I am shocked! Germany took 5 children away from their parents!

This seems to be happening more and more these days. I don't know why the government thinks it can do a better job than well-educated parents. It's just a way to give their existence some credibility. They need to back off and solve some the real problems that exist. Lloyd

What are they missing by not going to public school? They probably do not have enough money to attend a religious private school. If they are better educated, then let them be home schooled and let the government return the children. Is the government afraid that the children do not see the 'right' or 'left' kind of personalities? This part of independent personalities --children are not robots. Is the judge worried that the children will not rebel against their parents? And what type of moral values or lack therefore will they teach in public schools? Well when we hear what's going on, the answer is obvious.

I have never heard of a country taking people's children away because they were home schooling them. Sometimes children learn more or better than being in a school. As long as a child is getting a good education, parents should be allowed to home school them. I think it is wrong to take the children away from the parents.

Although taking away the kids is too extreme but I think that children are not their parents "property" parents aren't free to do whatever they think is best for their kids, home schooling is ok if needed for certain reasons, like remote location, disabilities or special conditions with the children, etc. but children needs to live their lives outside of their home, mix with other kids of their age and join group activities, etc

I don't know anyone personally who home schools but don't believe the governement has a right to say they can do a better job then someone else . I don't agree that we are expected to send our children to school each day with people that we don't know and therefore are unable to decide if this is someone we would like teaching our children and if you come across a teacher that you don't like, you have no choice in getting another teacher to teach your child as they don't have enough money for extra teachers in cases like this . I don't agree that each day I have to send my children to a school that I do not trust and do not agree with their rules . I am not allowed to go into the school and go up to my own children's classroom as this is not allowed in the school . It is also the only school we have in our area so there is no chance of sending them somewhere else . My son was hurt in school when another child pulled his legs out from under him, he went down hard and hit the cement floors in the school . I was never notified of the incident by the school and my son had to take a bus home which was almost fifty minutes long . When he got home he could barely stand, no longer remembered his birthday and things were very foggy for him, he started throwing up and was as pale as a ghost . I rushed him to the emergency room to find out he had a concussion and his head was split open . I spoke to his teacher, the principal and the vice principal and they were all watching to cover their own butts . Nothing was done to the child that did this to my child and yet I am still expected to trust these people with my children . I feel they neglected being able to take care of my child the way I would have had he been at home and in any other situation I would be able to fire the person I did not like that was watching my child such as if I was working, yet when it comes to schooling you have no right to choose who will be in care of your children . It was said after the incident that my son's head could be heard hitting the floor echoing throughout the hallways by a couple of teachers and yet not one person considered this reason enough to send a call home to me as his parent . So in my opinion this is wrong that anyone could take away someone's child or children for home schooling them as this is not against the law in most area's . And no one should be able to walk into your house and tell you that you are not doing a good enough job unless the child is way below where they should be at for their age . I do think it would be a good idea to have these children tested once a year to see if they were properly learning what they should know and if they were steadily falling behind then it would be a good idea to have them sent to a public school but if they were average or above average, then obviously whoever is doing the home schooling is doing a very good job . If I felt I was smart enough to do this, I would certainly home school my children but the truth is I know that I can not offer them as much as they would learn in school but this does not change the fact that I have no trust for the schools as they have done nothing to earn my trust and have done way too much to lose my trust .

if thats is good for them then why not..i dont know now that thereis a particular law about homeschooling in another country..here it is allowed unless it was duly accredited by the department..but if it is purely home school with out license then its not proper then

If the Kids are well educated then what is the Problem there? At least the Kids are save from Bullying and everything else that goes on now. I personally say that the Goverment has far to much to say now and don't let People live their Lifes anymore.

I have met a few children who are home-schooled and they are lovely well adjusted children. As long as one of the parents take them to extra activites where they socialise and meet other children it's a better way of education. The parent ensures they are not getting mixed up with the hooligans (which there a lot of here in S.Africa). In to-days times I am all for home schooling.

I think it's important to remember here that not all countries have the legal provisions for homeschooling that we have here in the states. In the US it's legal to homeschool our children because it's in our national constitution. In other countries, that may not be the case. I don't know specifically about Germany, but I think it's important for people to respect the laws of whatever country they may happen to live in.

Taking away kids because they were homeschooled? Why can't they spend their time going after children being verbally. emotionally or physically abused?? There had to have been something else they could have done before taking the kids away :(

Well clearly different countries have different rules and regulations on where and how childen are educated .. I have had all three types of schooling, public schools, private schools and home tutoring .. and I can honestly say I learnt least from the home schooling and became shy and withdrawn .. So quite frankly .. good for Germany .. !!

I heard of this case and am shocked as well but obviously homeschooling is not legal in Germany. I don't understand why not (except that they want to educate evey child in THEIR way rather than have real individualistic thinkers) and I hope that the thinking does not spread to other countries. I hope that the parents can get their chidlren back and move to another country where they are allowed to do as they wish. They gave birth to the children and should be allowed to homeschool them if that is what they choose (as long as they are doing a good job which I understand that they are!)

I wouldn't comment on the decision but I guess one of the child was also not satisfied. Home schooling is good but you can't compare it with the schooling in a school. Taking custody is something extreme but yes schools do contribute alot of child's personality, learning and opportunities in future. He has much more to learn because of exposure and social contact.

How ridiculous is that? I am thankful that here in the US we have the right to school our children at home if we so choose to. I personally think that my children are much better off now that they are not in the public school system and sometimes I feel that they are much safer. After the attack at the Amish school last fall, the children aren't safe at any school. I feel that the government is justing stepping in too much. If the judge said that the kids were well-educated then I feel they are just doing it to the parents to send a message. You know that in the US, the schools get government funds for each child that attends the school so that is why some superindents don't like home school parents. I think these parents should fight this until the end! They should not have to enroll their children in public school to be able to keep custody of them!

That is just rediculous. I could understand if the children were not learning anything and just being kept out of school. If the judge concluded they were well educated then that says enough. So what if they have the same opinion as their parents...don't a lot of people. That's just wrong..petition signed...what will they come up with next...*sigh*

thats too harsh ...but if it is in the law then what can they do?? abiding the law is the best way to get back the children..homeschooling is good but if it was not accredited to the department then its illegal..

I think it's horrible if kids were taken away just for that reason. However, I'm not in Germany and not familiar with their education laws. If it is illegal to not have kids in public schools and I had to live there, I'd just teach them myself after their regular school day was over. Not ideal, but you have to make do sometimes.

I can't believe this, it is terrible that there is such a problem with home schooling. I thinkt hat home schooling is a much better education that regular school. I am doing a mixture of both with my daughter as she wants to be at school but they aren't pushing her hard enough so I'm doing lots of extra work with her at home. I am certainly going to sign the survey.

That is rediculous! Home-schooling advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Why 1/4 of the kids in town are home-schooled and most of them are more advanced than the kids that go to school. Germany needs to butt out of households that home-school unless they are way behind their peers.

That judge can shove his ruling and that socialist ideology up his a**. Education, public, private, or at home, does not help you develop your child's personality. Human interaction plays a big part in a child's development. Friends and family are not only good, but essential to how a child "finds" his/her place in today's world, not the source of their education.