| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 1/20/2004 10:46:30 AM Home School Legal Defense Association Vermont--Homeschool Drivers Ed Options Proposed in Vermont |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== January 20, 2004 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: A bill has been introduced in the Vermont House of Representatives that would enable homeschool parents to teach their children to drive. Currently, a state approved driver ed course can only be obtained through the public schools or a commercial driving school. These options would still be available but this bill would provide another option - a state-approved parent taught driving course. Vermont House Bill 560 would require the Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to approve at least one driver's education course for homeschooled students. This bill has been introduced by a representative trying to help homeschoolers, and would go a long way to help young students and their parents obtain the benefits of a driver's ed course. One benefit could be reduced insurance premiums. HSLDA has been told that this bill will possibly be scheduled for a hearing sometime next week. We will let you know THE DETAILS ABOUT THIS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. This hearing is probably the best way for homeschoolers to express their support for the freedom and equality this bill would bring to their families! Action Requested: 1. Please email the following members of the Education Committee to express your support for H560. Send a message such as, "My name is ______ and I live in ______. I support House Bill 560, which would make driver's education available for homeschooled students. Please vote for this bill in the House Education Committee!" Rep. Howard Crawford (R-Burke) Chair; hcrawford@stj.k12.vt.us (Rep. Crawford is the sponsor of this bill) Rep. Carolyn Whitney Branagan (R-Georgia); cbranagan@leg.state.vt.us; Dunmore@adelphia.net Rep. Henry Chen (D-Mendon); hchen@leg.state.vt.us Rep. Virginia Duffy (R-Rutland City); vduffy@leg.state.vt.us Rep. Kevin Endres (R-Milton); kendres@leg.state.vt.us Rep. Steve Hingtgen (P-Burlington); shingtgen@leg.state.vt.us Rep. Kathy LaBelle LaVoie (R-Swanton); klavoie@leg.state.vt.us Rep. Rosemary McLaughlin (D-S. Royalton); rmclaughlin@leg.state.vt.us; rozo@valley.net 2. Please call the two members of the Committee who do not have email. You will probably get an answering machine. Leave a message such as, "Hi, my name is ______. I'm calling to express my support for House Bill 560, which would require the Commissioner of Education to approve at least one driver's education course for homeschooled students. Please vote for this bill in the House Education Committee!" Rep. George Cross (D-Winooski) Vice-chair; 655.4611 Rep. William Aswad (D-Burlington); 862.2067 3. If possible, plan to attend the hearing on this bill, which may be held as early as next week. We will inform you as soon as we know the date and time of the hearing. BACKGROUND: H560 has been introduced by two influential Vermont legislators who want to do something positive for homeschoolers. Rep. Howard Crawford is the Chairman of the House Education Committee. Rep. Frank Mazur, the co-sponsor, is Chairman of the House Transportation Committee. Parents have two choices for their children's state-approved driver education: pay for their children to be taught how to drive at a commercial driving school by certified instructors, or try to persuade the local public schools to make room in their driver's education courses. Many states allow parents a third option: teach your own children how to drive. States for too long have restricted parents' right to teach their children to drive. Now we have an opportunity to pass H560 to expand parental choices. In addition, statistics show parent-taught driver training saves lives. For example, compare the following facts: According to insurance company statistics, out of every 100 teen drivers: - 37 will be ticketed for speeding, - 28 will be involved in accidents, - 13 will be injured in an automobile accident, - 4 will be ticketed for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and - 1 will be killed in an automobile accident. On the other hand, according to a University of Colorado-Colorado Springs survey, for every 100 students using a parent-taught driver education program (provided by the National Driver Training Institute of Colorado Springs): - 8 were ticketed for speeding, - 8 were involved in accidents, - 6 were injured in automobile accidents, - 1 was ticketed for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and - there were NO fatalities. This study and others demonstrate that parent-taught driver education produces safer drivers. CONCLUSION This bill is a big step forward for Vermont homeschoolers. Even if you do not have a child of driving age, please support this bill. Thank you for standing with your fellow homeschoolers to promote the cause of freedom! Sincerely, Scott Somerville HSLDA Staff Attorney {{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. ====================================================================== | |
