooled, but have to take an exam twice a year at a school, to make sure, the parents teach them everything.

[@UltimoA]

Once. I am homeschooled in Austria and only have one exam per year

[@ALadybugDreamsOfAFarm]

Those "rare exceptions" are literally only made when the child *physically* cannot attend school like a serious cancer case or other terminal illness. There's a couple that's trying to get their severely autistic son out of the school system and it doesn't work. They've been to court multiple times for this and have faces insane amounts of fees.

[@cuddlycuttlefish5674]

There are lots of specialised schools

[@theninja4137]

Especially for a child with developmental disabilities, school is important: not only are the teachers trained in special education and can support them better, it is also one of the few places to have free time activities targeted at their level of intellectual/social development. Maybe for a young kid it is still possible to participate in clubs with non-disabled peers, but as social structures and relevant topics get more complicated, a moderately to severely intellectually disabled or neirodiverse child will become isolated in groups of non-disabled peers

[@ALadybugDreamsOfAFarm]

The child has been severely bullied to the point that the parents took it out. This is not an issue of "specialised schools" or "specialized educators". This is an issue of "the child is literally in danger of permanent psychological damage".

[@theninja4137]

@@ALadybugDreamsOfAFarm then put that child to a different school

[@persephoneaconite4125]

But even those rare cases aren't "home-schooled" in the traditional sense, that most U.S. citizens might think of. Usually teachers come to the homes of the child with prepared educational material and lesson plans and would regularly visit, revise their school work with them and watch over their overall progress.

[@lenajk2004]

one of the sad facts is that homeschooling can lead to increased child abuse and without things like sex ed the kids won’t ever know that what’s happening is a bad thing.

[@Amber-dw9op]

I'm actually going through a sex ed course with my daughter. It was recommended to me by other homeschool parents and it's been an incredible experience. Much more detailed than anything I learned at school, but also emphasizes body confidence. It's good to keep in mind that abuse happens in public school, too. So far, I've yet to meet an abusive homeschooling parent (although I'm sure they exist), but I knew a lot of kids who were abused in school. I also unfortunately came across many abusive teachers and teachers who ignored abuse in public school. If you're interested in the Sex Ed course, I actually highly recommend it to all parents not just homeschoolers. It's really helped my daughter feel prepared for puberty instead of being scared by it and I love the bonding experience of making it an open discussion for our family. I would be more than happy to send you the link if you'd like to have it for your own children.

[@Rainbowblob_]

There are some exceptions, mainly if you have physical disabilities, I think, but there’s probably a number of valid reasons. You do have to get specific permission from the state/country to do it though, so you can’t just fake it or so. To be honest it’s a really cool thing, cause even though I hate school, I think homeschooling would be pretty lonely

[@BenskiBoi]

Yeah my sis is homeschooling in Uk cause she was mega stressed

[@travelwell6049]

Homeschooling is legal in a UK but going to school is mandatory and parents can face a fine or go to prison if kids don’t go to school. But as long as kids are registered as homeschooled it’s all good. I don’t know if they are monitored are overseen by a governing body but there are plenty of resources and groups for kids to socialise with others their own age.

[@Amber-dw9op]

It's the same in the US. In California I had to register, in Connecticut and Guam I just had to send a letter to the district. I didn't have to have anyone check in but most homeschooling parents keep careful records just in case an anti-homeschooler tries to report them or if they need to send their kids back to public school. Wanting our children to be successful, happy adults is motivation enough.

[@ezshroom]

They’re overseen by the council but otherwise the parents are free to teach however they want, even themselves with no formal testing or adherence to the National Curriculum.

[@Chronologist89]

This goes so far, that the police will check airports on the day before a holiday. Some sneaky parents will try to pull their child out of school a day early to get a less crowded flight. If police catches you travelling with a child who has to attend school and there is no strong reason (like the funeral of a close relative), they will charge you with negligence of school duty!

[@TheJanstyler]

Afaik, this also depends on your teacher/school and there are exceptions, especially for children with good grades. I was allowed to leave school a few weeks earlier by my teacher, to help with our move, because my teacher was nice and I've had straight 1's the entire year. My teacher prepared a written note with his signature, the principals signature, the schools phone number and the stamp of the school, so that if anyone has a problem with it, I can just hand that one over. When I left he told me that, if we were done with the move I could just go have fun and not care that school is on.

