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From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
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January 29, 2007
Michigan--Call to Stop the Expansion
of State Control over Your Children
Dear Michigan Members and Friends,
There are two bills that have just been introduced that would affect
homeschoolers in Michigan. Senate Bill 11 and House Bill 4042 are
companion bills introduced in each side of the legislature. If passed,
the compulsory attendance requirement would increase from 16 to 18
years of age--giving the government two more years of authority over
ALL children, including homeschoolers.
The primary House sponsor is Representative LaMar Lemmons and the
primary sponsor in the Senate is Senator Brater.
REQUESTED ACTION
Please call or email as many sponsors of the bills and the chairs of
the committee as possible and give them this message:
"Please withdraw your support of House Bill 4042/Senate Bill 11 and
oppose any effort to raise the age of compulsory school attendance. It
only serves as a waste of taxpayer's money; it would force unwilling,
disruptive students into the classroom, and take away the right of
parents to decide whether their 16-year-old is ready for valuable work
experience or college."
You do not need to mention that you are a homeschooler.
Legislators to contact:
House Sponsors:
LeMar Lemmons (primary sponsor), 517-373-0106,
lamarlemmonsjr@house.mi.gov
Robert Dean, 517-373-2668, robertdean@house.mi.gov
Bert Johnson, 517-373-0144, bertjohnson@house.mi.gov
Shanelle Jackson, 517-373-1705, shanellejackson@house.mi.gov
Virgil Smith, 517-373-0589, virgilsmith@house.mi.gov
Gabe Leland, 517-373-6990, gabeleland@house.mi.gov
Steve Tobocman, 517-373-0823, stevetobocman@house.mi.gov
Robert Jones, 517-373-1785, robertjones@house.mi.gov
Hoon-Yung Hopgood, 517-373-0852, hoon-yunghopgood@house.mi.gov
Chair of the House Education Committee:
Tim Melton, 517-373-0475, timmelton@house.mi.gov
Senate Sponsors:
Liz Brater, 517-373-2406, SenLBrater@senate.michigan.gov
Reasons For Opposing Higher Compulsory Attendance Age:
> Raising the compulsory attendance age will not reduce the dropout
rate. In fact, the two states with the highest high school completion
rates (Maryland, 94.5%, and North Dakota, 94.7%) compel attendance
only to age 16, but the state with the lowest completion rate (Oregon,
75.4%) compels attendance to age 18. (These figures are three-year
averages, 1996 through 1998.)
> Most states (28) only require attendance to age 16. Older children
who do not want to learn cause classroom discipline problems,
disruptions, and violence, making learning harder for those who truly
want to learn.
> When California raised the age of compulsory attendance, the
disruption caused by unwilling students was so significant that new
schools had to be set up just to handle these students and their
behavior problems, all at the expense of the taxpayer.
> Unwilling students who are forced back into the classroom are
unlikely to benefit from one year of additional schooling.
> It would require homeschool families to submit to one more year of
governmental red tape, and be exposed to one more year of the threat
of legal action or subpoena in the event of an accusation of a
violation.
> It would take away the parental freedom to decide if a 16-year-old
is ready for college or the workforce. Some 16-year-olds who are not
academically inclined benefit more from valuable work experience than
being forced to sit in a classroom.
Sincerely,
Christopher J. Klicka, Esq.
Senior Counsel
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-> You can only do so much...
No one can be everywhere at once. And you can't be at home,
teaching your children, while monitoring your state's legislature.
Through electronic legislative services, HSLDA is monitoring state
legislation for you -- watching and listening carefully for any
proposed laws that could erode your right to homeschool.
Join HSLDA today-we'll watch out for your future.
More reasons to join HSLDA...
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1942
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