Gospel Prism

Homeschooling. At least that’s what happened to Melissa Busekros and here’s her story:

Melissa Busekros is finally home, but it took almost three months for the 16-year-old German to return. Along the way, she went halfway around the world, through a psychiatric ward, a children’s home, and foster care—all because her parents homeschool her.

Homeschooling is illegal in Germany. A Nazi-era prohibition, the ban grew out of Hitler’s worry that too much parental control would supersede the state’s influence. According to the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), Germany has about 400 homeschooling families. Most teach clandestinely or are in court. Parents who homeschool face fines, imprisonment, and loss of custody of their children.

Despite the risk, when disruptive classes made Melissa fall behind in math and Latin, her parents decided to tutor her at home. She took advanced courses in English and French and sang in the school choir at a community college, but the school she had been attending noticed her absence and alerted authorities.

Go here to read the whole story.