school choice parental rights

The documentary "Zero Tolerance," (trailer here) explores the role of SROs–law enforcement officers called "school resources officers"– who are stationed in schools across America.

"Why are children as young as five being arrested in schools across the USA? In a misguided attempt to avoid another Columbine, Zero Tolerance policies in schools have detained, fined and incarcerated hundreds of thousands of children for ‘offences’ such as chewing gum or being late for class." ~ IMDB

Set mostly in Texas, the stories are harrowing. But, there was one principal who, at 66 years old and retired, agreed to take on what I can only call a distressed urban high school.

Bertie Simmons did away with ticket writing, met with each student one-on-one "to listen," set up a school court with a 12 person jury made up of seniors who were authorized to mete out punishment, and turned the school around. I was so impressed, afterwards, I wrote her an email to thank her for her positive human action. She wrote back and said: "Thank you. Working together we can make a real difference."

It was moving to see one person make such a remarkable difference in young people’s lives through de-escalation, personal interaction, caring, and civility.

It is also a reminder of how callous and cruel Governor Hassan’s veto of a bipartisan bill and the recent court decision about school choice in Croydon truly is.

The NH Department of Education used YOUR tax dollars to fight parents and a small town school board to FORCE four students out of an environment they were thriving in, and back to the Newport public school this fall. And, remember, the Montessori school was SAVING the taxpayers of Croydon thousands of dollars per year.

Makes you wonder about the motivation of NHDOE, because unlike principal Bertie Simmons, it doesn’t sound like they have the students’ best interests at heart.

The documentary also made me wonder about our schools in Goffstown and Manchester, and whether questionable conduct by SROs might be taking place in our own backyards? I recall there was one excessive force incident a few years ago at West Manchester High.

We already know our schools are being locked down with alarming frequency, e.g. eleven times in three weeks this May. Are all of these really necessary? Or could it, long-term, be creating a more dangerous situation when students start to see these warnings as "the grown-ups crying wolf, again"? What does it condition children to accept?

In the movie, a young lady who was being bullied struck back after being punched. If this happened outside of school, you would be within your rights to act in self-defense and hit someone who hit you back. But inside this school, BOTH students were punished. So basically, children are being taught they are not allowed to defend themselves.

"Zero tolerance" is a terrible idea. The word "tolerance," after all, means a "willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own." When the state says it won’t tolerate behavior that is different from its own stated goals, like we saw recently in Croydon, we are cruising down the road to tyranny.

As your senator, I will work to reverse this trend towards ever more invasive government, encourage openness and transparency, and make sure your individual rights, and those of your family, are protected above all.

Today’s Union Leader states: "Sullivan County Superior Court presiding judge Brian T. Tucker has sided with the state Department of Education, ruling against school choice in the Croydon School District."

For those of you not familiar with this case, I’ll break it down as simply as I can:

Croydon, pop. 764, has a one room schoolhouse that goes to middle school. After that, kids have to be sent to a neighboring town’s high school. Some of the kids did not do well in the public Newport School, and their parents, working with the Croydon school board, then selected the Newport’s Montessori school instead.

The private Montessori school costs thousands of dollars LESS than the state school, saving Croydon taxpayers $16,000 for the school year. Oh, and the 4 kids thrived.

Enter the Department of Education. Late last year, they filed a motion for injunctive relief to take the kids out of the Montessori school. In the middle of the school year. Initially, the attorney for the DOE argued the state (not the children) would be irreparably harmed if the kids were not removed. After the judge asked for clarification, the DOE lawyer then claimed the students would be harmed if allowed to remain at the Newport Montessori School as part of the town’s school choice program. Thankfully, the judge did not buy this argument, said the DOE had prior knowledge the children were in the Montessori school, and stayed the injunction, letting the kids remain in their school of choice until the end of the school year.

In the meanwhile, school choice advocates worked with legislators to try to clarify the law. During testimony on the bill, the DOE lawyer argued the private Montessori school did not provide "an adequate education." Most of the room, legislators included, erupted in laughter. One legislator said something like: "Are you really arguing private schools are worse than public schools? Surely market forces prove that to be absurd."

The bill handily passed the legislature, however, Governor Hassan vetoed it. Surprise, surprise, Hassan sided with the Department of Education, rather than parents and children. She vetoed what could have created a school choice precedent for New Hampshire’s small towns. She vetoed what could have provided an incredible benefit to Granite State parents and children. She vetoed the idea that your tax money can go to a school that works for your child. She vetoed tax savings to taxpayers. She vetoed something that would have made parents and children happier. She vetoed a bill that would have taken the burden off public schools by removing students whom they have difficulty serving. She vetoed the idea of competing markets provide the best choice for New Hampshire children. She thinks she knows what is best for YOUR child, and she is willing to force you to comply.

Yesterday, Judge Tucker granted a permanent injunction ordering the small-town school district of Croydon to send all public school students to public school in the fall. By order of the state, these kids–and all Croydon students in the future–will be forced to return to–or remain in–a school that does not serve their needs.

The decision is a setback for school choice in New Hampshire, but I am confident the case will be appealed to the NH Supreme Court.

The questions you should be asking yourself:

• Why is the state so interested in keeping control over these students? Is it because they fear a precedent that will create more market competition?
• Why is it that other schools in other districts are allowed to send children to private schools, as we see with, for example, Fryeburg Academy?
• Is school choice only for the wealthy?
• Why do private schools cost less than public schools? Could waste be built into the system?
• If you are a teacher, wouldn’t you rather work with students who want to be in your classroom? Do you realize that longterm, more school choice will give YOU more attractive options as an educator?
• Ultimately, who should decide what is best for your child and his or her education? Should that decision rest with bureaucrats in Concord, or should it reside with parents, their school board, and, of course, the child?

New Hampshire should be leading the national school choice movement, not taking steps backwards through poor court decisions and vetoes. Between 2001-2013, families making nonresidential school choices via open public school enrollment, home schooling, charter schools and private schools increased 21%.

Students aren’t all the same. Kids don’t all fall into one bucket. Each is unique. We need more choices to address this reality.

As your senator, I will respect this individualism. I will work with you to create more choices in education (and elsewhere), and save the taxpayers some coin in the process.

If you are interested in learning more about NH school choice, join this Facebook group.

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