HR 850, the resolution from the Georgia (USA) state government, addressing the issue of home education in Germany, was delivered to the following government officials:

German Federal Education Minister: Prof. Dr. Annette Schavan

Baden-Württemberg state representative:  Mr. Helmut Rau, Minister of Education

Baden-Württemberg state representative:  Karl Traub, Education Committee

The Netherlands:  A copy of the resolution was also delivered to the Dutch parliament at The Hague, on June 6, 2009.

To read the text of this resolution:  http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/fulltext/hr850.htm

The Highländlers met with CDU Representative Sascha Steuer at the capitol of the state of Berlin, on June 11, 2009. He described major education reforms which are currently under discussion and which should be decided on by the end of this year.

We spoke of the benefits that home education had brought to the members of our performing group and of the numerous German people that we had met who were interested in the freedom to choose this method of educating their children, but could not because it is illegal.

Many parents are frustrated with the education system and would like a German solution to the problem. We asked if the education commission would consider home education in their discussions.

Herr Steuer stated 2 objections to this idea: (1) if the Turkish immigrants were given this freedom, many of them would choose not to educate their children, who would then become a burden to society – and (2) he did not think that parents would be capable of teaching their own children. He was, however, open to the idea of allowing this discussion to come to the table if people would send him their thoughts about how to make this choice feasible.

Contact:  Sascha Steuer

saschasteuer@aol.com          www.sascha-steuer.de

Abgeordnetenhaus von Berlin

Preuβischer Landtag

10111 Berlin

Tel. (d): 030/ 23 25 28 25

e 

Home educators came in from several European countries for a 3 day colloquium. The Highländlers were conference speakers, workshop leaders, and performers at this event.

Folkdance workshop for children

Recorder and Bodhran Music

The Holzhacker Dance

Der Schwinger Tanz

Highland Village Scene

The New Highland Dance

The Highländlers are home! The tour was blessed in innumerable ways, which we will be sharing in the days to come.

Thank you EVERYONE for your tremendous support!

Here is a photo of our Swiss bus, which we drove for 5 weeks, in front of the chalet which someone graciously provided for us during our last few days in Switzerland.

MANY local, national and international articles have been written about The Highländlers and the issues related to their mission tour. Here are two examples:

World Net Daily:    Dance Troupe to Show Homeschoolers Normal
                                    Trip through Europe to Blast Image as ‘Fanatics’
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=96379

HSLDA:      Georgia to Germany: Let Parents Homeschool!
http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/ga/200904070.asp

Flights and tour dates are all in place.

Two changes:

Number of team members reduced to 7.

Budget is reduced to $30,000.

These savings come from:  lower air fares, fewer team members, smaller rental vehicle, lower fuel costs, and more offers to stay in homes.