By Bob Unruh  Officials in Sweden announced a $3,000 fine for a couplehomeschooling their son then barred them from a court hearing on the dispute. Word of the latest attack on parents dissatisfied with government-run public schools in the free world who choose to educate their own children comes from theHome School Legal Defense Association. This week's report is about Joakim and Karin Ravens' dispute with their local municipality, Partille, in southwestern Sweden. Homeschooling in Sweden has been in the news in recent weeks with the Johansson case. Social workers had police officers forcibly take custody of Dominic Johanssona, who was being homeschooled while his parents prepared for a move to India. Most recently, a judge ruled social workers will continue to have custody of the boy. The decision in the Johansson case by Judge Peter Freudenthal was reported by the Home School Legal Defense Association, which with the help of international attorneys working with the Alliance Defense Fund already has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights for help reuniting the family.
Dominic Johannson was seized from his parents June 25, 2009, because he was being homeschooled, had a few untreated cavities in his teeth and had not been given the latest vaccinationsscheduled by the government. Since then, he's been allowed a brief visit with his parents, sometimes five weeks apart, and at other times a brief, monitored telephone call. In the newest case, the HSLDA said that the municipal officials rejected the family's request forhomeschooling permission then ruled that the family should not get a court hearing to argue their case. "This action ignores basic principles of fairness and due process that are well established in Western nations. This behavior asserts the power of the Swedish state in a way that is increasingly punitive toward those who deviate from the 'norm,'" an analysis of the case by HSLDA said. The authorities had rejected the family's homeschool request last year "despite the fact that Joakim and Karin Ravens have successfully educated their son Lucas at home for the past six years." "It appears that the municipality based this decision solely upon its prejudiced views ofhomeschooling as 'inadequate' and even 'harmful' to children. These views have been repeated in other judicial decisions in Sweden," the organization reported. The fines stem from the government's orders to the family last year to put their son in school immediately and the parents' refusal to comply while they were arguing their case in court. "Fines are for people who act illegally, not for law-abiding citizens," Karin Ravens told theorganization. "Our child is going to school. It would be different with parents who don't take their child to any school. That is where they can use fines." Mike Donnelly, the HSLDA director of international affairs, said the municipality's "denial of the Ravens' due process rights is the most recent action by Swedish officials that reveals a blatant agenda to persecute homeschoolers as a specific social group." "These officials are attempting to take away basic due process rights like access to an impartial hearing for each denial of their rights. This practice of denying individuals their legal right to due process shows that Sweden is on a dangerous path heading towards tyranny," he said. "By denying due process like this, Sweden has departed from a system of law that safeguards the rights of the individual," he said. "Both of these cases, and many others like these, call into question the basic fairness of the Swedish legal process. Decisions such as these, regarding homeschoolers and others where the state overpowers the rights of individuals to squelch 'dissent,' are frightening and echo Germany's treatment of homeschoolers," he said. Germany is notorious in its treatment of homeschoolers as criminals, and the U.S. has granted asylum to a German homeschool family. Related special offers: "The Little Book of Big Reasons to Homeschool" "The Harsh Truth About Public Schools" "My child is an honor roll student … at home" "You've Decided to Homeschool, Now What?" Related stories: Judge blasts homeschool family's reunion hopes Family fears own government; won't return to home State 'child-napping' escalates to international court Boy reaches 1 year in custody for being homeschooled Court accused of violating homeschooler's 'due process' Judge banishes family's custody lawyer Social-service agents grab child from school Cavalry arrives for beleaguered homeschool family Parents plead for return of 7-year-old son State takes custody of 7-year-old over homeschooling Court endorses 'kidnapping' of 7-year-old War on homeschoolers spreading? Police 'nab' 7-year-old homeschooler U.N. protocol used to regulate homeschoolers Parental rights already being lost The man behind Parental Rights Amendment The man behind Parental Rights Amendment Sen. Boxer tries to hurry children's 'rights' treaty United Nations' threat: No more parental rights Homeschooling goes boom in America Christians called to abandon public education Baptist 'exit strategy' means get kids out of public schools Homeschoolers win when government charges dropped 5 'well-educated' kids put in state custody Homeschoolers seek asylum from Nazi-era law State could take custody of teen homeschooler Government chases homeschool family Challenge to mandatory government sex-ed grows Parents: Required sex ed violates daughter's rights Asylum hearing set for homeschooling family Homeschoolers seek asylum from Nazi-era law Will homeschooling parents end up behind bars? Homeschooling parents to appeal prison terms Parents sent to jail for homeschooling Government chases homeschool family Judge: Homeschooling like driving drunk Amendment protecting parental rights urged Courts offer homeschoolers zilch, expert says Court upholds Nazi-era ban on homeschooling Parents sent to jail for homeschooling Parents losing custody for homeschooling kids Girl sent to psych ward for homeschooling, parents billed Prosecutor wants homeschool parents jailed Homeschool family reaches England Parents race to escape before court takes kids Truancy hearing targets homeschooling mom Homeschoolers facing $6,300 fine American missionaries targeted for deportation Courts offer homeschoolers zilch, expert says Court gives Melissa back to family Western homeschoolers need political asylum from democracy 3 families face fines, frozen accounts 'Youth worker' lies about homeschool student 5 'well-educated' kids put in state custody Asylum hearing set for homeschooling family Psych tests ordered for homeschooling parents 3rd Reich homeschool prohibition defended Homeschool family told to give up 5 other kids Homeschooler's parents allowed 1 visit a week Court-ordered foster care replaces psych ward Homeschool student disappears from psych ward 'Psych ward' homeschooler case goes international |
