Posted on 02/02/2010 9:39:24 AM PST by christianhomeschoolmommaof3
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at hslda.org ...
ping
“Senate Bill 343 would increase the age of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 17.”
Is this for the first grade? /s
I have to wonder how much better our public high schools might be if the 16 to 18 year olds who don’t want to be there were allowed to opt out of school and the ones who consistently misbehave were expelled.
IMHO, “No child left behind” is the opposite of what we need. In order for the majority of kids to do well, we need to “leave behind” those who don’t give a hoot about their education and have parents who feel the same way.
A huge percentage of resources are squandered on “students” who do not belong in school.
Lol! Gotta love those WV jokes. :) That’s okay we have a sense of humor here in WV.
You are right. I disagree with all compulsory attendance laws. However, when a student reaches 15 16 17 years old and they don’t want to be there, you are inviting trouble.
I called all the Senators on the Education Committee and emailed them all. Alot of them said they had already received lots of calls on this issue. Way to go WV!
This ping list is for articles of interest to homeschoolers. I hold both the Homeschool Ping List and the Another Reason to Homeschool Ping List. Please freepmail me to let me know if you would like to be added or removed from either list, or both.The keyword for the FREE REPUBLIC HOMESCHOOLERS’ FORUM is frhf.
Ping
It would also subject the kids in school who do want to learn to the obnoxious and disruptive behavior of those kids who want out but are imprisoned in school by law.
Very cute.
“A huge percentage of resources are squandered on “students” who do not belong in school.”
Obama supplies your best argument.
Homeschool ~ BUMP
My exchange with one of the senators on the education committe.
Dear Senator,
> >
> > I am writing you today to encourage you to vote against Senate Bill
> > 343 that raises the compulsory attendance age. Forcing students
> > against their will to continue their educaton will raise taxes and
> > give the government more control over families.
> >
> > Parents should make decisions along with their children about what is
> > in the best interest of the child. Some children are ready to move on
> > to college or start in the workforce.
> >
> > Students that don’t want to be in school will be disruptive and have a
> > negative effect on the ones that want to learn.
> >
> > Trust families to decide what is best and vote against SB 343. Thank
> > you for your time and consideration.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > me (this was not in my original email, lol)
> Dear Ms. Me,
>
> Thank you for your e-mail opposing Senate Bill 343. Our goal in
> considering this bill is to increase the high school graduation rates in
> West Virginia.
>
> I respect your view on this bill and welcome any suggestions you have to
> help us reach this goal.
>
> Respectfully,
> Senator Michael A. Oliverio, II
Dear Senator Oliverio,
I want to thank you for taking the time to contact me about my concerns. Also, I greatly appreciate the tone of your reply. It explains your position without dismissing mine as uninformed. It is a rare attitude in an elected official.
I appreciate the spirit in which the bill was written. Graduation rates continue to be a problem in West Virginia. However, studies have shown little correlation between compulsory attendance age and increased rates of graduation. Several states with the lowest ages for compulsory attendance have the highest graduation rates. If you are interested, I would refer you to this article, Raise the Bar, Not the Age.
This bill has several unintended consequences. First, it forces uninterested students to stay in school not to continue their education. You can’t force a student to learn. Uninterested students will be a source of distraction for students that are in school to learn. Second, it takes away the freedom of parent and student to decide if the student is ready to pursue college, apprenticeship, or the workforce. Lastly, it would place an undue tax burden on the citizens of WV to pay for the students that don’t want to be there.
I appreciate the Senate’s willingness to find a solution to this problem. The truth is that you can’t force a student to learn. All you can do is hold him captive against his will. I don’t think this is the kind of solution that WV is looking for. While looking to resolve one problem, let’s not create a host of others. Thanks again for your consideration.
Me
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.