In Germany, school attendance is compulsory. However, school is not the right place for all children to learn. If they refuse to attend school, it is not a sign of laziness, but often due to serious problems. The children want to learn, but neither state nor private schools can provide them with the right environment. There are alternative concepts such as homeschooling or unschooling. However, compulsory school attendance stands in the way. ” Therefore, ways must be found to enable children to learn in alternative or unschooled ways ,” says lawyer István Cocron.
School avoidance or refusal cuts across all social classes. A number of reasons, such as illness, bullying, or mental health problems, can be the cause. Therefore, efforts are often made to find ways to give school refusers a new opportunity so they can return to school and obtain their diploma. However, this approach is far from sufficient for all school refusers. They need a different path outside of state and private schools, such as homeschooling.
Opinions differ on what exactly constitutes unschooling. Some believe that parents primarily take the place of schools and educate their children at home. Others pursue a more radical approach in which the curriculum is completely open. In practice, unschooling often falls somewhere between these two extremes. What’s important is that the goal is to provide children with a high level of education.
Unlike many other European countries, Germany does not have compulsory education, but rather compulsory school attendance. While compulsory education mandates the acquisition of knowledge without specifying the type or form of that knowledge, the situation in Germany is different. Here, schools have an educational mandate, and school attendance is compulsory. In some federal states, violating compulsory school attendance can even be a criminal offense.
Emigration to enable children to homeschool in other countries is rarely a good solution. Instead, efforts should be made to enable affected children to homeschool in Germany. ” This often requires nerve-wracking negotiations and discussions with youth welfare offices and family courts. But it can be worthwhile, because the child’s well-being should always be the top priority ,” says lawyer Cocron.
Discussions with youth welfare offices and/or family courts should always be well-prepared. In addition to the emotional aspects, expert legal support is essential. ” Despite compulsory school attendance, there are legal arguments against mandatory school attendance in order to facilitate independent learning, ” says lawyer Cocron. In exceptional cases, an exemption from compulsory school attendance may be possible. However, this is regulated differently in each federal state.
Legal representation is also recommended if school attendance is officially ordered and linked to a fine, or if fines are imposed because the child refuses to attend school.
Attorney Cocron is available to answer any questions you may have regarding compulsory education.
More information: https://ra-cocron.de/
