| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/19/2003 4:58:01 PM Home School Legal Defense Association New Hampshire--Calls Needed, Vote Tomorrow on Compulsory Attendance Bill |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- March 19, 2003 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, On March 12, the New Hampshire Senate Education Committee voted in favor of Senate Bill 55. On March 20, the full senate is scheduled to vote on the bill. It is of utmost importance that your senator knows you oppose this bill. S.B. 55 would raise the age of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years of age for both homeschoolers and others. This would add two more years to the time during which children and their parents could be subjected to court jurisdiction because of education issues. It would take away the right of parents to decide whether their 16 or 17 year old will pursue formal education or vocational preparation. ACTION REQUESTED 1. Call your senator and express your opposition to S.B. 55. Visit www.hslda.org/toolbox and enter your zip code to find the name and contact information for your state Senator. You can also call the Senate Clerk's Office 603-271-3420 for this information. Since this affects all people, not just homeschoolers, it is not necessary to identify yourself as a homeschooler. Your message can be as simple as: "I urge you to vote against S.B. 55, which would raise the age of compulsory attendance. It undermines the power of parents to decide what is best for their children. It wastes taxpayers' money. Statistics show that compelling 16 and 17 year olds to attend school does not improve graduation rates. Remember that your senator may not yet be familiar with the bill. 2. Pass this on to others. S.B. 55 would affect all parents, not just those who homeschool. BACKGROUND Raising the compulsory attendance age will not reduce the dropout rate. In fact, the two states with the highest high school completion rates (Maryland, 94.5% and North Dakota, 94.7%) compel attendance only to age 16, but the state with the lowest completion rate (Oregon, 75.4%) compels attendance to age 18. (Figures are three year averages, 1996 through 1998.) Most states (29) only require attendance to age 16. Older children who are unwilling to learn can cause classroom disruptions and even violence, making learning harder for their classmates who truly want to learn. When California raised the age of compulsory attendance, unwilling students were so disruptive that new schools had to be built just to handle them and their behavior problems, all at the expense of the taxpayer. This bill would require homeschool families to submit to another 2 years of governmental red tape and threat of legal action in the event of an alleged violation. S.B. 55 would restrict parents' freedom to decide if their 16 year old is ready for college or the workforce. Some 16 year olds who are not academically inclined benefit more from valuable work experience than from being forced to sit in a classroom. Thank you for your efforts for freedom! Sincerely, Scott A. Woodruff HSLDA Staff Attorney {{JoinAd}} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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