Home-school ban in Sweden forces families to mull leaving

Swedish family and schooling policy is in conflict with Human Rights as per the European Convention (1950), established after the experience from WW2.

The Human Rights not respected are:

Article 2 (first amendement protocol):
No person shall be denied the right to education. In the exercise of any functions which it assumes in relation to education and to teaching, the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religions and philosophical convictions.

Article 8:
Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.
There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, .... or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Article 14:
The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion ... or other status.

WHY IS THAT?
Swedes are always taxed as if they were bachelors. No consideration at all of the burden to support a family.

An average wage-earner pays a total of 60% of the value of his/her work in taxes (as witnessed by economists Gidehag & Bergström in their book "Free to 40 %" (Swedish).

What is left is enough to pay food and rent, not much more. Thus a family has a need for a second income.

Public daycare provided by the public sector is almost free of cost, but it spends as much resources on caring for two kids as is produced by a full time wage-earner in a paid work.

Thus, leaving two kids to public daycare going to a paid work is only a change of work with no additional value to the nation.

However, doing this job-swap means another income. Plus subsidized service - daycare - corresponding to another wage´s value. In total the family thus enjoys the value of three wages.

The traditional family, caring for two kids themselves, is just as useful to the society. But is left with only one, insufficient income. And deprived of rights to public support when not reaching a minimum level of existence. And of course of sickness insurance, paid out of work days, pension etc. etc. They are outcasts from the Swedish society. Victims of much hatred and negative propaganda in media, although public polls continue to show that many people would have preferred this life-style.

The violation of human rights is consealed behind Big Brother words stressing the overall importance of GENDER EQUALITY and the notion of the NO-WORK at home.

British sociologist Patricia Morgan compares the situation in Sweden with the Soviet Union in her well-researched book FAMILY POLICY, FAMILY CHANGES - SWEDEN, ITALY AND BRITAIN COMPARED. CIVITAS. ISBN 1-903386-43-8

Krister Pettersson
Familjekampanjen

One of the other posters said, "Another problem is the fact that home-schooling REQUIRES that one parent not work outside the home, period." But that isn't necessarily true. It IS easier to homeschool with a stay at home parent. But I know many homeschooling families where both parents work full time. Some of the families have different schedules, so one parent works nights and the other days, so that one will be at home to school the children at any given time. Other people work their 40 hours in 4 days, with only one day of overlap where there are no parents home, and the kids go to grandma's or a friend's. Some of my friends also do a co-opish type of homeschooling where the kids of family A go to family B's house to learn with them while parents A work, then they B kids all go to A's house while the B parents work. I know homeschooling several families who work from home, or run their own business, and the kids all help out with it, even when they are tiny. Plus a homeschooling family who has a set curriculum, even if it is all literature based, can send their kids to a baby sitter's or a relative/friend's house while they work.

Ok, so the Lantzes decided that Public School just wasn't going to be enough for their children, who are "eager to learn", so they yank those kids from Public School. Did they not even bother to consider SUPPLEMENTING the education their kids get from Public School? I bet they didn't. ("eager to learn" is so over-used; ALL children are eager to learn) Parents who decide that Public School, no matter how good, no matter how well their children do there, just isn't good enough are the real problem.

Another problem is the fact that home-schooling REQUIRES that one parent not work outside the home, period. In the U.S.A., where a two-parent income is required just to pay the bills for the majority (rough estimate: At least 70%) of families, it is impossible to home-school; In Sweden, things are "built" so that one parent is able to stay at home if they so choose.

A U.S. Citizen (Mr. Barnekov, Ft. Wayne, Indiana) telling another Nation how to conduct its business. He would likely suffer apoplexy if a SWEDE were to insist that the U.S. Government adopt and adhere strictly to SWEDISH standards. He doesn't want people from other Nations dictating (or even "strongly influencing") Public policy in the U.S., yet he thinks that HE has the right to do what he will not allow others to do? HYPOCRITE!

The new law in Sweden effectively means religious persecution? False. Each parent has the right and privilege to teach their children whatever religion they wish. They are free to attend whatever religious service(s) they wish to attend. From the article: Approximately 75% of all Swedes claim to be Lutheran, yet only 1% of those attend church. Not a very religious country at all, so any claim that the new law will harm their religion is false.

What Mr. Himmelstrand says about Sweden being socialist? In Socialism, ALL individuals enjoy the same rights, not just the select few who "happen" to also have most of the money and/or power. Sweden has had, for a very long time, a tradition of Traditional Human Rights. He's just looking out for his own Political Agenda.

Sweden's law, according to Mr. Donnelly, violates the European Convention wherein families have the right to school within their own religious and philosophical convictions? Hogwash! Parents still have the right to teach their children whatever religious clap-trap they choose. NOBODY is taking that away, no matter how loudly anyone might wish to holler otherwise. It's the same as in the U.S., where certain groups are always yammering on about how "Prayer is being forced out of Public Schools", when prayer has always been and will continue to be allowed in Public School - As Long As Students Are Not Forced To Participate And Do Not Force Their Beliefs On Other Students (i.e., Pray Silently when in any Public setting, Christians - just as you are instructed to by Jesus in Matthew Chapter 6 verses 1-13).

Those opposed to the new law are brandishing the Straw Man.