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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/23/2006 4:25:46 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Idaho--Calls Needed to Oppose Lowering the Compulsory Attendance Age |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== February 23, 2006 Idaho--Calls Needed to Oppose Lowering the Compulsory Attendance Age Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: A bill that would open the door to lowering the compulsory school age by granting public schools authority to conduct preschool, daycare, and nursery care for children from infancy to kindergarten, was introduced at the beginning of this month. In a single dramatic step, House Bill 623 would grant government control over children at a very young age. State law currently requires children to register for school at age 5. An almost identical bill was also introduced in the House. While these bills do not affect homeschoolers right now, history demonstrates that what is initially optional in the educational arena often becomes mandatory. Early childhood education advocates have been clear that their goal is mandatory preschool for all children, including homeschoolers. Barry Peters of the Idaho Coalition of Home Educators testified in opposition of these bills at the committee hearing on Wednesday, February 22. ACTION REQUESTED: 1. Please call your representative and senator and give them this message: "Please vote against Senate Bill 1344/House Bill 623, which will mandate early education programs in our schools that have not been proven to be effective. This is a waste of taxpayers' dollars. It will also increase the pressure to expand compulsory attendance, which will restrict parents' choice in the education of their children." Do not identify yourself as a homeschooler. You can contact your representative and senator by calling the Legislative Switchboard at (208) 332-1000 or toll free at 1-800-626-0471. 2. Leave the above message with the House Education Committee Chairman, Representative Jack Barraclough, and also the Senate Education Committee Chairman, Senator John Goedde (who can both be contacted by calling the Legislative Swtichboard). BACKGROUND: While the bill purports to make these programs optional, history shows us that there will be subsequent pressure to make them mandatory, universal, and funded with taxpayer dollars. Many education experts have concluded that beginning a child's formal education too early may actually result in burnout and poor scholastic performance later. Lowering the compulsory attendance age erodes the authority of parents who are in the best position to determine when their child's formal education should begin. For more information on compulsory attendance, please see our memorandum at: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=2791 . Thank you for standing with us for freedom. Sincerely, Christopher J. Klicka, Esq. 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