[@pia2654]

Yes at my school it was possible to get an exception when the flight was waaay cheaper in the last week of school because in the last week before break you wouldn’t really do anything in class. There was always one kid that got a longer break because of that but surprisingly it rarely happened which I think is really awesome

[@Chronologist89]

@FirstLast-mh3rt I think it's a good thing and more things should be regulated to make sure young children are brought up properly. For example the health insurances track that you bring your children to the recommended checkups at the pediatritian. Obviously it's much harder and intrusive to check how children are treated at home, but there should be ways as well. For example to make sure they get a balanced diet and sufficient excercise.

[@lenasolarova]

Most Europe either has this or is very strict about home schooling

[@boredstudent9468]

There are exceptions where home schooling is legal like for medical reasons, but also for Child Actors, Athletes and Nomads (like Circus families) but there are strict regulations, and it has to be done by trained personnel not just the parents. And except the medical reasons children usually have "Stammschulen" 'base schools' where they are still enrolled and have to return for important tests and which is in charge of administration and supervision of the homeschooling.

[@clara_hp6254]

A friend of mine had SEVERE mental/physical health problems so she finished school in an online program in Germany. My dad (who’s a teacher) also once taught a kid with cancer online bc he couldn’t attend regular school anymore. So there are both program and individualized help for kids who cannot attend school. But by banning homeschooling in general you can protect kids from abuse at home, religious brain washing, underdeveloped social skills and at least theoretically help to lessen the gap between richer and poorer kids (tho the German school system does not do a good job on that front)

[@Hellooo134]

I think having highly regulated homeschooling is a good thing, because there are circumstances where that is in the kids best interest, but a ban on it is much better than under-regulation. There are many stories of horrific abuse that was made possible or bolstered because parents were “homeschooling” but providing no real education, just cutting the kid off from access to safe adults or other kids which would help them understand that their experience was not normal or acceptable.

[@heavenshandwriter4796]

Your beliefs are covered in fear. You wouldn’t have created America back in 1776.

[@kenani3668]

My teacher told me its illegal because parents used to say their children were being homeschooled while they were sent to work.

[@SineN0mine3]

It seems like if everyone is obligated to attend school then there's a vested interest in making sure the schools are of a high standard. In other countries it sometimes feels like certain interest groups want to actively ruin the education system. I spent a few month in Germany in highschool and the German students weren't only miles ahead of us Australians in second languange skills but also maths and science and to a lesser extent even athletic pursuits due to the fact that after school activities are a lot more common and a lot more accessible due to them finishing school earlier in the day and having better access to public transport. I honestly think there's a genuine argument that you could educate your children better yourself than in Australian public schools if you're reasonably well educated. There's a massive shortage of teachers and the schools have no power to discipline or maintain order in the classroom due to parental interference. Parents threaten to pull their kids out of school any time there's a minor disagreement so most school hours are spent babysitting kids who don't want to be their and trying not to offend anybody badly enough to make it into tik tok.

[@S_Paoli]

when I was in Germany for the first time 40 years ago, I was really impressed that even little kids(3 to 6-year-old) spoke perfect German! Then I was even more impressed that most teenagers spoke 90% fluent American English!

[@paellamaster8305]

We learn British English in school tho

[@itsmenotjames]

don't people in your country speak thwir language perfect by the age of 4?

[@S_Paoli]

@@itsmenotjames yeah... but none can speak German or French! :(

[@itsmenotjames]

@@S_Paoli I can lol

[@leahcim0079]

​@@paellamaster8305 Different, sometimes American English, Australian English, South African English, etc. are also taught

[@gggggg-hs2tk]

It is kind of legal in Italy (you still have to pass a statal exam each year to be sure that you're studying at least as much as everyone else) but it's very, very rare and usually used for like young athletes that are going to the Olympics. Not even very sick kids usually resort to homeschooling here because we have private online schools, certified tutors that can go to your house if you're rich and some public schools can make accommodations for you so you're never really in need to study alone!

[@xilj4002]

Here all children have to be enrolled in school, but if it serves the child's best interest they can get special permission to not attend classes. It's very rare, and the child has to still get grades in the school they are enrolled in (usually via exams every semester, but individual plans are technically an option). If a kid gets sick and can't do school, at least the end of school year exams, they have to repeat that grade. Disabled kids might be enrolled in special schools and can also request attendance exceptions, but have to be enrolled. I honestly have no idea how it works with kids who simply can't do school at all, afaik in theory their "classes" are supposed to be therapies and treatments but the system is seriously failing on us, we don't even have enough of the right professionals and we're horribly behind state-of-the-art disability rights and support.

