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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/15/2005 11:25:46 AM Home School Legal Defense Association Rhode Island--Calls Needed Urgently to Stop State-Imposed Sex Education in Homeschools |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== March 15, 2005 Rhode Island--Calls Needed Urgently to Stop State-Imposed Sex Education in Homeschools Dear HSLDA members and friends: A bill that would give the state power to force government-controlled sex education in homeschools is scheduled for a hearing this Wednesday in Providence. We urgently need your help to stop this bill. House Bill 5354 would prohibit a school committee from approving a homeschool program unless it teaches: human sexuality, family planning and sexually transmitted diseases, health benefits and side effects of all contraceptives as a means to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and teaches young people how to make "responsible decisions" about sexuality. The new sex education teaching requirements would have to be completed in a way that is "medically accurate, culturally sensitive, and respects community values," but does not "teach or promote religion." Therefore, if you attempt to teach any of these topics from a Christian point of view, the school committee could prohibit you from homeschooling your children. This horrific experiment in government-mandated, radically secular sex education must be stopped immediately. ACTION REQUESTED 1. Please call all the members of the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee. They are listed below. If one of them is your own representative, make sure you mention that when you call them. Your message can be as simple as: "Please oppose H 5354. It interferes with a homeschool family's constitutional right to teach basic morality." Emails are not as effective as phone calls, but we have listed email addresses as well. If you do not know who your representative is please use our legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox Representative Grace Diaz Member rep-diaz@rilin.state.ri.us 401-467-8413 Representative Peter T. Ginaitt Vice Chairperson rep-ginaitt@rilin.state.ri.us (401) 732-2695 Representative Arthur Handy Secretary rep-handy@rilin.state.ri.us (401) 785-8996 Representative Charlene Lima Member rep-lima@rilin.state.ri.us (401) 946-5707 Representative John J. Loughlin Jr. Member rep-loughlin@rilin.state.ri.us (401) 625-9889 Representative Joseph M. McNamara Chairperson rep-mcnamara@rilin.state.ri.us 401-941-8319 Representative Rene R. Menard Member rep-menard@rilin.state.ri.us (401) 765-1499 Representative Paul E. Moura Member rep-moura@rilin.state.ri.us (401) 222-6690 Representative Richard W. Singleton Member rep-singleton@rilin.state.ri.us (401) 265-4965 Representative Susan Story Member rep-story@rilin.state.ri.us 401-245-5083 Representative Raymond J. Sullivan Jr. Member rep-sullivan@rilin.state.ri.us (401) 828-9207 Representative Stephen R. Ucci Member rep-ucci@rilin.state.ri.us (401) 275-5559 2. Come to the hearing on Wednesday to show your opposition. A big crowd will help convince the legislators that this bill should be defeated. I plan to be there to testify against the bill and I will ask all the homeschoolers present to raise their hands to show their opposition to the bill. This is an excellent opportunity to teach your children about democracy in action. The time of the hearing is "at the rise of the House," which means when they finish their business for the day. Usually this is at 2 or 3 P.M., although the committee chairman has said the hearing will be around 5 P.M. It will be in Room 135 of the Statehouse Building. 3. Many homeschool families do not have email. Please call families you know and ask them to make phone calls to oppose the bill and come to the hearing on Wednesday. BACKGROUND 1. Rhode Island Law sec. 16-22-4 forbids a school committee from approving a homeschool program unless it provides instruction in "health and physical education." H 5354 changes this by adding a definition of 'health education" which includes many aspects of sexuality. 2. Under H 5354, a school committee would be required to reject a homeschool program if it failed to teach any of the items within the new definition of "health education" or failed to teach any of those items in the manner prescribed by the bill. 3. The Commissioner of Education has stated that school committees can require that students are tested in all areas of instruction. H 5354 would give school committees power to decide what a student would be required to score on a sex education test. If the test did not cover all the required items, or did not cover them in the required manner, the school committee could prohibit the child from being homeschooled again. 4. The bill mandates that sex education is taught in a manner that "does not teach or promote religion." Therefore, the school committee may prevent you from homeschooling if you plan to use the Bible to teach on this subject. 5. Parents of children in "schools" are allowed to opt out of sex education under RI law 16-22-17(c) and 16-22-18(c). However, there is no provision specifically allowing homeschoolers to opt out. Representative Elizabeth Dennigan, the bill sponsor, has expressed a willingness to amend her bill. I have asked her to send me the exact language of the amendment. Until I can review the amendment and determine whether it protects homeschool families, H 5354 continues to be a bill that must be opposed. 6. The bill defines "health education" as: "education of students in grades kindergarten through twelve regarding human development and sexuality, including education on family planning and sexually transmitted diseases, that: (a) is age appropriate, medically accurate, culturally sensitive and respects community values; (b) does not teach or promote religion; (c) teaches that abstinence is the only sure way to avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases; (d) stresses the value of abstinence while not ignoring those young people who have had or are having sexual intercourse; (e) provides information about the health benefit and side effects of all contraceptives and barrier methods as a means to prevent pregnancy; (f) provides information on the health benefits and side effects of all contraceptive methods as a means to reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS; (g) encourages family communication about sexuality between parent and child; (h) teaches young people the skills to make responsible decisions about sexuality, including how to avoid unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances and how not to make unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances; and (i) teaches young people how alcohol and drug use can affect responsible decision making." Thank you for standing with us for freedom. Sincerely, Scott A. Woodruff, Esq. HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How long are you in for? Some families are facing what seems like a lifelong commitment to homeschooling, with children at both ends of the spectrum-some graduating and some just reaching school age. If you're going to be "in" for a while, consider a lifetime membership with HSLDA. It's a good deal for families with more than 10 years of homeschooling ahead. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1936 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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