Father opposes compulsory schooling: Lucas prefers to study at home!

Father opposes compulsory schooling: Lucas prefers to study at home!

In an apartment block in Dresden, where the walls tell the stories of many families, 16-year-old Lucas lives with his single father, Martin Heinrich. Lucas left school in December 2023 and has been continuing his education at home since then. His father, who considers compulsory schooling in Germany to be outdated, is fighting bureaucratic hurdles to support his son in an alternative learning environment. The case has now stirred up local society and raises important questions about compulsory schooling.

“I don’t want my son to go there,” is how Martin Heinrich describes his worries about his son’s education. Since Lucas struggled with reading and writing difficulties in elementary school, his relationship with the school institution has deteriorated. This problem was not sufficiently recognized and promoted in high school. It is clear to Martin that the German education system is not the right answer to his son's needs. He sees himself and Lucas as victims of a “broken system”, and this is reminiscent of the general discussions about compulsory schooling that have existed in Germany for many years. Deutschlandfunk reports that in Germany children from the age of six have to go to school for at least nine years, which in some federal states even includes ten years.

A father fights against the system

Martin Heinrich is not only concerned about his son's learning environment, but also about the legal consequences. After receiving several fines for violating the Saxon school law, he had to face a fine of 500 euros at the Dresden district court, which he did not accept. The Saxon school law stipulates that schools have an educational mandate and that all children must receive a basic education. Here, the statutory compulsory school attendance, as stipulated in the Saxon School Law, is taken seriously.

If parents refuse to send their children to school, they risk not only fines but also loss of custody if the child's well-being is at risk. In a system in which around eight million students in Germany go to school and cases of school refusal are repeatedly reported, Martin Heinrich sees himself in a particularly difficult situation. The numbers show: According to estimates, between 500 and 1,000 children stay away from class.

Alternative educational paths

While many parents still rely on the traditional school system, Martin Heinrich is considering alternative learning concepts. Lucas has now found his own ways to learn. He deals with various topics in a self-taught manner and uses learning apps such as “Duolingo” and “Mathegym”. Every now and then he gets support from a high school teacher who teaches him privately. His leisure activities also show how diverse his learning is: cycling, baking bread and karate. These creative approaches represent a positive aspect for his father, especially considering the positive experiences during the Corona pandemic and homeschooling.

School was not the right choice for Lucas. However, his wishes are clear: he wants to study psychology, but knows that he needs a high school diploma. The question here is how these students can achieve their educational goals without going through the traditional school system. This problem is being loudly questioned by many parents, especially after the Corona crisis.

Martin Heinrich plans to go to the Federal Constitutional Court to argue against compulsory schooling and to create better conditions for alternative learning methods. The discussion about compulsory schooling is not new, and many critics argue that it restricts educational freedom and does not sufficiently address the individual needs of children. It remains to be seen how this case will be handled by the authorities and whether attitudes towards alternative approaches to education will change.