walker
· 3d
Did you know in Germany it’s ILLEGAL to homeschool your kids?
Why?
Because Hitler’s 1938 compulsory public school mandate, or Reichsschulpflichtgesetz, is still in effect to this day…
Whene...
I’m not against homeschooling at all — not in the least. But in Europe there’s generally a different view about the balance between individual freedom and the role of the state.
That’s part of the broader difference with North America. For context, I spent over 25 years in Canada and about 26 in Europe.
What I find a bit ridiculous is the argument that Germany restricting homeschooling somehow reflects a “Nazi legacy” simply because the law existed during that regime. By that logic, half the legal systems in the world would be discredited. Laws often survive regimes; what matters is how and why they exist today.
Using that to imply something sinister about modern Germany feels more like ideological point-scoring than a serious argument.
More generally, I notice that Europe in this community often gets described as either fascist or communist (sworn enemy’s) depending on the topic.
That says more about the lens being used than about Europe itself.
Personally, I’m sometimes quite reassured living here: that cults don’t always have free rein to indoctrinate people, that not just anyone can easily buy assault rifles, and that certain forms of litigation culture haven’t taken hold in the same way etc
Some people talk about liberty as if it means the freedom to do absolutely anything. For me it’s simpler: one person’s liberty stops where another person’s begins.
Europe has plenty of flaws and things I strongly dislike(so many things)
But after 25 years of traveling and working around the world, I’ve learned there is no perfect place. Every country is a compromise.
If someone has found a place that truly balances strong personal freedom, social equality, and protection for others, I’d honestly love to hear about it.
Food for thought.