Homeschooling Family Granted Political Asylum

From:  THE CONTINUING COLLAPSE January, Anno Domini 2010

Homeschooling Family Granted Political Asylum

Immigration Judge Says Germany Violating Basic Human Rights

A federal judge in Tennessee today granted political asylum to the Romeikes, a German Christian homeschooling family from Bissinggen, Germany, who fled persecution in August 2008 seeking political asylum in the United States.

As many of you may know, the German government has been aggressively persecuting Christian homeschoolers using Nazi-era laws. Moreover, the German government has used its power in  the EU to create a legal and administrative environment that has become increasingly hostile to homeschooling throughout Europe.

In his decision Judge Burman recognized that homeschooling is a fundamental human right:

“We can’t expect every country to follow our constitution,” said Judge Burman. “The world might be a better place if it did. However, the rights being violated here are basic human rights that no country has a right to violate.”

Burman added, “Homeschoolers are a particular social group that the German government is trying to suppress. This family has a well-founded fear of persecution…therefore, they are eligible for asylum…and the court will grant asylum.”

In addition to its repercussions in Germany and across Europe, Judge Burman’s decision is a blow against the elements of the educational establishment and the political left in the United States that would like to eliminate homeschooling or regulate independent homeschooling out of existence.

As a final word, The Continuing Collapse would like to point out that cases like these are not won in a vacuum. Judge Burman was obviously influenced by the now widespread perception that homeschooling is a legitimate educational alternative. That perception has been created over the years by homeschool parents, by the selfless work of homeschool leaders at the state and local level, by those who have promoted homeschooling throuugh the media (magazines, radio talk show, television, internet, etc.), and by our national organizations such as NHERI. In this particular case, HSLDA was the tip of the spear, and we should all give thanks for the tremendous job it has done in this case. The ultimate glory and thanks, of course, are due to God.

For more details see:

http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/Germany/201001260.asp

THEN Conference 6 March 2010

THEN Conference 2010

The Home Educators Network

THEN – Supporting Homeschoolers in Hamilton and the Greater Waikato

The Home Educators Network header image 3

Venue: Hamilton South Baptist Church, 131 Ohaupo Rd, Hamilton

http://www.wises.co.nz/l/Hamilton/+131+Ohaupo+Rd/#c/-37.816294/175.283049/16/

Contact: Margaret, Phone: 07 843 5656, THENmail@gmail.com

Programme:

9am Open for Registrations

10am Start and Welcome

10.05am – 10.30am Keynote Address – Craig Smith

10.30- 10.55 Morning tea

11.00am – 12.00pm Session 1
Getting started in Home education: Craig Smith
Preparing for Tertiary: Wintech, University and Vision College reps
Reading, the Reluctant Reader and Maths Reluctant: Rowena Powell
Coping with/Avoiding Burnout: Barbara Smith

12 pm–12.45pm Lunch BYO. Tea and coffee provided

12.45 pm – 1.25pm Session 2
Is it possible to discipline children in our undisciplined society: Craig Smith
Books, Great books and more books: Barbara Smith
Teaching Writing: Gladys Billings
Lapbooking and Unit Studies: Johanna Whittaker

1.30pm – 2.30pm Session 3
Dads: Craig Smith
Homeschooling on the Smell of an Oily Rag: Margaret Evans
Training our Children’s Minds: Barbara Smith
Homeschooling Large Families:  Katherine Baxendine

2.40pm – 3.15pm Panel of homeschooling parents, and homeschool graduates – chaired by Craig Smith.

Close and thankyous

Afternoon tea and vendors stalls open until 4pm

Costs: $20 THEN member, $35 nonmember, $40 on-day

(To become a member of THEN click here)

Registrations close: Sunday 28 February2010 (you can still turn up on the day and pay the on-day registration)

Conference Exhibitors: Click on the organisation below for website and more information

Home Education Foundation

Learnex

CES Books

plus more to come

THEN Website: http://thehomeeducatorsnetwork.wainet.org/

FaceBook event page

Have you or your children finished your Home Education?

Trademe has a couple of discussions going on the Message Board on Home Education.

The first one they are looking for those who have finished their home education.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Community/MessageBoard/Messages.aspx?id=144599

“Just wanting to hear from people who have been homeschooled themselves. Did you go right through with homeschooling, or did you go to school at some point? Why were you homeschooled (parent’s choice, or necessity)? How did you find it? If you transitioned to school later (eg, high school), how did you find that? Did you go on to tertiary education? Lol, just a few questions 🙂 Would love to hear people’s experiences.” Click here to add your experience

The other thread is a general home education discussion which has been going for a long time. Do take time to visit:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Community/MessageBoard/Messages.aspx?id=195&p=138

Proud Dad Talks About His Home Schooled Teen Son Who Climbed Seven Summits

Proud Dad Talks About His

Home Schooled Teen Son

Who Climbed Seven Summits

By Johnny Dodd

Saturday January 23, 2010

Proud Dad Talks About Teen Son Who Climbed Seven Summits

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20338960,00.html

Seventeen-year-old Johnny Collinson phoned home earlier this week to give his parents a bit of news – he’d just become the youngest mountaineer to climb the highest peak on all seven continents, known as the Seven Summits.

“We don’t try to get too excited about things, but there’s definitely a sense of relief that he’s done it,” the teen’s father, Jim, told PEOPLE from the family’s home in Snowbird, Utah.

Collinson managed to make it to the 16,067-foot-high summit of Mt. Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica, several hours before speaking with his dad. Despite powerful gusts and subzero temperatures, Collinson unhooked himself from his climbing partner and skied off the top of Mt. Vinson to a campsite several thousand feet below.

Collinson, who was home-schooled by his mother and is a champion freestyle skier, began his quest for the Seven Summits a year ago when he climbed Argentina’s Aconcagua (22,841 feet). Five months later (in May 2009), he stood on top of Mt. Everest (29,028 feet).

“He used to dream about standing on top of Everest ever since he was three,” says his dad, an avalanche safety expert. “He’d picture himself standing up there in his windbreaker and tennis shoes.”

Regarded as one of mountaineering’s most extreme challenges, only about 200 climbers can say they’ve bagged the Seven Summits. “This was difficult for him,” says his father. “But he wanted it bad. It was the culmination of years of work and dreaming.”

See what other readers have to say about this story – or leave a comment of your own

Feeding Covers

Feeding Covers

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=981773

Blue/Pink sheep option pictured, other reversible option: Pink/Cream floral
Click here to add text

Blue/Pink sheep option pictured, other reversible option: Pink/Cream floral

Single-sided Colour Options: (Listed top to bottom of picture) ~ Daisy ~ Blue Floral ~ Purple ~ Pale Pink ~ Classic Floral ~ Blue Dot (Pictured) ~ Pink Dot ~ Candy Plaid ~ Crazy Pink
Click here to add text

Single-sided Colour Options:
(Listed top to bottom of picture)
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~ Blue Floral
~ Purple
~ Pale Pink
~ Classic Floral
~ Blue Dot (Pictured)
~ Pink Dot
~ Candy Plaid
~ Crazy Pink

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