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From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
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October 18, 2007
Massachusetts--Action Needed to Stop
Expansion of State Control Over Children!
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends,
House Bill 399 would require that every child in Massachusetts attend
full-day kindergarten--thus expanding state control over children.
This bill was referred to the House Education Committee, and the
Senate concurred. The Massachusetts Legislature is now having a public
hearing for H.B. 399 on October 23, 2007.
Your legislators need to hear what you think about this proposed
legislation.
ACTION REQUESTED
Please contact members of the House Education Committee (listed below)
and ask them to oppose H.B. 399, which expands state control over
children.
If your last name begins with the letter A-J, please contact members
1-6; if K-R, contact members 7-12; if S-Z, contact members 13-17.
Contact as many members as possible, and in your own words, give them
the following message:
"Please vote against House Bill 399. This bill is unnecessary. It
restricts parental choice and wastes taxpayer money."
You do not need to mention that you are a homeschooler, as these bills
affect all Massachusetts families.
Joint Committee on Education - (617) 722-2070
1) Sen. Robert A. Antonioni (D), Chair; (617) 722-1230
2) Sen. Edward M. Augustus, Jr. (D), Vice-Chair; (617) 722-1485
3) Sen. Pamela P. Resor (D); (617) 722-1120
4) Sen. Karen Spilka (D); (617) 722-1640
5) Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D); (617) 722-1673
6) Sen. Scott P. Brown (R); (617) 722-1555
7) Rep. Patricia A. Haddad (D), Chair; (617) 722-2070
8) Rep. Geraldine Creedon (D), Vice-Chair; (617) 722-2070
9) Rep. Douglas W. Petersen (D); (617) 722-2637
10) Rep. Stephen P. LeDuc (D); (617) 722-2230
11) Rep. Alice K. Wolf (D); (617) 722-2400
12) Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch (D); (617) 722-2080
13) Rep. Martha M. Walz (D); (617) 722-2460
14) Rep. Robert L. Rice, Jr. (D); (617) 722-2060
15) Rep. Rosemary Sandlin (D); (617) 722-2400
16) Rep. Jeffrey D. Perry (R); (617) 722-2396
17) Rep. Richard J. Ross (R); (617) 722-2305
BACKGROUND
> According to the 2005 NAEP, test scores of children from states
which have low compulsory attendance ages (5-6) did not score any
higher than children from the other states, and in some subjects their
average was actually lower.
> Many education experts have concluded that beginning a child's
formal education too early may actually result in burnout and poor
scholastic performance later.
> A report published February 6, 2007 by the Goldwater Institute
examines Stanford 9 test scores and finds Arizona kindergarten
programs initially improve learning but have no measurable impact on
reading, math, or language arts test scores by fifth grade.
The data show that students in schools with all-day kindergarten
programs have statistically significant higher 3rd-grade test scores,
but there is no impact on 5th-grade scores. This finding is consistent
with previous research. Forcing children into school early delivers
short-term benefits at best.
> Another significant impact of expanding the mandatory schooling is
the inevitable tax increase to pay for more classroom space and
teachers to accommodate the additional students compelled
to attend public schools. When California raised the age of compulsory
attendance, unwilling students were so disruptive that new schools had
to be built just to handle them and their behavior
problems, all at the expense of the taxpayer.
For more information on compulsory attendance, please see our
memorandum at
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/Issues/E/Early_Education.asp
Michael P. Donnelly, Esq.
HSLDA Staff Attorney
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homeschooling in an engaging, dynamic, and informative light to
the public news media.
More reasons to join HSLDA...
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1104
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