A US Immigration judge has granted political asylum for a family from Germany due to persecution resulting from their choice to home school their kids.
It seems that the German government has an issue with parents who don't send their children to "state" schools, even going to far as to fine or jail those who do home school. (via the Washington Times [1]...)
The Romeikes home-schooled their children in Germany and
received fines totaling $10,000. On one occasion, Mr. Donnelly said,
police hauled their children off to school. In 2006, the Romeikes
emigrated to Tennessee and continued home schooling their children. Mr.
Donnelly said the family applied for political asylum within three
months of arriving in the U.S.
This is the kind of thing that stems from a mentality that government should have a monopoly on educating children. It's a mentality that is threatened by a loss of control over messages. When a government wants to control what children are (and are NOT) taught, there's a motive...and it's a sure thing it's not in your best interest.
Links:
[1] http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/28/home-schoolers-win-asylum-in-us/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_must-read-stories-today