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From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
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May 10, 2007
Massachusetts--Compulsory Attendance Hearing Update
Dear HSLDA members and friends,
The Massachusetts Joint Education Committee discussed a number of
bills at Tuesday's hearing. Several hundred people attended the
hearing, most of them to support bills creating school dropout
prevention programs. A Massachusetts teachers' union representative
testified that the National Education Association's goal is that
children be compelled to attend school until they either graduate or
turn 21. The NEA has had this goal for many years.
I attended the hearing, and was able to make contact with several
legislators and research assistants. I will be submitting additional
written testimony to the committee with data to show that increasing
the compulsory attendance age will not decrease the number of high
school dropouts, but will impose unnecessary and burdensome
restrictions on parents and homeschoolers.
Some people have mentioned that currently in Massachusetts, a high
school student may drop out of school at age 16 without a parent's
permission. HSLDA would support legislation requiring a student to
obtain written permission from his or her parents to drop out of
school. Such a measure would actually strengthen parental rights in
Massachusetts.
Please know that your voice makes a difference. During Tuesday's
testimony, one legislator asked a witness if he knew who was
responsible for the statewide emails she has received opposing an
increase in the compulsory attendance age.
Thank you for your emails to these legislators.
HSLDA will be keeping a close watch on this legislation and will keep
you informed. We will also be notifying you in the near future of the
need for more calls.
Michael P. Donnelly, Esq.
HSLDA Staff Attorney
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-> Have you ever yelled into the wind, only to hear the sound of your
voice blown back at you?
It's hard to be heard in the midst of a storm. Trying to influence
federal legislation is much like yelling to be heard while
standing in a fierce wind. Yet when 80,000 voices join together,
they become a powerful force that cannot be drowned out.
Join HSLDA to be heard above the tempests that threaten homeschool
freedoms.
More reasons to join HSLDA...
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1939
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