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| Date: From: Subject: | 1/12/2005 3:30:55 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Oregon--Bill Threatens Homeschool Freedom! |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== January 12, 2005 Oregon--Bill Threatens Homeschool Freedom! Dear HSLDA members and friends: On Monday, January 10th, the Oregon Legislature opened for the 2005 session. Almost immediately a bill was introduced that threatens the freedom of homeschoolers in Oregon. Senate Bill 165 would make two substantial changes to the current law. First, anyone teaching their children at home would have to annually notify the Education Service District (ESD). Current law only requires a resident to give notice to the ESD once. Second, under SB 165 the standardized achievement tests required in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 would be required to be submitted to the ESD. Currently, you are only required to submit test scores if they are requested by the ESD. These changes to homeschool freedoms in Oregon represent a troubling step in the wrong direction. Amazingly, SB 165 asserts that these changes to the homeschool law are required because an emergency exists and the bill must be enacted for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety. The notion that private home education must be further regulated to preserve the public peace, health and safety of the state is offensive. Originating from Oregon, the U.S. Supreme Court case Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 1076, has had a profound impact on the freedom and liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children. As guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment, the Court clearly recognized the "right, coupled with the high duty" of parents to direct and prepare their child in educational matters. Homeschool parents in Oregon are fulfilling their God-given responsibility to ensure the very best for their children by teaching them at home. HSLDA and OCEANetwork will continue to work to defeat any attempt to remove the current freedom parents have in teaching their children at home. OCEANetwork will attempt to introduce the "Complete Homeschool Freedom" bill in the next few days. This bill would remove homeschools from any government oversight and put them on the level of private schools, which are already free. Senate Bill 165 was introduced by the Senate President at the request of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo. However, the bill itself states that it was introduced "in conformance with pre-session filing rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part of the President." There are no other sponsors of the bill. In light of these facts no action is necessary at this time. We will update you shortly on any action to be taken to defeat SB 165 and the work needed to realize complete freedom for homeschoolers across the state. Sincerely, Thomas Schmidt HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How many of your friends would pay your legal fees? As a member of HSLDA, you have 80,000 families standing with you to protect and advance homeschool freedoms in the United States and foreign countries. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1106 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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