| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/28/2002 9:51:39 AM Scott A. Woodruff, Esq., Staff Attorney of HSLDA Missouri--Calls and Visits Needed on H.B. 1460 and S.B. 858 |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- March 28, 2002 Dear Missouri Members and Friends, The legislature is attempting to limit parental rights. Time is short for us to oppose House Bill 1460 and Senate Bill 858. While the Missouri legislature is on Easter break (until April 2), legislators are back in their home districts, giving us a great opportunity to contact them personally regarding these bills. H.B. 1460 is on the "perfection" calendar for April 2, meaning that any House member can offer amendments when the bill is heard, and the full House could vote to pass the bill. S.B. 858 has passed committee and is waiting to be placed on the Senate's calendar for action. H.B. 1460 and S.B. 858 are identical bills that would allow metropolitan school districts to increase the age of compulsory attendance from 16 to 17. For the reasons detailed below, HSLDA strongly opposes these bills. ACTION REQUESTED 1. Please call your senator and representative and give them this message: "Please oppose the compulsory attendance age bill S.B. 858. This bill is unnecessary, restricts parental choice, and wastes taxpayer money." (Refer to H.B. 1460 when you call your representative.) You do not need to identify yourself as a home schooler. If you do not know who your senator or representative is you can locate them through HSLDA's "Legislative Toolbox" located at: http://www.hslda.org/toolbox. 2. Plan to visit your representative and senator while they are back in their home district. Personal visits are the best way to influence your elected officials. 3. When the legislature reconvenes on April 2, call the Missouri capitol switchboard at 573-751-3659 and ask to be connected to your state representative or senator, then relay the message above REASONS TO OPPOSE THESE BILLS 1. Both bills carefully exclude home schoolers creating a "loophole" that will seriously damage the reputation of home schooling families in Missouri. If dropouts can avoid compulsory attendance by saying that they are home schooling, they will do so. We must not let this happen. 2. Children are BEST educated when PARENTS have the freedom to make individual choices regarding their children's education. These bills further limit the cherished right of parents to determine what is best for their children. When parental freedoms are respected, some parents will choose to continue educating their children beyond the age of compulsory attendance. Others, including those with children who have excelled academically as many home schoolers do, will cease education when the child reaches the age of compulsory attendance. This decision must remain the prerogative of the parent, not the state. Raising the compulsory attendance age limits parental choice regarding the education of their children, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of education. 3. If these bills are enacted, the compulsory attendance age will be fragmented across the state. This would be especially problematic for families who move from one school district to another. If a family with a 16-year-old graduate moves from a district with a compulsory age of 16 to a district with a compulsory age of 17, they would be required to continue the formal education of this student because of the higher compulsory age. A family will no longer know for certain what the compulsory attendance age is in the district they live in unless they contact the school district. 4. Fracturing the compulsory attendance age will create confusion regarding employment of 16 year olds. 5.. It is improper to delegate authority to a school district to restrict parental choice regarding the education of their children. Changes to the compulsory attendance law should be made by the legislature, and not be left to the whim of local school officials. You can read the text of H.B. 1460 at: http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills02/bills02/hb1460.htm. Read the text of S.B. 858 at: http://www.senate.state.mo.us/02info/bills/sb858.htm. For more information on why compulsory attendance ages should not be raised, see Mandatory Kindergarten Is Unnecessary at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=373. Thank you for standing with us for freedom. Sincerely yours, Scott A. Woodruff, Esq. {{JoinAd}} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
