Are there any HS families in countries where HS is "illegal"?

[MittensKittens]

Hi mamas!

My kids are three and one years old, and we live in an Eastern European (former communist) country where homeschooling is illegal, though there is a variety of private schools (American, British, Russian) which are legal. I really want to homeschool, and I really want to stay in this country.

I am wondering if there is anyone who is managing to homeschool despite it being illegal? Have you found any "loopholes"? I am thinking that homeschool could possibly, theoretically, be classified as a private school?

Any success stories would be enormously encouraging!

[luvmybaby333]

I don't homeschool in a country where it is illegal. I do homeschool in an American state where secular homeschooling is very difficult. I wanted to pull my child out of public school mid-year but the law just isn't set up for that sort of thing where I'm at. How I got around it was by enrolling in an online "private school" program. Technically I am not homeschooling. I am a faculty member of the school I have affiliated myself with. Fortunately for me, that school believes in tailoring a child's education to their specific needs (pretty much the idea behind homeschooling) and they don't interfere whatsoever. They are basically my way of covering myself when it comes to the law. I report my "grades" and attendance to them, and then they deal with the officials that look into that sort of thing. That might be something to look into where you are at. Good luck!

[fruitfulmomma]

HSLDA has a page with info on different countries. You might be able to find yours and see if there are any local organizations.

http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/

[lach]

Originally Posted by luvmybaby333

I don't homeschool in a country where it is illegal. I do homeschool in an American state where secular homeschooling is very difficult. I wanted to pull my child out of public school mid-year but the law just isn't set up for that sort of thing where I'm at. How I got around it was by enrolling in an online "private school" program. Technically I am not homeschooling. I am a faculty member of the school I have affiliated myself with. Fortunately for me, that school believes in tailoring a child's education to their specific needs (pretty much the idea behind homeschooling) and they don't interfere whatsoever. They are basically my way of covering myself when it comes to the law. I report my "grades" and attendance to them, and then they deal with the officials that look into that sort of thing. That might be something to look into where you are at. Good luck!

Kind of ironic that on the HSLDA link posted, on the Germany page the first news item is a resolution from Tennessee that Germany should allow Homeschooling.

[MittensKittens]

Bbrrrr.... HSLDA is full of horror stories about homeschoolers in places where it is not legal. Our country is not on the list. I like the idea of an online enrolment, but I am not sure that will work here, as there are not online enrolments offered in the country itself, though if we could join, for instance, the one that you are a member of, that might work. I will look into that.

We get the worst of both worlds - education laws apply to non citizens in the same way they do to citizens, but I lack the knowledge to know how to navigate around the laws, and work with the law to my advantage .

Thanks for the replies, any others are welcome too! Especially personal experience.

[luvmybaby333]

Originally Posted by lach

Kind of ironic that on the HSLDA link posted, on the Germany page the first news item is a resolution from Tennessee that Germany should allow Homeschooling.

I don't much browsing on the HSLDA website. I do not wish to affiliate myself with them in any way as a homeschooler due to some of the reasons listed here (on a UU homeschooling website.) So I haven't read the article you're talking about... but I would find it ironic, I'm sure. Tennessee is so chock-full of nuisance laws that it could choke a whale.

I find it quite laughable that Tennessee would have a hand in promoting homeschooling anywhere else when they so clearly hold disdain for it here at "home". The greater part of it's minimal support lies in Christian-based (or "church" based... of which you'll find little aside from the Christian variety here in TN) homeschooling households. There is absolutely no provision set up to allow a mid-year transfer of a child into traditional homeschooling. I was ridiculously fortunate to stumble across The Farm School website. Their unique circumstances make them able to fulfill the "Church-related School" requirement of the law, without actually having any element of a God-based religion. I am so grateful that because of them I have this opportunity. Without them I would have either had to sacrifice my family's beliefs and connect myself to a Cristian-based learning arrangement (which my DH was not on board with,) or I would have had to wait until next year. At which point I would have been required to register with my local School Board... Thus allowing them to become directly involved. (Something I was not on board with.)


*** I wanted to add that I am well aware of the fact that secular homeschooling in Tennessee in no way compares to homeschooling in a country where it is "illegal". That would be very frustrating and probably a bit scary to say the least. s OP. I just wanted to offer the story of my solution because I felt like it might possibly apply since you'd mentioned homeschooling under the pretenses of a "private school"... which is pretty much what I am doing.

[lach]

Originally Posted by luvmybaby333

I don't much browsing on the HSLDA website. I do not wish to affiliate myself with them in any way as a homeschooler due to some of the reasons listed here (on a UU homeschooling website.) So I haven't read the article you're talking about... but I would find it ironic, I'm sure. Tennessee is so chock-full of nuisance laws that it could choke a whale.

I like what you wrote! I too dislike the HSLDA and am very unhappy with the various publicity stunts it pulls these days.

I've heard horror stories about HSing in Tennessee. I'm really glad it worked out for you!

(I'm really sorry I've derailed the conversation, OP. Personally, I wouldn't do it. When in Rome and all. Unless you're in the military, then you usually get some protections but I'd check first.)

[desertmom]

We're keeping this option in mind should we ever be told we cannot homeschool (it's unclear where we are and in our situation, but I think this would satisfy naysayers here). You may want to check it out...

http://www.clonlara.org/home_based

[treemom2]

We are in Japan. Our DD attended Japanese school until her 2nd year in elementary school (5 years). When we decided to pull her out we were given a pretty hard time by the school system (we're DoDDs so we do have a legal right to homeschool). We found out homeschooling isn't legal in Japan (for Japanese) but there are a lot of people who do it but try to stay under the radar (there is a huge fine if they are caught and they do have to go to court). We now tell Japanese friends and DD's old teachers that DD is attending a US correspondence school (Calvert homeschool) instead of just telling them she's homeschooling. We still get some funny looks, but when we show them her materials or explain it they show interest and tell her how lucky she is.

[LukesMum]

we live in Germany and are homeschoolers, but for now our children are attending a lovely small international school due to the strict laws here. We have a horrible attendance record but my children enjoy it for now.