| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 5/3/2011 5:34:53 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Maine: Call by Thursday to Stop Compulsory School Age Expansion to 20 |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Maine: Call by Thursday to Stop Compulsory School Age Expansion to 20 Dear Maine HSLDA Members and Friends: Your calls are needed by Thursday to stop a bill that would lower the starting age for compulsory school attendance in Maine from 7 to 6 and raise the ending age from 17 to 20. LD 1503 would take away your freedom to decide whether school or some other path is best for your 17- through 19-year-old to follow. It would take away your freedom to decide if your 6-year-old is ready for mandatory education. And it would result in higher taxes as unprepared 6-year-olds and unwilling older students are forced to stay in schools. REQUESTED ACTION: 1. If your senator or representative is on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee (see list below), please call him or her to let them know you oppose LD 1503. Use our Legislative Toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11089 to find out who your senator and representative is. 2. If neither your senator nor representative is on the committee, please call the chairpersons. 3. Your message can be as simple as: "Please vote NO on LD 1503. Parents, not state officials, know whether their young adult should pursue formal education or some other preparation for life responsibilities. The extra cost of forcing unwilling young adults into a formal school setting should not be added to our tax burden. Parents know best whether a 6-year-old is ready for school." This bill would undermine the freedom of all parents. It is not necessary for you to identify yourself as a homeschooler. 4. Please consider attending the hearing to show your opposition. It is scheduled for 11:00 on Friday May 6 in Room 202 of the Cross Building in Augusta. Many homeschoolers are already on planning on being in the Capitol for Homeschoolers of Maine "Homeschool Day at the Capitol"! 5. For more information about "Homeschool Day at the Capitol," go to http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11090 CONTACT INFORMATION Senator Brian D. Langley (R-Hancock), Chair Home Telephone: (207) 667-0625 langley4legislature@myfairpoint.net Senator Garrett Paul Mason (R-Androscoggin) Home Telephone: (207) 577-1521 garrettpaulmason@gmail.com Senator Justin L. Alfond (D-Cumberland) NA Home Telephone: (207) 828-0277 Justin@JustinAlfond.com Representative David E. Richardson (R-Carmel), Chair Home Telephone: (207) 848-3040 RepDavid.Richardson@legislature.maine.gov Representative Peter E. Edgecomb (R-Caribou) Home Telephone: (207) 496-3188 RepPeter.Edgecomb@legislature.maine.gov Representative Howard E. McFadden (R-Dennysville) Home Telephone: (207) 726-4676 mcfaddenh@roadrunner.com Representative Peter B. Johnson (R-Greenville) Home Telephone: (207) 695-2019 Cell Phone: (207) 280-0888 RepPete.Johnson@legislature.maine.gov Representative Joyce A. Maker (R-Calais) Home Telephone: (207) 454-2327 RepJoyce.Maker@legislature.maine.gov Representative Michael D. McClellan (R-Raymond) Home Telephone: (207) 655-4438 RepMichael.McClellan@legislature.maine.gov Representative Richard V. Wagner (D-Lewiston) Home Telephone: (207) 784-0645 RepRichard.Wagner@legislature.maine.gov Representative Mary Pennell Nelson (D-Falmouth) Home Telephone: (207) 781-3750 RepMary.Nelson@legislature.maine.gov Representative Stephen D. Lovejoy (D-Portland) Home Telephone: (207) 773-5538 steve.lovejoy@myfairpoint.net Representative Helen Rankin (D-Hiram) Home Telephone: (207) 625-4620 Cell Phone: (207) 252-9919 RepHelen.Rankin@legislature.maine.gov Representative Madonna M. Soctomah (Passamaquoddy Tribe) Home Telephone: (207) 853-2985 Cell Phone: (207) 904-7580 RepMadonna.Soctomah@legislature.maine.gov BACKGROUND The problematic parts of the bill are sections 11, 12 (which takes away the graduation exception) and 14. The bill contains many other sections as well. Not all 17- through 19-year-olds belong in a formal school setting. Some would be better off in a work training program, apprenticeship, obtaining valuable work experience, etc. This decision belongs to parents, not state officials. Pushing unwilling older students into the classroom will disrupt the other students who truly want to learn. Since many older students have the size and strength of adults, classrooms could become even more violent. Raising the compulsory age does not help young people. Some of the states with the highest graduation rates have the lowest compulsory attendance cut-off age. Most states have a compulsory attendance cut-off age of 16 or less. Taxes would inevitably rise to pay for more classroom space and teachers. When California raised the upper age limit of compulsory attendance, taxpayers were forced to pay for the building of new schools just to handle the older, unwilling students and their behavior problems. For more information on compulsory attendance, and why many 6-year-olds are better off waiting a year before school, please see our memorandum at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7918 Thank you for your calls on behalf of freedom in Maine! Sincerely, Scott Woodruff HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> "I saved my entire membership fee with one discount" "When I called Liberty to find out what kind of discount we could get, they told us we would 10% off our car insurance and 5% off our homeowner's insurance. What we will save is more than double what it costs to join HSLDA. With one child getting his driver's license this year, the savings will be a real blessing!" More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1108 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
