Sealand!

[Mycroft Hollins]

His brother had been harassing him with texts about it all week, and Mycroft was about ready to hop on a plane and kill him over it. William knew he was teaching European History, and ever since he'd discovered some Japanese show about the countries of the world called 'Hetalia' he had been consistently texting Mycroft references to it that he barely understood.. However one he had understood was about a small 'micronation' called Sealand, mostly because when he'd been working with the government he'd actually had to deal with Sealand on several occasions.

Sealand was a small abandoned British fort off the coast of England, that claimed to be recognized officially as a country by the United Kingdom and Germany. Of course it wasn't, but the Bates family, who founded Sealand and considered themselves to be the royal family of the ugly metal island, claimed it was. They'd even fought off pirates and such, defending their little principality from all sorts of things. Once Sealand hadn't been a part of the United Kingdom's water territory, but the territory had been expanded since Sealand's founding and now it was in the territory, and did belong to the U.K..

He couldn't believe he was going to start class this way, but he figured it was interesting enough of a topic to go off of. Grabbing a piece of chalk, he wrote across the board in his fine scroll, 'The Principality of Sealand. Is it a country?'

Once that was written on the board, he began listing things off underneath it. By the time his class had entered and taken their seats he had a list of nearly everything Sealand had as a 'micronation'.

-Population 50+

-Sealand Dollar (Official currency) and stamps

-Monarchy, ruled by Prince Micheal Bates

-Official noble titles (You can buy one if you'd like)

-Government website

-Passports

-Area Claimed: 0.025 km2 (All livable space). 0 sq mi

-Has official national anthem

-Sealand Constitution

-Has it's own economy

-National Athletes

-Germany sent an ambassador (recognizing it as a country?)

With the list complete, Mycroft turned to face his students. "My name is Mr. Hollins, I'll be teaching you about European history this year and I can tell that you are quite excited for it. Now then, here's a simply question for you all. The Principality of Sealand, yes it is a real place, but is it a real country? I've listed here everything that it has, but do these things make it a real country and why? Does anyone know? How about this, we'll go around the room and just say what your name is, and whether you think Sealand is a country or not and why you think so. It can be as brief or as elaborate as you like, depending on how confident you are in your answer. So tell me, what is Sealand?"

Adonya van Rutherford
@anna
Cara-Jean Kitchi
Gretchen Holmes
Katja Eder
@lacy
@sierra
Rose Hoff
Tyler Reynolds

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Cara calmed her nerves before walking into the classroom for European History. The stress of the start of the school year was beginning to wear her down, but she pushed on like she always did. She just needed to keep hold of herself enough to keep her language straight, as the last thing she needed was to start spouting French and get kicked out of a class - there were a number of teachers in the past who took her slight language slip-ups as a sign of insubordination.

After giving the man at the front of the room as respectful bow of her head, she walked to the front table, closest to the wall - her safe spot - and began to set her table up as methodically as she did for every class. With her glasses on, she turned her attention to the board. Picking up the Black pen, she headed the page with the title on the board and dated the top left corner, swapping the black pen for the blue, she then listed everything that was on the board under the heading.

Her eyebrows flew up at Mr Hollins' instructions, though she didn't exactly look up. Her mouth moved silently for a moment and she swallowed hard before she actually found any words. I am called Cara-Jean Kitchi. Her clipped English words were whisper soft and she closed her eyes briefly before she continued. Sealand is a real country, because is other countries recognised it's existence." She released a slightly shaky breath before she pressed her lips together.

[Tyler Reynolds]

From last year Tyler was pretty happy that he had chosen to take European History. Mr. Hollins had activities that show cased the boy’s better qualities. Though it was school and he wasn’t completely excited in embarking on his academic part of his day. He took his time in the hallways but eventually made his way to the room. He saw that he was the second student to arrive which was unlike him, but he took a seat anyways.

He sat in his seat that was towards the middle of the room and waited for the class to start. When it did, Tyler listened to Mr. Hollins and he then read the board. When it came time for him to speak he cleared his throat and spoke, ”I’m Tyler Reynolds”, his mind threw his thoughts to the wind and he took a moment to recollect them. ”I believe Sealand is a country as it has its own currency.” This was one of those times where he actually wasn’t positive if the piece of land was a country or not.

He sat there quietly and waited for the rest of his classmates to voice their names and their thoughts. Tyler actually wanted to know what they thought about this situation.