[@SailorYuki]

It's illegal in Sweden too. We have various types of schools such as public schools for everyone and special ed schools for those of more need of support such as autistic, intellectually disabled, deaf or blind children. My son is AuDHD and goes to a public school. He gets plenty of support there, but what he really needs is fewer students per class. We used to have a middle option, something between the public school and special education schools, for those who don't really need the highly specialized service the Special ed schools provide, but aslo unable to function in basic public school. I wish they'd bring that back again. More children would pass school that way. A lot of kids have failed primary school due to their needs not being met. Many, especially neurodivergent children, would benefit from an extra support school. Homeschooling isn't an option at all. The laws are strict and unflexible.

[@thephilman]

Interesting, thanks for that sharing. I think it's better when kids with special needs can go to "normal schools". In France it's currently very hard to do homeschooling, only a few reasons are accepted and there are harsh inspections. And I think we have way more students per class than in Sweden (I think it is the higher in the EU).

[@blueberryvalian]

I am American and was homeschooled. My parents made this decision because of the seriously flawed US education system. It is not right for everyone, but it was right for me.

[@smoguli]

Let me guess, your parents are very religious conservatives and they didn’t want you to learn science?

[@blueberryvalian]

@@smoguli nope, my parents are not religious conservatives. I spent a lot of time learning science, even though it wasn't one of my special interests

[@Alexis-ey4kp]

@@smoguli​​⁠​⁠​⁠wow that was extremely rude of you to assume, on many levels too. Even if the answer was yes, so what? Stop thinking you are above others. I guess your parents and/or schooling didn’t teach you manners.

[@heavenshandwriter4796]

Shame on Germany. The right to homeschool your kids is a god given right. And they don’t fight for it. Cowards.

[@shandyistheboss]

Its although a way to prevent child abuse in a way

[@stespfr]

Homeschooling should be the rare exception, and only for health-related issues. Teaching is a real job. It requires education, skills, and knowledge that can't be improvised.

[@Amber-dw9op]

I used to think the same thing until we were forced to try homeschooling. There are actually incredible curriculums available to homeschoolers. None of my public school teachers held a PHD, but several of the people on the team who created our math curriculum do. They're scripted, so it's not hard to teach. A lot of homeschool parents also outsource. Many parents trade skills, hire tutors, invest in online classes, etc. My daughter recently took an amazing marine biology course from a team of oceanoligists in our area, and I'm teaching children piano for a parent who is willing to give my children lessons in ceramics. We also participate in CoOps and social groups where parents with all kinds of educational backgrounds team together. At home, my daughters are taking a courses in Health & the Human Mind and Sexual Reproduction & Maturation and my eldest takes an additional science class in CoOp from a former science teacher. If anything, homeschool provides MORE educational opportunities, not less.

[@euledereulen]

One of the territories of todays germany (Herzogtum Pfalz-Zweibrücken, 1592) was the first in the world to introduce compulsory schooling for both boys and girls

[@catovr]

Actually the Schulpflicht is 12 years but many leave school after the 9th or 10th grade and then go to a "Berufsschule" or vocational school whilst doing their Training for a profession

[@TW-dj5zq]

UK parent and ex-teacher - I will homeschool my children when they become old enough. I know first hand I can do a better job than our school system. I will enroll them in lots of sports and social clubs to help with socialisation. We also foster so there are other children in the home as well. Unless there are any additional needs I can't meet I know my children are better off with me teaching them, at least until secondary school (11yo)

[@miaomiao320]

Homeschooling is not legal where I'm from, but some adjustments can be made. My school allowed me to just go there to take end of year exams, as I was unable to attend regularly due to various health reasons

[@00pisani49]

Homeschooling vastly limits a childs socialization

[@taiwanisacountry]

And their education level depends on how standards are enforced. Loose enforcement as we see in the Southern USA, then it wholly up to the skills of the parent of how great their education will be. Or even worse the former lag of standards in Canada -_-. There was that woman who sued her own mother for neglect because she could not even basic math as addition and subtraction.. she was only taught the Bible.

