More Politicians Over exerting their power

School Bill Would Force Parents To Volunteer
Parents Who Don't Volunteer Would Face $100 Fine

CLEVELAND -- It's no secret that schools need volunteers in
order to do more for students, but one proposed law in Indiana would make it
a requirement for parents to volunteer at their children's school.

Parent Darlene Boyd has been volunteering at her grandchildren' s
school for six years. If the state legislature passes House Bill 519, she'll
have a lot of company, Cleveland station WEWS reports.

The bill would require all parents to volunteer 13 hours each
school year, either in the lunchroom, chaperoning field trips, or wherever
the district needs help.

Research shows parents' involvement leads to student success,
but Cleveland schools CEO Eugene Sanders said volunteerism is almost
impossible to legislate.

"If there's a way to encourage it, create incentives -- that's
the better way. The difficulty is what are your options to address it if it
doesn't occur? Your legal options are limited in that kind of setting,"
Sanders said.

The bill's incentive is a $100 fine for parents who don't
fulfill the requirement.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy Principal Sam Vawters said he can
always use more parent volunteers, but he doesn't think that's the way to do
it.

And Boyd agrees: "I wouldn't want anyone to be forced to come
here. Either you want to be here or you don't."

According to the bill, if a parent doesn't fulfill the
requirement and refuses to pay the fine, the money would be taken out of the
parent's state tax refund.

House Bill 519 is sponsored by Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland)
from District 11. You can e-mail her at district11@ohr.state.oh.us.

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Utterly ridiculous

Viva Liberty!