One of the Romeikes' concerns was about their kids getting bullied. But their main objection involved what was being taught in the classroom. "The curriculum goes against our Christian values," Uwe says. "German schools use textbooks that force inappropriate subject matter onto young children and tell stories with characters that promote profanity and disrespect."

Bullied? I'm calling bullshit on that one. Whatever, everyone eventually encounters a bully in life whether in school or in adult life in the work force or with authorities. The bullying part is a pretty lame excuse. I'd also like to know what they consider so profane and disrespectful in German textbooks. I could make guesses but that is all they would be since the article doesn't specify.
Regardless of how lame I think their excuses might sound they should still have the right to turn their kids in to socially defunct persons if they wish.

In 2007, Germany's Federal Supreme Court issued a ruling - which did not specifically involve the Romeikes - that parents could lose custody of their children if they continued to homeschool them. "We were under constant pressure, and we were scared the German authorities would take our children away," Romeike says. "So we decided to leave and go to the U.S."
German officials, for their part, note that the Romeikes had other options. "If parents don't want to send their children to a public school, they can send them to alternative private schools," says Thomas Hilsenbeck, a spokesman for the Baden-Württemberg education ministry. Homeschooling advocates counter that there are few private schools in Germany, and they tend to be expensive. But beyond that, many religious parents have problems with sex education and other curricular requirements. "Whether it's a state school or a private school, there's still a curriculum that is forced onto children," says Kuhnle.

Well no shit Sherlock that there's still a curriculum forced on them in private schools. I hope they did their homework before trying to homeschool their kids here where there is still certain criteria they must be tested on and pass. I hope they don;t think they can just keep their kids home and isolated and teach them whatever they want. That isn;t how homeschooling works here.

And then there are the social aspects of going to school. Homeschooling parents tend to want to shield their children from negative influences. But this quest often runs counter to the idea that schools represent society and help promote tolerance. "No parental couple can offer a breadth of education [that can] replace experienced teachers," says Kraus, of the German Teachers' Association. "Kids also lose contact with their peers."

First of all, I am going to have to agree with Cannoli on this one. 2' />
Quoting a teacher in this instance is asinine. No motivation there to portray the parents decision negatively, no siree. Even though I think his point is valid, homeschooled kids are less socially adept (at least anecdotally in my experiences with them and the experiences of everyone I know with homeschoolers), parents should still have the ultimate choice to make them so as long as they receive an education on core topics via homeschooling.

Concerns that homeschooling could lead to insularity - or worse, as Kraus puts it, "could help foster the development of a sect" - are shaping policy debates in European countries. In Britain, for example, Parliament is considering legislation that would create a new monitoring system to ensure that homeschooled kids get a suitable education.

A sect? LMAO! Seriously, that is just lame. As far as Britain developing a monitoring system goes, good for them. I wish America monitored homeschooled kids better. From what people who homeschool have told me it is quite easy to cheat. The American system (which I believe is regulated state by state - correct me if I am wrong) could use some real reform.