[@JokersD0ll]

As a child in the uk with special needs (diagnosed adhd and autism including anxienty my mental health improved a ton when I got home schooling.

[@TheAlchemist1089]

As opposed to getting bullied in school

[@bimbonationalism]

Only if the parents dont do their job (aka arrange playdates, public outings and events with other families who homeschool). Theres also a genre of homeschooling that uses "pods" aka multiple families homeschooling together in mini class formats.

[@watermelonezz]

I was home schooled til 7th grade, my social skills exist but I’m not actively seeking out interactions.

[@maleineperle1770]

In Belgium we have education obligation but not school obligation, so parents can homeschool. It is very rare tho, I've never met anyone who did

[@Buzy_Lizard]

“Schools are the best place for tolerance” I don’t think this could be any less applicable for German schools 😂

[@NeurosenkavalierEmilSinclair]

It's not completely illegal. There are exceptions for people who travel to be homeschooled but the regulations are very strict.. And I support this; how do we want to keep up a society with everybody drifting apart if you don't even share this basic experience of going to school with others?

[@aaronmcgoldrick2439]

It's legal in Australia so long as you use resources provided by the Dept of Education. It used to be a case of post in the required paperwork, now children tend to do the required curriculum online. Australia also has a school for children in remote area's called "The school of the air" that had its own CB radio channel, now remote learning is supplemented by using video conferencing.

[@marquisdehoto1638]

As far as I know France has a pretty cool system. You can do homeschooling but you need to make regular "check-ups" if the child learns everything they need.

[@thephilman]

It used to be really good, but the law got way more strict in the last years. Currently, it is only allowed in limited circumstances, an annual authorization is required, the inspections tend to get more harsh...

[@marquisdehoto1638]

@@thephilman Do you know the reason why it gets more strict?

[@thephilman]

@@marquisdehoto1638 The government said homeschooling is used to hide illegal schools, but actually many people are against that law and think that it's a bad pretext.

[@soulcollector2664]

im being homeschooled in the us, because im physically/mentally unable to go to school, im autistic and ptsd(related to school), and i also have bad joints (if i overuse any of them, i can't use them at all for a couple days, if i walk too much i will lose the ability to stand at all) plus frequent migraines the schools in my area aren't able to accommodate me enough for me to be able to go for more than 2 days a week

[@mosasako4679]

And trust me its worth it and works perfectly fine. They speak perfect english and are on the same basic knowledge level as many grown up americans. I had an exchange year abroad in the us and was shocked at how easy and far behind they were in the same year and class. Literally did stuff i had years ago in germany and we had ridiculous multiple choice tests u didnt need to study for. The overal level of education was bad and the learning output was like a third of what i knew from home. I had a great time besides this but always felt like i was wasting my time there. Also had better grades than most of my class in subjects such as math, even though i didnt even understand everything. The stuff was just so basic. Also felt that nobody in class had a decent amount of basic knowledge, far from knowing things that didnt refer to the us. They couldnt tell me more than three wuropean countries

[@theninja4137]

What you have to take into account though is that in Germany you have different school forms while in the US it's usually one school for all. I assume you attend a Gymnasium in Germany - and comparing that to a school that educates a mix of Hautschul- Realschul- and Gymnasium level students isn't entirely a fair comparison My mom teaches at a vocational school (Berufsschule) in Germany and many of her students are struggling with basic reading comprehension, simple addition/subtraction and so on

[@pillbugm8914]

Homeschooling at its best can work wonders, but have you considered the fact that abusive parents can and have use homeschooling as a way to abuse their children and conceal said abuse? I'm unfamiliar with the American education system and going off of what you said, there does seem to be some major issues with how things currently are, but for a lot of kids it is a lifesaver to be able to be in an environment away from their parents. Also I'm sure the education system in Germany is different.

[@pillbugm8914]

Most places are pretty strict on homeschooling. For good reason I think, I've seen enough cases about the absolute worst of parents, it helps to put children in an environment with other people.

[@JHX1]

As it should be.. or otherwise with a lot of checkups like in most European countries.

[@adamrbeaver]

I was homeschooled because at the start of my academic career our local schools were going to loose accreditation, this was before NCLB. While through middle school it seamed fine, I wish I would have gone to public school for high school. There was ultimately so much I missed out on.

