The document is a resolution passed by the Tennessee House of Representatives calling on the Federal Republic of Germany to recognize parental rights regarding home education. It notes that some German citizens are seeking asylum in Tennessee to escape persecution for educating their children at home instead of in public schools. The resolution expresses that parental choice in education and involvement are important, and that denying these rights goes against ideals of individual liberty. It calls on Germany to allow its citizens to determine how their children are educated without threats of imprisonment or other coercion.

1. LEGALER HEIMSCHULUNTERRICHT IN DEUTSCHLAND
A Resolution
calling on the Federal Republic of Germany
to recognize the rights of parents
to raise their children, and for other purposes.
TENNESSEE HOUSE RESOLUTION 87
By DeBerry J
WHEREAS, German citizens are seeking political asylum in the State of Tennessee
to escape persecution and imprisonment by the German government related to
their parentalrights; and
WHEREAS, members of this body recognize the importance of religious liberties
and the right of parents to determine their children's upbringing and the method in
which their education should be provided; and
WHEREAS, parental choice and involvement are crucial to excellence in education;
and
WHEREAS, denial of the basic right of parents to choose the manner in which their
children are educated goes against the ideals of individual liberty and freedom; and
WHEREAS, home educated students in Tennessee have continually exhibited high
standards of academic achievement and citizenship; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Republic of Germany infringes upon the parental rights of
its citizens to direct their children’s education, using threats of imprisonment,
seizure of their children, and other forms of coercion; and
WHEREAS, the federal government of the Federal Republic of Germany justifies its
policy against home education on a desire to prevent the emergence of parallel
societies based on separate philosophical convictions, thus denying freed om of
speech, religion, association, and thought; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY, that the members of this body
respectfully entreat the Federal Republic of Germany to recognize the basic,
fundamental rights of parents and allow its citizens to determine the educational
upbringing of their own children.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is
authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the
Federal Republic of Germany’s Secretariat of the Standing Conference of Ministers
of Education and Cultural Affairs, and its Federal Ministry of Education and
Research.
Adopted, Ayes 97, Nays 0 05/26/2009