Luxury vacation with 22 children: British family has to pay to Disney!

Luxury vacation with 22 children: British family has to pay to Disney!

The British Radford family, known from the TV show “22 Kids and Counting,” recently caused a stir after taking an expensive trip to Florida with their 22 children. Cost: around 52,000 pounds, which corresponds to around 60,000 euros. This trip was intended as a celebration of the 50th birthday of the head of the family, Sue. The family shared happy memories from Disneyland on Instagram, but the joy was overshadowed by legal repercussions.

Four of the Radford children were taken on vacation while school was in session. After returning, a court in Preston sentenced the family to a fine of around 750 euros, made up of a fine and court costs. The Radfords had previously said they were under “financial pressure,” casting their luxurious trip in a questionable light.

Compulsory school attendance and fines

In Great Britain the legal framework for school refusal is strict, but similar regulations also apply in Germany. Parents who withdraw their children from school during the school year without permission also risk severe fines. In Germany, these can amount to up to 2,500 euros and can even be associated with prison sentences for repeat offenses. Schools and authorities are increasingly checking the presence of students, especially before the start of the holidays.

Fine information explains that the fines in Germany vary depending on the federal state. Here is an overview:

• Baden-Württemberg: 50 bis 300 Euro pro Fehltag
• Bayern: bis zu 1.000 Euro insgesamt
• Berlin: bis zu 2.500 Euro insgesamt
• Bremen: 35 Euro pro Fehltag
• Hamburg: 150 Euro pro Fehltag, 200 Euro im Wiederholungsfall
• Hessen: 100 Euro pro Fehltag, 150 Euro ab der ersten Verwarnung
• Niedersachsen: bis zu 1.000 Euro insgesamt
• Nordrhein-Westfalen: 80 bis 150 Euro pro Fehltag
• Rheinland-Pfalz: keine Konsequenzen bei einmaliger Schulverweigerung, bis zu 500 Euro im Wiederholungsfall
• Saarland: bis zu 500 Euro insgesamt
• Sachsen: bis zu 1.250 Euro insgesamt
• Sachsen-Anhalt: bis zu 1.000 Euro insgesamt
• Thüringen: bis zu 1.500 Euro insgesamt

Compulsory schooling in Germany has been in effect since 1919 and also affects foreign children. Teachers are obliged to respond to unexcused absences; If ten unexcused absences accumulate, the school administration will be informed. In some federal states, students can even be prosecuted.

In summary, the Radfords' case shows how the different approaches to dealing with compulsory schooling and the travel behavior of parents in different countries can be compared. Despite their financial difficulties, they went on a lavish vacation, highlighting a discussion about parental responsibility and the relevance of education.