[@禁-n8x]

Americans are complaining in the comment section while not even being able to speak their own language.

[@tanya292]

And are arguing with people who speak their language better than them.

[@Raining_Song]

My country's education is in the trash and they just keep stomping it down farther 😭

[@mario97br]

Whilst

[@jaimeduncan6167]

I am not American, and English is not my first language. Your attitude, not even aware of your add hominem attack shows why you are so fond of the German education system :ideologically close, full of stereotypes etc

[@pkorobase]

you may read and learn what you want. BUT you have to fulfill the schooling obligation additionally.

[@sirius1233]

In Poland it's a legal obligation to go to school too but you can still be homeschooled. Just you have to pass exams every semester/year to check if you learned anything. Then if you did pass the exams you go to the next class and get new material from there. Tho in Poland you can't realy just decide you want to homeschool your kid like in America. You have to have a paper from a psychologist. And there's also an option of teachers coming to your house.

[@wizardman3162]

I live in singapore and its somewhat legal unless you register either the government, otherwize its the same as germany

[@funnyratenjoyer2890]

My personal experience with the public school system in the states was rather poor. The entire culture was entirely apathetic. That type environment isn't really conducive to learning, and that was in quiet rural town; I imagine it's even worse in the inner city with crime problem. Being outside of that with home schooling or some online equivalent would probably be a step up for some.

[@Buff19]

My husband is in rural Netherlands for work right now and several people were super curious about how or why we homeschool (in the US). A few had never even heard of it being done in present day society (perhaps they didn’t have kids). I found it amusing. I’m not sure if it’s technically illegal there, but certainly not widely practiced.

[@juliannatunde3756]

In my country Hungary, it’s the same low, exceptions are made in special cases due to , medical conditions, serious sports carrier ect, but this is a recent change in the system. 4 years ago I spent a year being privately educated as we call not attending school, buy being educated. Which means that you are still enrolled in a school, and have to pass exams to complete grade as per the national and school curriculum. But they don’t care where or how you study. I petitioned for this in middle school as I was super tired and bored and basically just slept in classes, but still has good grades, so I figured I could do not wasting my time in school, I did my driving license that year, and work 20 hours a week in a non profit foundation. I just hate how the new law doesn’t allow this, cases should be individually decided. Also it should be obvious that an 8 y old and a teen are very different in this matter so the same regulation most likely won’t fit both.

[@doggytheanarchist7876]

In DK it's not illegal, but it's very rare and there's a lot of rules and restrictions you must follow and the child must be able to pass the public exams at age 15-17.

[@CorgiCookies]

i was homeschooled and honestly a lot of people who think they can do it for their kids just can’t. i missed out on so much because i was at home, isolated from other people and not receiving a fair education.

[@SelfmadeIndependent-by4mp]

My sisters and I were homeschooling for a few years. My middle sister and I are in college but my younger sister is still homeschooled. When all three of us were home educated we were very socialised, where we would meet other home educated people through trip several times a month. It was okay for me but I couldn't handle it. But I know that school is not a good place for some. Personally I get mad when someone thinks when you're homeschooled you don't socialise. You do socialise, and in fact there is a really good community. I hate it when people judge it without hearing both sides.

[@raylouis7013]

I don't know if it really counts as "Homeschooling" but here in Australia - we lived for 2 years over 3 hours away from the nearest Primary school... We attended School of the Air. Which back then meant lessons were delivered once a week by the mail plane, which took our work back to the teachers to be marked (they would also deliver library books to us) and we had a couple of hours of instruction via 2 way radio every school day. Home schooling isnt illegal, not many people do it though

[@kacywatson6314]

Homeschooling is perfectly legal where I live. It’s not actually that popular. However there are various reasons why parents will do this including child safety because of the child is getting bullied into oblivion at school. They can go with our homeschooling for safety and well-being for that child or at school is just too difficult for the child to get to because they live out in the countryside or whatever Then yeah however schools will still send a teacher to the parents house and the child is still tour in accordance to local school curriculum or another words. The parents can dictate the parents weird teaching style and it’s still a teacher that I spell Tottenham two in the international standard curriculum, learn all the same things they would’ve done in school. It’s other benefits or a house as it means Parents can get involved like parents who have had their education tampered with or neglected because of discrimination or teenage pregnancy or something, but this is their opportunity to write in return to school and actually learn things alongside their child on the child is still considered to be a student of someone saw school so they still get the opportunity to be taken on field trips or even take part in school events or even in school social clubs if they are capable to attend and I personally if I ever have children. Yes I will be doing homeschooling and you are also allowed to do a part homeschool and part in school and some people are experimenting with this now we are People are just keeping the kids at home from the winter and homeschooling the throat of the winter. It’s easier and safer and when our hair can be quite harsh, usually some bugs or sickness going around during the winter and some people or some schools also experience like flareups with bullying, and when this happens, some people just choose to keep them kids in school for like a whole year or so Until the bullying goes down or only would be in school for very pacific things were for certain times, but they are like final tests or final exams or whatever for very very certain things

