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From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
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February 2, 2010
West Virginia--Calls Needed to Defeat
Expansion of State Control Over Homeschoolers!
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:
Your action is needed to defeat an attempt by the governor to increase
the age of compulsory school attendance. Senate Bill 343 would
increase the age of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 17. This
would subject homeschool families to government regulation for an
additional year.
The Senate Education Committee will likely vote on this bill Thursday,
February 4.
Those in favor of raising the compulsory school attendance age feel
that it will help graduation rates and reduce the number of dropouts.
However, statistics and studies show that raising the compulsory
school attendance age does not accomplish this result. In fact,
several states with the lowest compulsory school attendance ages have
the highest graduation rates. This bill unnecessarily imposes
government regulation on the authority of parents to make decisions
about what is in the best interest of their children. To learn more
you can read the following article "Raise the Bar, Not the Age"
(http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7609 )
ACTION REQUESTED
Please call members of the Senate Education Committee before Thursday,
February 4, and ask them to vote against SB 343 and oppose increasing
the compulsory school attendance age. Because this legislation would
affect all students, you should not identify yourself as a
homeschooler. Use the following message in your own words:
"Please vote against Senate Bill 343. Increasing the compulsory
attendance age will neither increase graduation rates nor decrease
dropout rates. It will, however, raise taxes and unnecessarily subject
families to government control for an additional year. Parents should
be the ones making decisions about when children should leave
school--not the government. Many children are ready to leave school
at 16 and are able to do just fine by getting a GED or starting
college early. This bill would interfere with parent's ability to
make the decision that is best for each child based on individual
circumstances. Furthermore, I'm concerned that this bill will
increase taxes and turn classrooms into jail cells, further eroding
the quality of education provided in West Virginia's public schools.
As a West Virginia taxpayer I oppose this bill. Please vote no on SB
343."
Members of the Senate Education Committee are listed below. Please be
sure to call your senator if listed below. Otherwise, if your name
begins with A-K call the first seven senators and if your name begins
with L-Z, call the last seven senators.
Senator Robert Plymale - Chair
304-357-7937
robert.plymale@wvsenate.gov
Senator Erik Wells - Vice-Chair
304-357-7841
erik.wells@wvsenate.gov
Senator Richard Browning
304-357-7807
richardbrowning@verizon.net
Senator Larry Edgell
304-357-7827
larry.edgell@wvsenate.gov
Senator Dan Foster
304-357-7866
daniel.foster@camc.org
Senator Mike Green
304-357-7831
mike.green@wvsenate.gov
Senator William Laird
304-357-7849
william.laird@wvsenate.gov
Senator Michael Oliverio II
304-357-7919
michael.oliverio@wvsenate.gov
Senator Ron Stollings
304-357-7939
ron.stollings@verizon.net
Senator John Unger II
304-357-7933
john.unger@wvsenate.gov
Senator Randy White
304-357-7906
randy.white@wvsenate.gov
Senator Clark Barnes
304-357-7973
clark.barnes@wvsenate.gov
Senator Donna Boley
304-357-7905
donnaboley@suddenlink.net
Senator Jesse Guills
304-357-7959
jesse.guills@wvsenate.gov
BACKROUND
Additional reasons to oppose increasing the compulsory school
attendance age:
Children who are compelled to stay in school against their will cause
classroom disruptions and even violence, making learning harder for
their classmates who truly want to learn.
This bill restricts parents' ability to decide if their 16-year-old is
ready for college or the workforce. Many 16-year-olds who are not
academically inclined benefit more from valuable work experience than
from being forced to sit in a classroom.
Another significant impact of expanding the compulsory attendance age
would be an 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 upper age limit 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 additional information, visit our website at:
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/Issues/E/Early_Education.asp
HSLDA is working closely with CHEWV to oppose this legislation.
We are standing with you to defend your freedom!
Sincerely,
Michael P. Donnelly, Esq.
Staff Attorney
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-> How many news articles did you read this morning over your
oatmeal?
We live in a world where concise information presented at the
right time can make a big difference in the outcome of important
legislative efforts. Yet it's tough to keep up with all the
issues that affect you. HSLDA does this for you in the areas that
affect your homeschool. Our emails and website enable you to
take quick, decisive action. Please consider becoming a part of
this team.
More reasons to join HSLDA...
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1923
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