Great Neck Accredited Homeschool Programs

Following the passage of a new anti-homeschooling education law in Sweden, it will no longer be legal to operate home school programs in Sweden. Prior to the bill’s passage on June 22, 2010, HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) organized a worldwide email campaign with its Swedish counterpart, ROHUS, to block the law from passing.  ROHUS (RIKSORGANISATIONEN FÖR HEMUNDERVISNING I SVERIGE) translates into English as the National Organization for Home Education in Sweden. HSLDSA reports that hundreds of emails bombarded both Swedish government officials and its 349 member parliament.  The message contained reasons why children were better served academically if home-schooled, including a political ploy that overall children receiving a home school education are certain to become productive citizens.  In response to the protest, ROHUS was asked to supply Swedish  government officials with documentation to support their claims, which they did – furnishing a 228-page analysis of the impact that the proposed law would have on the right of parents to oversee the education of their children.

In an effort to overturn the passing of the law, ROHUS turned to Swedish media with hopes of stirring up enough controversy that the law would put pressure on the Minister of Education, who declined a request for a face-to-face meeting with the pro home school program leaders.  Following the failure to address the Minister in person, the group took to the streets handing out pro-homeschooling leaflets in front of the Swedish Parliament, hoping to persuade MPs to side with their cause, permitting home school programs to continue operating.  According to ROHUS, at least a dozen MPs did not want to restrict homeschooling and criticized the new law on various other points, including making day care and preschool compulsory. The last change in education system in Sweden was in 1985.

However, in contrast to the total of 349 members, a dozen or even several dozen members in favor of allowing the continued operation of home school programs does not portend to be overturned anytime soon.  Nonetheless, ROHUS is hopeful that if enough support is gained before the September elections that they stand a better chance of the law being overturned if they can put enough pressure on politicians. Unfortunately, the number of proactive homeschooling families who joined the fight was only about 50.

Written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS

© 2010-2011 Brenne Meirowitz.  All Rights Reserved.