I asked for permission to put the blogger-of-the-week
article in my blog, and received it. Thank you! Here's the link to the original,
and the following, copied and pasted, was written by "Spunky", aka Karen Braun.
:-)
The majority of bloggers here at HomeschoolBlogger are from the
United States. However, as the popularity of this site grows so will the number
of international bloggers. Through blogging we are able to share the triumphs
and struggles we face as homeschoolers. Despite the distance, we realize many of
us face similar struggles. But few encounter the challenges that homeschooling
in Germany presents – that’s because homeschooling in Germany is illegal.
This week’s featured blogger; Sheila Lange is facing those challenges daily and shares the struggles at her blog, Trying to Homeschool in Germany. The Langes have four children ages eight down to three months and currently reside in Germany. They are also missionaries with a heart to preach God's Word wherever He sends them.
Sheila first became wary of the German schools while working at a preschool in Germany. They made the dramatic and difficult decision not to send their oldest daughter to preschool when she was three. They initially thought they would wait until six, the year before “regular” school. Sheila began studying homeschooling. Her husband was not initially convinced. But through prayer and a precocious four year old they both became convicted that this was God’s plan,
"We prayed quite a lot about it (as we had all along about the raising of our children), and my husband became convinced that homeschooling made not only a lot of practical sense, but could be an excellent way to fulfill God's commandment in Deuteronomy 7:4-9 to teach our children God's laws, at all times and in all places. Then my daughter pretty much taught herself to read shortly before her fourth birthday, which was actually the final thing to convince my husband: due to the cut-off dates for starting school, she would have been entering first grade a few weeks before her seventh birthday, at which point they would start teaching the alphabet. "
The Lange’s realized that homeschooling was a lifestyle they already lived and wanted to continue. But the state has been putting pressure on homeschoolers to conform to German law or face fines and jail. The Langes have felt because of the burdensome laws, leaving the country was their best option to be able to continue their desire to home educate. The plan was to leave by August of this year but due to personal circumstances that has not been possible. The Lange’s made the difficult decision to put their two oldest in school until they are able to leave. Sheila explains their decision,
The most challenging thing with regards to homeschooling has been to accept that our children have to attend school for a time. I agree that it is better for them to be in school and have us to come home to than to be in school and go "home" to a foster family because their parents are in jail, but even better would be to be free to homeschool.
Due to their decision to put their children in public school, they have also felt stress and pressure from the German homeschool community. Many German homeschoolers view their decision as having “given in to the system” and “being unwilling to make sacrifices.” This makes a difficult decision even more challenging,
“My attitude about everything is probably the biggest challenge...even though I AM convinced that God's will for our family right now is for the children to be in school, I don't LIKE it. I question whether that means that God trusts strangers with our children more than He trusts us, I feel like a "traitor to the cause" because I'm not willing to move into a motor home and change states every couple of months (while my husband stays at home and works), as several other families are doing, and I just plain miss my children.”
Even through all the emotion and physical trials Sheila has been facing, there have been many moments she’s enjoyed.
“I often think of Jacob at age four sitting on the toilet and counting his fingers: "1, 2, 3; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 1, 2, 3; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8," and then exclaiming in delight, "Mommy! Three and five are eight AND five and three are eight!!"
The Lange’s still consider themselves homeschoolers even though their children are currently enrolled in school. She dreams of being able to teach them a third language. The children currently speak German and English, and Sheila hopes to one day add Spanish.
The Lange's are missionaries who are planning on attending a Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School next spring. Upon completion they hope to return to the mission field.
Sheila began blogging at Trying to Homeschool in Germany as a way to keep up with e-mail contacts and as a way to refer people who desire more information. Sheila found that it is alot easier sending people to a blog than constantly writing an sending out notes. That still continues but she also includes updates on their upcoming move and their mission’s activities as well.
Please visit Sheila, Trying to Homeschool in Germany, and encourage her to keep pursuing the things of God and her desire to homeschool.
Blogger of the week is chosen by Karen Braun of Spunky Homeschool
This week’s featured blogger; Sheila Lange is facing those challenges daily and shares the struggles at her blog, Trying to Homeschool in Germany. The Langes have four children ages eight down to three months and currently reside in Germany. They are also missionaries with a heart to preach God's Word wherever He sends them.
Sheila first became wary of the German schools while working at a preschool in Germany. They made the dramatic and difficult decision not to send their oldest daughter to preschool when she was three. They initially thought they would wait until six, the year before “regular” school. Sheila began studying homeschooling. Her husband was not initially convinced. But through prayer and a precocious four year old they both became convicted that this was God’s plan,
"We prayed quite a lot about it (as we had all along about the raising of our children), and my husband became convinced that homeschooling made not only a lot of practical sense, but could be an excellent way to fulfill God's commandment in Deuteronomy 7:4-9 to teach our children God's laws, at all times and in all places. Then my daughter pretty much taught herself to read shortly before her fourth birthday, which was actually the final thing to convince my husband: due to the cut-off dates for starting school, she would have been entering first grade a few weeks before her seventh birthday, at which point they would start teaching the alphabet. "
The Lange’s realized that homeschooling was a lifestyle they already lived and wanted to continue. But the state has been putting pressure on homeschoolers to conform to German law or face fines and jail. The Langes have felt because of the burdensome laws, leaving the country was their best option to be able to continue their desire to home educate. The plan was to leave by August of this year but due to personal circumstances that has not been possible. The Lange’s made the difficult decision to put their two oldest in school until they are able to leave. Sheila explains their decision,
The most challenging thing with regards to homeschooling has been to accept that our children have to attend school for a time. I agree that it is better for them to be in school and have us to come home to than to be in school and go "home" to a foster family because their parents are in jail, but even better would be to be free to homeschool.
Due to their decision to put their children in public school, they have also felt stress and pressure from the German homeschool community. Many German homeschoolers view their decision as having “given in to the system” and “being unwilling to make sacrifices.” This makes a difficult decision even more challenging,
“My attitude about everything is probably the biggest challenge...even though I AM convinced that God's will for our family right now is for the children to be in school, I don't LIKE it. I question whether that means that God trusts strangers with our children more than He trusts us, I feel like a "traitor to the cause" because I'm not willing to move into a motor home and change states every couple of months (while my husband stays at home and works), as several other families are doing, and I just plain miss my children.”
Even through all the emotion and physical trials Sheila has been facing, there have been many moments she’s enjoyed.
“I often think of Jacob at age four sitting on the toilet and counting his fingers: "1, 2, 3; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 1, 2, 3; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8," and then exclaiming in delight, "Mommy! Three and five are eight AND five and three are eight!!"
The Lange’s still consider themselves homeschoolers even though their children are currently enrolled in school. She dreams of being able to teach them a third language. The children currently speak German and English, and Sheila hopes to one day add Spanish.
The Lange's are missionaries who are planning on attending a Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School next spring. Upon completion they hope to return to the mission field.
Sheila began blogging at Trying to Homeschool in Germany as a way to keep up with e-mail contacts and as a way to refer people who desire more information. Sheila found that it is alot easier sending people to a blog than constantly writing an sending out notes. That still continues but she also includes updates on their upcoming move and their mission’s activities as well.
Please visit Sheila, Trying to Homeschool in Germany, and encourage her to keep pursuing the things of God and her desire to homeschool.
Blogger of the week is chosen by Karen Braun of Spunky Homeschool
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