On the heels of today's news about Britain's Parliament considering a bill that would greatly restrict parental rights in the homeschool arena, comes news out of Germany that eight fathers have been sentenced to prison because they refused to send the elementary aged children to mandatory sex education class.
-- From "Parental rights take another hit as eight fathers are jailed for opting their children out of sex-ed" Littleton Homeschooling Examiner, Lynda Ackert 12/11/09
In addition to refusing to allow their children to attend sex-ed classes, the families also resisted having their children enlisted in a theatre production of "Mein Körper gehört mir" or "My Body Belongs to Me," which informs young children in how to engage in sexual activity.
Germany has also been in the news recently for their persecution of homeschooling families. Joel Thornton, President of the International Human Rights Group, states that unlike much of the American education system, German officials "view the children as belonging to the State, particularly during the time they are in school" and for that reason parents' beliefs and authority over their children takes second place to the interests and mandates of the State.
So, why should such news from Britain and Germany be of interest to homeschool families here in the U.S.? Both Britain and Germany have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. A treaty that literally threatens parental rights. Under the UNCRC, the "best interest of the child principle" would give the government the ability to override every decision made by every parent if a government worker disagreed with the parent’s decision. That is exactly what is occurring now in Germany, and what Britain is banking on to pass the current bill before Parliament.
From "Christian fathers put in jail for shunning explicit sex ed" by Bob Unruh © 2009 WorldNetDaily 12/11/09
An international human rights organization today announced it will pursue a civil lawsuit on behalf of parents who want to control their children's education and withhold them from explicit sex education and play-acting classes required by the German government.
Joel Thornton of the International Human Rights Group told WND the government in Salzkotten, Germany, is sending the fathers of the children to jail for terms of one week because they have refused to turn their children over to school officials for mandated sex classes.
According to a report from Richard Guenther, European director for the IHRG, eight families of Christians have decided to withhold their children from required sex education classes in Salzkotten.
Sex education classes in Germany are explicit, and the issue is one of the major reasons why families – and not just Christian families – choose to homeschool their children even though the government has maintained its illegality since the days of Hitler.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
