| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 1/29/2004 3:14:01 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Vermont--Update: Signs of Progress on House Bill 560 |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== January 29, 2004 Dear Vermont HSLDA members and friends: Many of you have already responded to our request for calls and emails in support of House Bill 560, which would permit homeschool parents to teach their own children to drive. The House Education Committee has begun to get the message! At 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, the Committee will hear testimony on H560. Retta Dunlap of the Christian Home Educators of Vermont will testify in support. Bonnie Rutledge, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, has indicated that she intends to support H560 at this point. Richard Catesthe, Commissioner of Education, has not indicated any opposition to the bill. An expert on the subject of parent-taught driver's education is coming to Vermont to testify in support of H560. Wayne Tully, of the National Driving Institute, will be flying from Colorado on the 4th and 5th of February to help legislators understand how effective parents can be in teaching their own children safe driving skills. Action Requested: If you have not yet emailed or called the House Education Committee, please do so. Here is a list of the committee members. Please give them this message: "Please support House Bill 560. Studies show parent-taught driver's education saves lives. I urge you vote for this bill so I have the right to give my children the safest and most thorough driver's training available." Here is a list of the committee members: Rep. Howard Crawford (R-Burke)chair hcrawford@stj.k12.vt.us 626.8226 Rep. George Cross (D-Winooski) vice-chair 82 Dufresne Drive, Winooski, VT 05404 655.4611 Rep. William Aswad (D-Burlington) 74 Ridgewood Drive Burlington, VT 05401 862.2067 Rep. Carolyn Whitney Branagan (R-Georgia) cbranagan@leg.state.vt.us Dunmore@adelphia.net 527.7694 Rep. Henry Chen (D-Mendon) hchen@leg.state.vt.us 775.1695 Rep. Virginia Duffy (R-Rutland City) vduffy@leg.state.vt.us 773.8943 Rep. Kevin Endres (R-Milton) kendres@leg.state.vt.us MrMtBus@aol.com 893.0765 Rep. Steve Hingtgen (P-Burlington) shingtgen@leg.state.vt.us 355.6853 Rep. Kathy LaBelle LaVoie (R-Swanton) klavoie@leg.state.vt.us klavoie@together.net 868.4807 Rep. Rosemary McLaughlin (D-S. Royalton) rmclaughlin@leg.state.vt.us rozo@valley.net 763.5262 Rep. Ann Seibert (D-Norwich) 386 Main Street Norwich, VT 05055 649.1282 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 state-approved option: teach your own children how to drive. States for too long has restricted parents' right to teach their children to drive. There are courses designed with this option in mind - that of the parents conducting the instruction. 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 Thank you for your participation in this legislative effort! With your help, the Vermont Legislature will see what a difference homeschoolers can make at the statehouse. 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. ====================================================================== | |
