| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/1/2002 5:42:52 PM Christopher J. Klicka, Esq., Senior Counsel of HSLDA Idaho--Potential Legislation Could Damage Home School Freedoms |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- March 1, 2002 Dear Idaho HSLDA Members and Friends, Home School Legal Defense Association has become aware of a growing threat to the Idaho home school law, one of the best laws in the country. We need your help to stop this proposed anti home school legislation from becoming a reality. "Concerned citizen," Maxine Riggers, has formed an organization called "Concerned Committee of Idaho Citizens" and embarked on a personal crusade to get a restrictive home school bill introduced and passed. Ms. Riggers has written several letters to the editor of local newspapers about some research her group put together. She claims it demonstrates why home schooling in Idaho should be under stricter state regulation. Ms. Riggers has made herself a vocal opponent of home education and has gotten the attention of some members of the Senate Education Committee. But opposition to home schooling is all they have heard up to this point. Now these senators need to hear about the benefits of home schooling and how the facts dispute Maxine Riggers' false assertions. The public needs to hear the truth as well. We, along with the Idaho Coalition of Home Educators, are asking you to do two things in the next two weeks. Your efforts could turn the tide of public opinion and help the senators understand that home schooling does not need to be regulated. REQUESTED ACTION 1. First, write a short letter to the editor and send it to both the Lewiston Morning Tribune and to the Coeur d'Alene Press (contact information below, these newspapers limit letters to 250 words). You can send your letter via e mail or regular mail. Your message to the newspaper should contain 1) Your family's successes in home schooling and 2) Why you believe that home schooling in Idaho, a proven and effective method of education, should continue to enjoy the freedom of minimal state regulation. Last week, Barry Peters of the Idaho Coalition of Home Educators wrote an excellent defense of home schooling. He offers a thorough critique of the logic, methodology, and data presented in Maxine Riggers anti home school report. Read Mr. Peters' analysis for additional ideas for your letter to the editor. Click here to read Barry Peters, letter. Also, you may want to review our research pointing to the success of home schooling. Visit our web site at http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/rudner1999/default.asp Lewiston Tribune e-mail: letters@lmtribune.com mail: Letters to the editor Post Office Box 957 Lewiston, ID 83501 Coeur d'Alene Press e-mail: mpatrick@cdapress.com mail: Mike Patrick 201 N. Second Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 2. Second, send a copy of your letter to the editor with a cover letter to the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and to your own state Senator (if he or she is on this committee). Include a message like the following in your own words: "We are aware that you have received a complaint stating that home schooling families should be more regulated by the state. We respectfully disagree. Research has shown that children who are taught at home by their parents typically score above average on standardized achievement tests. As home schoolers, we can personally attest to the effectiveness of this educational method. Home schooling works and we have earned the right to be left alone." Don't forget to proof read your letters for spelling and grammatical errors. IDAHO SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE Senator Gary Schroeder, Chairman Senator Kathy Sims, Vice Chair Senator Laird Noh Senator Jerry Thorne Senator John Andreason Senator Stan Williams Senator John Goedde Senator Brent Hill [Insert senator's name] Idaho State Legislature State Capitol Building P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720 0081 If you do not know who your state senator is, you can use HSLDA's legislative toolbox to look it up (http://www.hslda.org/toolbox). BACKGROUND Maxine Riggers has been complaining about home schooling for quite awhile. This year, she has become more aggressive and has recruited school officials who are philosophically opposed to home education. She only needs to persuade one senator to sponsor restrictive home school legislation. In recent letters to the editor in several Idaho newspapers, she claims: "I know of children throughout Idaho as old as 12 who cannot read or do simple math. These children happen to come from home schools. This is a grave concern of mine. "A draft of a bill requiring home school accountability has been presented to the Idaho Senate Education Committee. Please contact the members of this committee to encourage them to approve a bill that will make home schools accountable and to give every child in Idaho the opportunity to be educated. Also, contact your district legislative members to encourage them to vote for such a bill. These children need your help." Maxine Riggers' letter to the editor appeared in the Lewiston Morning Tribune and the Coeur d'Alene Press in early February. Click here to read Ms. Riggers' entire letter. Thank you for taking action to defeat Ms. Riggers dangerous proposal. God bless your diligent efforts on behalf of home school freedoms. Sincerely, Christopher J. Klicka {{JoinAd}} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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