[@jaimeduncan6167]

The legality of homeschooling isn't my primary concern, even though research suggests that "teacher lead education " might bridge the learning gap between genders. The tendency to label children's potential from a young age doesn't strike me as either attractive or justified by science, and I question the practice of pressuring kids into making life altering career choices. Above all, my greatest concern lies with the ideologically charged monoculture of the German educational landscape.

[@0h0h0h0]

Same in NL

[@alexbellury]

I think that's an acceptable law in a country where the education system isn't looked at like a joke. The difference here is that you KNOW your child will get a valuable education in Germany. In the US, however, you'd more than likely get a better education being taught online or by a homeschool organization.

[@etherean369]

I can't believe some Germans are extremely pissed by this and want less government involvement & "challenges" instead so a number of them come to our 3rd/2nd world countries and cry about it. I'd do anything for such order. Apart from current political issues, it seems like an awesome place to live if you're serious about living peacefully.

[@jasonmaguire7552]

Living peacefully = not saying the wrong thing or you go to jail

[@ceiling2967]

​@@jasonmaguire7552agreed

[@Zanji1234]

we just have to look to America and see how broken the "home schooling" is over there

[@PeaceOfMake]

​@@jasonmaguire7552 Ah yes Jason, only America has freedom of speech. Good catch.

[@Zanji1234]

​@@jasonmaguire7552 even freedom of speech ends as soon as you insult someone.

[@tmmsplace]

Would be interesting to see where creative expressions in Germany takes place. At work, working hours are kept tight so no working late, at home, the government decides if your name is not mainstream enough and compels your kinder to State school. Amd keep that garden hedge trimmed but dont fall asleep in your garden house. So, within these rules, do we see production of creative art and design?

[@Moo-2310]

It's legal but there's so much paperwork and hoops you have to jump through first that it's very rare. Never met anyone who's been home schooled. It's mainly used as a last resort for very neurodivergent kids who just can't attend a school, though even then we have a ton of alternative provision places and special schools so most children with severe disabilities end up at one of those.

[@ohwow9559]

not legal here (finland) either! it’s only permitted in exceptional circumstances such as illness for example

[@thorstmixx]

Literally the whole point is to ensure that everyone has the same basis to build their understanding of the world on, and that that basis is robust and rooted in a secular, level-headed and reasonable worldview. It also gives you necessary socialization skills that you just wouldn't get otherwise. School is about so much more than repeating facts from a book. It's an institution that is meant to help you grow as a person as you progress through your childhood, and it's genuinely extremely important. You can say whatever you want about it to your kids when they come home, but they gotta go.

[@20quid]

It should be this way in every country.

[@wihatmi5510]

Isn't homeschooling illegal everywhere except the US?

[@susiem.2068]

No. For example it's legal in France. It's just heavily regulated for French students. There are plenty of French and foreign kids living in France who are learning with private tutors and enroll in online school. You can even enroll for national exams independently (so without being part of a school).

[@loonydoralupin124]

In some states you have to stay in school until your 18 which equals 12th grade

[@critter18]

This is why I couldn’t move to Germany. I’m sure the school system must work well enough if they have that much faith in the system. In America, if you have parents that care, homeschooling is the better option. The public school system sucks and I think everyone knows it.

[@karinland8533]

And if you have parents who don’t care about education? Mennonit, Amish, LDS? Thats how they make their kids stay in their cults

[@jenniferwei2846]

We also have private schools in Germany if you really hate public schools that much. But the quality of education is mostly the same as private schools also have to follow a given curriculum to make sure the quality of education in private schools meets at least the quality of education of public schools. And quality of education really isn't as poorly in our public schools. I've never been to the US but I had classmates in high school who did a whole year in the US as exchange student and when they came back they all complained about how easy the classes were in the american high schools. Also they had to pass an additional exam or repeat the entire school year in the German school as the school didn't accept the "credits" they got from the american high school classes.

