Ghost Town Bad Homburg in April 2020

For a check-up appointment I had made six months ago, I had to go to Bad Homburg to see the doctor in the early morning.

This was the city of Bad Homburg at 8:30. I saw a few officers and cars from the Ordnungspolizei on the Louisenstraße (main shopping road), but hardly any people.

Bad Homburg in April 2020

A sign gives explicit instructions on the current restrictions and recommends social distancing.

Bad Homburg

Around 9:10, there was a bit more life on the street (the sun light helped too). Benches are taped to let only one person sit there.

My visit to the doctor was also in a new safety format.

  • Upon arrival, I was instructed to wash my hands first.
  • I was asked to insert my insurance chip card into the machine myself.
  • I had to fill out an extra short questionnaire about the people I had been in contact with.

And yes, my visit went well. I’m free to roam the German forests.

Homeschooling in Germany has Become Legal Now

“Der Schulzwang wird fallen wie die Berliner Mauer” (source: Bildungsvielfalt) stands for Compulsory education will eventually [sic] fall like the Berlin Wall. This has happened now.

Now, without further ado in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, homeschooling is suddenly the norm. Everyone in Germany is getting home schooled – without any bureaucracy.

1919 saw the beginning of Compulsory Education (Schulpflicht) in Germany. Over the years, there had been various appeals by individuals and petitioners to change the law.

In April 2010, a petition signed by 5400 people, was submitted to the German Bundestag asking for impunity for parents who teach their children at home. This petition was turned down in November 2011.

I had supported this petition back in 2009, and had published this post: Petition for Homeschooling in Germany

Homeschooling in German: der Hausunterricht or der Heimunterricht

Diese Webseite verwendet Cookies. Wenn Sie auf der Seite weitersurfen, stimmen Sie der Cookie-Nutzung zu. Mehr Informationen

Diese Webseite verwendet so genannte Cookies. Sie dienen dazu, unser Angebot nutzerfreundlicher, effektiver und sicherer zu machen. Cookies sind kleine Textdateien, die auf Ihrem Rechner abgelegt werden und die Ihr Browser speichert. Die meisten der von uns verwendeten Cookies sind so genannte "Session-Cookies". Sie werden nach Ende Ihres Besuchs automatisch gelöscht. Cookies richten auf Ihrem Rechner keinen Schaden an und enthalten keine Viren. Weitere Informationen finden Sie auf der Seite “Datenschutzerklärung”.

Close