Sailing with young crew
compulsory Law
How to avoid the compulsery law
Some countries like the Netherlands have different school rules then most countries. Usually the compulsory education law means that as a child you have the right on education. Education means you learn something new from books, materials, experience or expeditions. In the Netherlands you have the same right, but it also has to be in a school and learned from teachers.
On a boat you could learn from books, materials experience and expeditions but you're not in a school building with teachers. Therefore as Dutch citizen you can't sail, but I have 2 possible solutions for this problem. If your country has the same rules as the Netherlands it will help you too.
1) The official way:
The official way is to ask your local government dispensation to sail for a year or more. There are countries, like the Netherlands, where the government can be tight about the permission. If this is the case you need to be lucky which handling officer you get. It is more likely to get permission if a handling officer who sails himself than from a handling officer who gets seasick by only looking at water. The last one will consider it quicker “dangerous” for children and will not understand why you want to sail in the first place. A handling officer who sails himself understands your passion. And will probably want to help you to make your dream come true. But they cannot just give you the permission. They need to have a solid plan, to make sure the children will be well taught. So if you make a well thought plan about teaching and which stuff you will teach your children, the officer will see your thought about it and understand your children will be fine for the upcoming year (or years). It is important, no matter what your choice is, to involve the school. When your children make their homework, as they would have from their school, it will be easier for them to adapt after they return from world trip. The official way is a long and difficult process, which does not guarantee permission. If it is noticed, you leave after a disapproval they can start an trial against you for going against the rules. Luckily the second option always works, even after a disapproval.
2) Move abroad on paper: (Virtually move abroad)
This is the easiest way and will always work. With an address in another country you can easily 'move to that country' and you have to fulfill to their laws. Most countries only have written in their compulsory education law that students have right on education. This means you can sail because you're fulfilling the rules. If your own country makes a big deal out of it, go ahead, they have no rights over your child so they can't do anything to you. Moving abroad on paper is easier than you might think and as long as you have made good appointments with the school of the children there will be no problems after the trip.
School planning:
During the trip we had a well working plan. At nine we got up and swam for a little. After that we started with our school work. During schoolwork we had a small swimming break as well. We worked till around one o'clock. The rest of the day we were free.
We usually spend 4 days a week doing schoolwork and the rest of the week we were free. During the Dutch school holidays, and while we crossed the ocean we didn’t do much when it came to school. During our trip I spend as much time making schoolwork in a week as I do homework in only one day since I am back in The Netherlands. Most people would think this means I fell behind on my classmates but I didn’t, actually I did two years in one. This was because I thought it was fun to learn this way and motivated me!