[@mathiasbartl9393]

There is however a wide latitude for private schools.

[@TechTalks685]

Is alternative school still available for disabilities?

[@diederikmauritz6520]

Yeah but in the Netherlands it's easier to get exception

[@tac6557]

Ah yes. Totally not authoritarianism

[@7L3G5M]

The last sentence. Me from germany: no

[@bellabacci8056]

I live in Italy and I’m homeschooled . My social skills are normal .

[@jessdean5500]

Yes here in Australia is and only become even bigger here sense covid.

[@EinPinguin]

No because I live Germany

[@snitox]

Bro id never live in Germany. But maybe go there in Adulthood for like an engineering gig or something.

[@outside8312]

If you think this is ok you really need to Google German history

[@WhiffleWaffles]

I was just about to ask for kids who wre chronically ill or have terminal illnesses and the like. Glad there's rare exceptions for it but it should be more accepted.

[@lowearthsurfer]

Yes, its legal where i live. No, its doesnt work as well as school.

[@fuzzyfrogs7362]

Actually, not necessarily at the age of six, depending on the month you were born in it could be when you’re five or seven as well

[@TheJanstyler]

Or be like me. enrolled at six and my first ever school day was my 7th birthday xD

[@robindemeyer8960]

Homeschooling is legal in Belgium, but generally frowned upon.

[@doggytheanarchist7876]

Almost nobody does it in DK. I only ever had one friend who homeschooled their kid. It's legal, but not culturally common. And most ppl who do it, is because they have not been offered a reasonably good special education.

[@Nikgamingnl]

I believe it is legal in Germany under very strict circumstances

[@AbyssalSoda]

Homeschoolers preform better academically - this has been stastically proven

[@ADORATION_OFFICIAL]

I was homeschooling. Ended up fine.

[@HK-cx3ws]

(Read oozing sarcasm)....Because state mandated child re-education camps have worked so well for Germany in the past...

[@njujuznem6554]

Homeschooling is crazy, I don't get why it's allowed. Kids get no socialisation and don't get a proper education either. How is a homeschooling parent going to be able to teach maths and science and languages and history and geography and literature and everything else all to a high standard?

[@Pospolite-Ruszenie]

The socialization part is true, but the other part is wrong. Homeschooled kids outperform non homeschooled kids in the US

[@isabelcarrasco4528]

​@@Pospolite-Ruszeniehow? You can't teach a thing you don't understand. And you can't tell me those parents still remember all the school stuff and understood everything well enough to teach it. I mean, who is more likely to not work and therefore be home to try to "teach" their children anyway? The well- or the uneducated? Or are your teachers just that bad as well, that there is no difference between a teacher and some random person?

[@Pospolite-Ruszenie]

@@isabelcarrasco4528 The uneducated aren’t more likely to homeschool. And I’m just pointing out the stats. Homeschooled kids score 20% higher on average on SAT and ACT tests, so they definitely learned better than those in public schools.

[@ZetsubenSama]

​@@Pospolite-Ruszeniewell if home schooled children perform so well i'd like to know the ressources available to those exact children.

[@Pospolite-Ruszenie]

@@ZetsubenSama Search it up. I dunno, all I know is that they preform much better. My guess would be that part of the reason is that they are more willing to learn, while learning in a manner that is designed for them.

[@milomsen]

I have autism and severe social anxiety so homeschooling would help me

[@taiwanisacountry]

I understand you, me too. I loved COVID lockdowns to be honest. When I was a teen I skipped maybe 50% of classes. I did fine since I was years ahead because I spent my time with non-fiction instead of social media..... Here in Denmark we do have special autism classes, even high school. But not university. But we can get a helper who can even enter into the exam room with us.

[@Alaskan-Armadillo]

What are your parents credentials for teaching children with autism?

[@emilwandel]

there are school programs for children with special needs. Circus Children for example have an online school to accompany their parents during their year. One kid were expelled from every suitable school in their environment so the state also had to provide an online opportunity for school. Because it is not only an obligation for the children but also for the state to provide options.

