A Very Nearly Tea

I just thought I'd share this rather interesting article from Deutsche Welle on homeschooling in Germany. I always have like Deutsche Welle, and I think they did a nice job on the article...just keep in mind they are Germans and are approaching the subject from a German worldview. Which is evidenced by this statement by Andreas Schleicher, an education expert with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development:

"Homeschooling is a tough issue," he said. "On one hand, parents have a legitimate interest in wanting diverse educational options. But on the other side, the government is interested in ensuring quality standards are maintained. Certainly, Germany needs to consider more flexibility."

So the citizens and the state have competing interests in the lives of children, do they? And the state is more interested in quality while the parents just want diversity? Something sounds a little backwards in that to me. I might be incorrect in this, but it seems to me that the parents in Germany are the ones pressuring the state to improve education (yes, they have the same debates we do about a failing school system). The parents want solutions to the bullying, incompetent teachers, meaningless school work and a system which is at least perceived to not be preparing students adequately for the 21st century. It is the parents, not the state, that has maintained interest in the quality of education with some opting to challenge the law and/or move out of the country in order to apply their standards to their children.

But alas, the approximate 200 families to whom authorities have turned a blind eye and the 40 families battling homeschooling related cases in the courts now fall well outside of what is considered the norm in Germany. After all, it is all about socialization.

In my opinion, it is not a very good idea to introduce homeschooling. This is basically denying the children their right to intermingle for a general personality development. Homeschooling would make them stereotypes. The German government should instead introduce a broad curriculum in the schools including the subjects involving religion. Those interested will then have the choice to opt what suits their needs. -- Peer Zada

Has homeschooling made your child a stereotype? What does that even mean? The funny thing is, in groups I have been in with multiple homeschooled kids, there are invariably those who "fit the stereotype." But they got along just fine with those who didn't and no one seemed to notice that technically that kid probably didn't belong in the "yes, you can speak to him" crowd. I've seen the same kids in groups of public schooled children and their peers know full well they don't belong. The children themselves know it and tend to cower in a corner. What did public school do for them?

Related Tags: homeschooling, homeschool, socialization, parenting