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

[ashesfalling]

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.

[benislenis]

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

[philippk]

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.

[ladyalexandra]

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.

[liammeech]

Germans watching films featuring homeschooled characters must be really strange.

[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.

[lenajk]

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.

[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

[travelwell]

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.

[Chronologist]

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!

[lenasolarova]

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

[boredstudent]

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_hp]

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)

[pisani]

Homeschooling vastly limits a childs socialization

[kenani]

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

[Hellooo]

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.

[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!

[gggggg-hstk]

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!

[xilj]

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.

[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.