Homeschoolers in Germany have faced increasing persecution over the past few years. Is Sweden, long respected as a strongly democratic European country, next in line? Learn more as HSLDA Director of International Relations Mike Donnelly joins host Mike Farris on today’s Home School Heartbeat.
Homeschool Freedom Fund
Help HSLDA defend homeschooling families and protect parental rights for future generations by making a tax-deductible donation to the Homeschool Freedom Fund.
Donate Here >>
Mike Farris:
Mike, you’ve given us a pretty bleak picture of homeschooling and the lack of freedom in Sweden. Is there any hope?
Mike Donnelly:
Mike, before the Swedish parliament changed the rule on making it virtually impossible to get permission to homeschool, they asked an advised opinion from their Supreme Court, who told them the law was too vague. Just this year, an appeals court which had previously turned a deaf ear to homeschooling cases has accepted three homeschooling cases. HSLDA and the Alliance Defense Fund and our Swedish attorneys hope that this signals a willingness by courts to at least look at this untenable situation for Swedish homeschoolers.
Mike Farris:
What can our listeners do to help?
Mike Donnelly:
Mike, people should pray for families like the Johanssons and the Himmelstrands and others who are persecuted for exercising freedom that we in America may take for granted, to be able to decide what kind of education our children will receive. Listeners can also sign up at www.hslda.org to get our free email Weekly Update. Finally, I would ask people to consider donating to the Homeschool Freedom Fund to help support our work defending persecuted homeschoolers around the world.
Mike Farris:
We can see from history what happens when we ignore persecution in a supposedly first-world country. It is crucial that we come alongside our Swedish friends to protect the freedom of parents to educate their own children according to their conscience. I’m Mike Farris.
