A serious threat to parents rights at the moment is SB 392.

This bill would lower the age of mandatory attendance from 7 to 6, but the supporters have made it clear they would like to have the state control your children at an even earlier age.

On January 30th, a public hearing was held on the bill.

The Chair of the Senate Education and General Government Committee, Vicki Walker, made it clear that in spite of hundreds of e-mails she received in opposition, she was determined to move the bill. Only Senator Jeff Kruse expressed disapproval and stood up for parent's rights.

In an e-mail to opponents of the bill, Senator Walker stated the following:

"While I value your contribution as a responsible parent and taxpayer, there are many parents who do not understand the crucial importance of early learning and do not send their children to school (home school, private, or public) until they are legally required to do so.  For many, this means that a child will have spotty attendance until the age of seven.  Not attending school by the first grade is harmful to a child's development and significantly decreases their chances for future success in school and life. 
 
As a parent myself, I assure you I am not trying to chip away at parents' rights.  This bill is meant to impact the at-risk children who need its protection most.  It is my responsibility to act to make sure that Oregon's children are legally entitled to the early and strong start in life that they deserve."

Notice Walker's reference to "Oregon's children" as though they were the property of the state.

It's an interesting concept. Are your children the property of Oregon? If you move, do they become the property of Idaho or New York? Are they the property of the US Government?

Most home schoolers have the quaint notion that children are the property of their Creator, "on loan" to the parents who have responsibility for them.

Walker's complaint is that parents are not sending their children to school "until legally required to do so." So Walker is pushing intrusive legislation because parents are OBEYING the law.

Walker also states that she is "not trying to chip away at parent's rights" when in fact, that is exactly what she is doing. Walker's other assertions are dubious and highly disputed at best. But even more troubling is Walker's determination to become the nanny state replacement for parents who "don't understand the importance of early learning."

Walker would seem like an odd role model in that respect.

Walker allowed her teenage daughter to fly to Mexico unescorted with a plane full of other teenagers, a trip she describes as "a nightmare that my daughter still has trouble talking about.'' Even after her daughter called and told her that she had been subjected to threats, underage drinking and wet tee shirt contests, she allowed her daughter to remain there unescorted for seven days.

The bill had a "work session" on Feb. 6th.

After a lecture to the opponents of the bill from Senator Walker, the bill passed out of Committee with only Jeff Kruse opposing it. An amendment was adopted that allowed the government schools to decide what grade to place your child after forcing them to attend at an earlier age.

The sponsors of the bill have claimed it is needed because parents with children under 7 cannot be forced to make their kids attend regularly and some children do not.

Senator Kruse rightly pointed out that if that were the real problem, all that was needed was a bill that said, if you enroll your child, he must attend.

For a report from the Goldwater Institute debunking the myth that forcing children into school at an earlier age benefits them, download their report here.

Those who voted to attack parental rights were:

Vicki L Walker, Chair
sen.vickiwalker@state.or.us
503-986-1707
Rick Metsger
sen.rickmetsger@state.or.us
503-986-1726
Frank Morse
sen.frankmorse@state.or.us
503-986-1708
Ben Westlund
sen.benwestlund@state.or.us
503-986-1727

Voting to support your rights was:

Jeff Kruse, Vice-Chair
sen.jeffkruse@state.or.us
503-986-1701

The bill is expected to sail through the Senate. It then goes to the House.
This bill passed the Senate with 19 yes votes on March 13th. In now goes to the House Education Committee. To see the vote count, click here.

Every parent should contact their House Representatives and urge them to oppose this dangerous and unnecessary attack on their rights. You can find your legislators here.

A listing of all Oregon House Reps can be found here.

The members of the House Education Committee, which will deal with this bill after the Senate rubber stamps it are:

Peter Buckley, Chair
John H Dallum, Vice-Chair
Betty Komp, Vice-Chair
Brian Clem
Mitch Greenlick
Jerry Krummel
John Lim
Arnie Roblan
Gene Whisnant

NOTE.(05.16.07) THIS BILL HAS BEEN PASSED OUT OF HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND IS HEADING TO THE FLOOR. THE ONLY VOTES IN THE FULL COMMITTEE FOR PARENT'S RIGHTS WERE JOHN LIM AND GENE WHISNANT. BEN CANNON WHO FIRST VOTED "NO" HAS DECLARED THAT HE WILL SUPPORT THE BILL.