| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 6/20/2011 12:22:01 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Rhode Island: Please Call Now to Oppose Compulsory School Age Increase |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Rhode Island: Please Call Now to Oppose Compulsory School Age Increase Dear Rhode Island HSLDA Members and Friends: Your calls are needed by Wednesday to stop a bill that would take away the right of parents to decide whether their 16- or 17-year-old should continue with formal education or follow another path. Right now, compulsory attendance ends in Rhode Island at the student's 16th birthday, and parents can decide what comes next in the young person's life. House Bill 5061 extends compulsory attendance two additional years, up to the 18th birthday. This would take away your freedom to decide whether your child should continue schooling or follow a different path. Parents--not the government--should make this decision. The bill would also lead inevitably to increased taxes as unwilling young adults are forced to stay in classrooms. REQUESTED ACTION: 1. Please call your representative right away. Use our Legislative Toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=11562 to find out who your representative is. Even representatives whom you think already oppose the bill need to hear from you. 2. Your message can be as simple as: "Please vote NO on HB 5061. Parents, not state officials, know whether their 16-year-old young adult should pursue formal education or some other preparation for life responsibilities. The additional cost of forcing unwilling young adults into a formal school setting should not be added to the current taxpayer burden." This bill would undermine the freedom of all parents. It is not necessary for you to identify yourself as a homeschooler. 3. Forward this email on to all of your friends, and ask them to contact their representative to oppose the bill as well. BACKGROUND Not all 16- and 17-year-olds belong in a formal school setting. Some would be better off in a work training program or apprenticeship, obtaining valuable work experience. 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 17-year-olds 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, please see our memorandum at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7918 Thank you for your calls on behalf of freedom in Rhode Island. Sincerely, Scott Woodruff HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Who's knocking on your door? When a social service worker arrives at your door, tension can run high. Wouldn't it be nice to get your lawyer on the phone, providing you with immediate step-by-step guidance? More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1099 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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If this is an invalid email address or you have other problems, please reply to webmaster@hslda.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: This is considered a private and confidential message from HSLDA to its bonafide HSLDA E-lert Service subscribers. HSLDA cannot attest to the authenticity of copies posted, forwarded, or sent by any party other than HSLDA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not reply or otherwise use this email address; hslda@hslda.org is for broadcast purposes only and is not intended to receive incoming messages. We cannot reply to any email sent to this address. If you have comments or questions, please send email to info@hslda.org or call HSLDA at 540-338-5600. HSLDA members can also email staff directly through the Members website at http://members.hslda.org/contact.asp. Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