[Adonya van Rutherford]

Blythe spent a moment checking over her hair in her phone's reflection before she left the classroom, walking through the halls with her head high. Her next class was one that was of no importance to her, and yet, she had to take something. Why did it matter to her what another continent had done in the past? Now all it was good for was chocolates and watches.

Entering the room, she looked around for a moment before settling herself into a seat in the middle of the room. After pulling out her notebook, even though she hadn't the slightest intention of taking notes in this waste-of-time class, she looked up, reading through what was written on the board and raising an eyebrow. She'd never heard of Sealand, although it seemed like an interesting idea. It would be fun to have her own nation, she mused. She would abolish silly history courses and behead anyone that tried to usurp her position, like those upstart wanna-be underclassmen.

When asked if she thought that Sealand was a real country, Blythe nodded, "My name is Blythe van Rutherford. If Sealand's got its own constitution, then why in the world wouldn't it be a nation?" After all, that was what the United States had used, wasn't it? Maybe... She hadn't ever really payed attention in history class.

[Katja Eder]

As her previous class ended, Katja sighed, pulling out her schedule and a map of the building she was in, setting both on her desk as she planned out how she would get to European History. Of course, it would be a strange class to sit in on, she mused. They would probably teach any number of things differently, and she found herself dreading a few of the chapters they would probably end up covering.

Finally, she rose from her seat, map and schedule still in her hand, and left the classroom, dodging through the hallways to try and get to the next class. She really didn't like the whole switching classes thing, but then, it was hard for her to understand, since her school hadn't done it. However, she found her class without too many problems, and chose a seat in the corner of the first row, before she looked up at the board.

Of course she had heard of Sealand, although she frowned as she saw the last bulletpoint. Of course that wasn't what had happened, silly Americans. As the teacher began speaking, she listened, then stood before answering, "My name is Katja Eder. Sealand is not a real country. It lacks its own land, considering that it sits on a platform, and it has not been recognized by any countries. A Koeln ruling by Germany decided that Alexander Achenbach could not renounce his German citizenship in favor of Sealand's, as Sealand is not a country. When he attempted to take over Sealand and was taken captive, Germany sent delegates, yes, but it is no more than it would do for any tribe in various countries holding one of their own citizens hostage. Had Sealand been a real country, Achenbach would not have had delegates sent for him, as he would not be a German citizen.

Also, its so-called representatives enjoy no konsular or diplomatic immunity in any land, and many of its citizens, who buy their citizenship online, do not work towards the same goal, the good of the country, making it more of an exclusive club whose base lies within England's waters than an actual nation." Pausing, she considered, then condensed her point, "It's not a country," before sitting down.

[Deleted]

Liesl walked into her European History class. She was curious to see how things would go. Things would be different from her old school back in Austria.  No doubt some of what they would cover would be difficult to hear.  From what she had heard from her grandparents the Anschluss was a hard time to be in Austria and many were leaving the country if they could. 

Liesl sat down in the front row in a corner next to a blonde haired girl.  She set her back pack down next to her chair and looked at the board to see what they would be covering today.  It certainly seemed more interesting the reading poems about vampire's.  She read over what was on the board. The teacher introduced himself as Mr. Hollins and asked everyone to ask their opinion on whether Sealand was a country and why they think it is or if it isn't a country and say why it isn't a country.  Almost everyone thought that Sealand was a country because it had currency and a constitution. Only the girl she was sitting next to didn't think that it was a real country and Liesl agreed with her.

"My name is Liesl Reinstadler.  A population of 50+ doesn't make something a country.  That's smaller then Krumbach. You can have a currency without being a country. The United States had a currency back when they were under British rule as the Thirteen Colonies though the Thirteen Colonies weren't a country.   Buying noble titles..no one bought noble titles under monarchies.  Just because someone claims land doesn't make it a country. Tribes claimed land. If all it takes to make a country is to claim land then we'd have countries popping up all over the world because people are claiming land.   Sending an ambassador doesn't make any place a country.  The Thirteen Colonies sent ambassadors to Great Britain and France and vice-versa though that didn't make them a country. If it did then the Revolutionary War would've never been fought because the Thirteen Colonies would have already been recognized as a country and would not have been under Britain's rule. If all it takes to have a country are those five things then we'd be in trouble. People would be claiming land left and right trying to get a country started before their land that they 'claimed' is snatched away from them. Therefore Sealand is not a country."  Liesl finished her piece about why Sealand wasn't a country. There'd be war everywhere from 'countries' raging war on 'countries'. Liesl had named a small town in Austria.