<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"></head><body dir="auto"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Courtesy of today's (March 10, 2014) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">-----------------------------------</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div><div><h1 id="blox-asset-title" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 34px; font-size: 30px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="blox-headline entry-title" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); line-height: 38px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OUR VIEW: Parental rights bill not needed in Idaho</span></h1><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Most teachers we know would appreciate more parents showing interest in their children's education.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Education is a partnership between parents, teachers and students. With single-parent families or those where both parents work, that partnership has become a bit fractured.</span></p><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And, unfortunately, some parents view school and teachers as convenient baby sitters.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Parents have always been welcome to participate in the educational process through conferences with teachers, school booster associations, PTAs, supervising homework and anything else that would improve a child's chances for success.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Idaho Legislature also wants to weigh in on parents and the schools.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The House Education Committee has approved House Bill 567 that says parents not only have a right but an obligation to participate in their child's education.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We're not sure of the motives behind the bill. Parents already have the right, and school districts willingly accommodate them within the policies of the district and state.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The bill's sponsor, Rep. Janet Trujillo, R-Idaho Falls, said the measure is "simply a way for us as legislators to emphasize that involvement of a parent in education is important."</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">During testimony in support of the bill last week, several parents said they wanted more control over what their children do in school. A few wanted power to opt their children out of standardized testing. Others wanted control over reading lists, and some hoped the bill would allow parents to pull their children from school if they disagree with its education policy.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">While legislators maintain the bill does nothing but affirm parental rights, we believe it can lead to action beyond that intent.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Idaho has a history of placing its obligation to provide a good education to the state's children low on its priority list.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The state also has some of the more lenient home school rules in the country. So for those who disagree with what the professionals are doing in the schools, it's a simple process to school them at home.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Education should not be adversarial, but we fear some parents will use HB 567 as a license to do just that as a "right."</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Resources are finite and need to be used to benefit the most students. Districts don't need parents making threats about policy, when the real energy should be expended, equipping a child with the skills necessary to compete in life after school.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">--------------------</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">House Bill 567</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><img src="cid:691D47B4-FCDE-499F-8FF6-941AD0D5FCA3" alt="image.jpeg" id="691D47B4-FCDE-499F-8FF6-941AD0D5FCA3" width="640" height="606"></p><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2014/H0567.htm">http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2014/H0567.htm</a></span></p><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">-----------------------------------</span></p></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"There's room at the top they are telling you still.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you want to be like the folks on the hill."</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- John Lennon</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div></div></div></div></body></html>