[@deadwolf3607]

​@@Alaskan-Armadillo They arent going to bully him 7h of the day🙃

[@pookyac42]

Perhaps the special needs teachers and social workers at the school could be involved? One of my children, who has ADHD and autism, went to a mainstream school (Realschule) and did an apprenticeship in electronics, including the normal vocational school. He had a school support worker who accompanied him from time to time and acted as a sort of translator between the teachers, training manager and sometimes other pupils. His vocational training took place in the Bundeswehr (in the civilian sector). This was incredibly helpful for his ADHD, because there is less discussion and clearer and shorter speech is used.

[@givrally7634]

Would be great if the school system children are forced in was any good in the first place.

[@laurap239]

Home schooling is illegal in Italy too. I find it so strange that it can be permitted in the USA. Who checks that the parents have the preparation to home school their kids? Couldn't it cover neglect or abuse?

[@JjKim-sg1lm]

I read it was protected by the italian constitution and getting more popular.

[@laurap239]

@@JjKim-sg1lm no. There's no such thing here (except for children with big health issues)

[@mob698]

it should be illegal here, homeschool kids never grow into well adjusted fully functioning adults

[@tanya292]

Home schooling is allowed. But parents have to follow a nationally set curriculum and students must sit for the required exam to ensure they are being educated. While I personally do see the benefits of homeschooling, I prefer traditional education in most cases. The parents must be qualified to teach their kids and not many of them are.

[@gartenfreund4889]

Me as a german can say, that we have to go to school exept when Twachers are ill and noone else teaches then. The only time we had Homeschooling Was in 2020-2021 at the Lockdown

[@TheJanstyler]

Well, thats only "technically" homeschooling. The children were at home, but they were still "taught" (barely, but thats what it was supposed to be) by their teachers. I'm pretty sure the homeschooling he is refereeing to is the US version, where you are at home and your parents teach you stuff, without concern for their own education and ability to actually teach.

[@richardnoah2922]

German education is very good too for what it is.

[@jaharireggae4296]

So then what if the child is constantly bullied? What do you do then?

[@mar-nyan]

That’s sad, some kids could really benefit from not having to go to regular school. Homeschooling is a great thing as long as it’s properly regulated (so not like in the US, but like in other EU countries)

[@missmoon0184]

And I am in complete accord with it

[@ktelite]

Yes but it's super rare for you to to even heard about it.

[@yohananabraham6716]

Ich liebe Deutschland ❤

[@TalahuhnToGo]

Where i live in germany all poeple have to attempt 12 years of school if they dont they can get in trouble very quick

[@kr15242]

That’s awesome for Germany!… seeing as the whole country is the size of one midsized US state I’m sure that works great for them, much like their healthcare and public transportation system… things that would translate terribly to the USA… which is the size of all of Europe and has a vastly sprawled population.

[@Raining_Song]

How often do you need to travel across the entire country for public transportation to not work?

[@JackhammerJesus]

There is a workaround. Every child has to attend school. However everybody could simply open their own school in their living room and hire themself as teacher. The bureaucracy would be enormous, but technically it is possible.

[@jenniferwei2846]

Although every citizen has the right to open a private school according to our constitution in Germany, the rules and regulations for opening a school would never suit to circumvent the no-homeschooling-rule. For opening a school you have to provide a lot of concepts on how you will teach and especially what you teach and the teachers have to have at least the same qualification than teachers in a public school. you also have to provide a curriculum for all grades in your school and your school must be open for more than just your own children. Also, you have to make sure the quality of education meets at minimum the standard of public schoold. Some people tried opening "schools" and then homeschool their kids there but those schools never got permission by authorities and are illegal. Parents get in huge trouble if they go that route.

[@sunny_skies2672]

What about for situations like a child with a disability like autism who can’t function let alone learn in that environment?

[@multimal9280]

Those are the expections that are allowed

[@gannaglobina6509]

Legal in Ukraine 🇺🇦 but now in Switzerland 🇨🇭 And here are the same rules as in Deutschland

[@Vishnuthealmighty]

Indian students laughing at the corner....IIT🫡

[@bupcorn4136]

homeschooling should probably not be legal here tbh. its an excuse for lazy close-minded parents to not have to worry about their kid wanting to do things or go places or really talk to them on a higher level edit: i know this from the kids ive made friends with who were home school. unrelated. both neglected similarly.