| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 5/2/2007 12:01:06 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Vermont--More Action Needed to Oppose Prekindergarten Bill |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== May 2, 2007 Vermont--More Action Needed to Oppose Prekindergarten Bill Dear HSLDA members and friends, More calls are needed to stop expansion of government control over children. The Senate Education Committee has referred House Bill 534 to its Appropriations Committee for further consideration of its cost to taxpayers. It has been reported to us that the Senate Appropriations Committee has concerns that this bill costs too much. Therefore, we have a chance to kill House Bill 534 if the callers opposing the bill emphasize its high cost and its being a waste of taxpayers' money. House Bill 534 allows unlimited taxpayer dollars for education of 3- and 4-year-olds, and opens the door for lowering the compulsory attendance age. In addition, it will impose a greater financial burden on Vermont taxpayers. Most importantly, this bill is potentially harmful to Vermont children and families. All Vermont senators need to hear from concerned families. ACTION REQUESTED 1) Please call the senators listed below. If your last name begins with the letter A-G, please contact members 1-8, if H-N, contact members 9-16; if O-T, contact members 17-22; if U-Z, contact members 23-29. In your own words, give them the following message: "Please oppose the expansion of state-funded prekindergarten programs. House Bill 534 will cost taxpayers millions of dollars to fund programs that do not produce long-term positive results. I do not support House Bill 534." You do not need to mention that you are a homeschooler. This issue affects all families, as all Vermont residents pay taxes that will increase along with prekindergarten spending. 1. Sen. Robert Starr (D) (802) 988-2281 2. Sen. George Coppenrath (R) (802) 633-2377 3. Sen. Vincent Illuzzi (R) (802) 334-2807 4. Sen. Alice Nitka (D) (802) 228-8432 5. Sen. Claire Ayer (D) (802) 545-2142 6. Sen. Susan Bartlett (D) (802) 888-5591 7. Sen. John Campbell (D) (802) 295-1111 8. Sen. Bill Carris (D) (802) 773-9111 9. Sen. Donald "Don" Collins (D) (802) 868-7975 10. Sen. James Condos (D) (802) 238-3809 11. Sen. Ann Cummings (D) (802) 223-6043 12. Sen. William Doyle (R) (802) 223-2851 13. Sen. Ed Flanagan (D) (802) 862-3203 14. Sen. Harold Giard (D) (802) 758-2577 15. Sen. Robert Hartwell (D) (802) 362-5757 16. Sen. M. Jane Kitchel (D) (802) 684-3482 17. Sen. Sara Branon Kittell (D) (802) 827-3274 18. Sen. Virginia "Ginny" Lyons (D) (802) 863-6129 19. Sen. Mark MacDonald D) (802) 433-5867 20. Sen. Hull Maynard (R) (802) 773-3000 21. Sen. Richard McCormack (D) (802) 234-5497 22. Sen. Hinda Miller (D) (802) 660-4880 23. Sen. Kevin Mullin (R) (802) 747-3312 24. Sen. Douglas Racine (D) (802) 434-2013 25. Sen. Philip Scott (R) (802) 223-5288 26. Sen. Richard Sears (D) (802) 442-6156 27. Sen. Peter Shumlin (D) (802) 387-4447 28. Sen. Diane Snelling (R) (802) 482-4382 29. Sen. Jeanette White (D) (802) 387-4379 BACKGROUND Reasons to oppose voluntary universal preschool education include: 1) Education of 4-year-olds in the public schools has been proven ineffective. See HSLDA's position paper on Mandatory Kindergarten and Early Education: http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000028.asp 2) Creating a program for pre-schoolers to attend school will likely lead to compulsory attendance of pre-schoolers in the future. 3) Education of pre-schoolers across the state will raise everyone's taxes. 4) This will create a "constitutional right" for families to have a public school education for their pre-schoolers. 5) Prekindergarten educational programs seek to develop young children in early emotional, social, academic, and moral growth--this is a function better performed by the parents. Thank you! Michael P. Donnelly, Esq. HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Extreme makeovers are for extreme circumstances... Most homeschools don't need an extreme makeover, but there is something to be said for attention to detail and recognition of accomplishments. Watch the media and you'll soon see that not everyone wants home educators and homeschooling to look good. HSLDA works hard to shed light on the good work of home educators so it's obvious that we don't need someone "making-over" our homeschools. Join HSLDA and help us show the world that we're fine as we are . . . thank you! More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1943 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
