HJR 19 Relates to parents rights

02/01/2023
HJR 19 VOTE:
NO Died in Committee
Status (overview) of bill: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HJR19
Committee assigned to bill: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Committees/HRULES/Overview

This bill amends the Oregon Constitution stating that parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children. It opens the door for school choice.

However, the proposed amendment stating parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education and care of their children is a God-given right. The major issue with this bill idea is it has the government stepping in and saying parents are in charge, which is a societal and God-given norm. Oregonians don’t need a blanket policy stating something obvious, but by making it a Constitutional right, it opens the door to future government changes.

Representative Reschke is bill sponsor and says, “A parent is their child’s most important and influential teacher. We must not only recognize this but encourage this. Our students are struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We must provide parents with every option possible to allow each child to reach their full potential. School choice is really parental choice. HJR 19 does just that — it allows the state to acknowledge that parents have a fundamental right concerning decisions about their children not just in education, but in all areas of life.”

School choice can be legislated in other ways. We need to keep government out of our homes and personal lives.

Comments

LORETTA JOHNSON says:
February 12, 2023 at 9:48 am
I agree with OCL – Government does not need to put any of that in writing; It is our inalienable right as parents.

God First – gives us our rights and government’s job is protect them.
Government doesn’t need to make a Bill to address the obvious. If they want to make a declaration that could be appreciated.

This may be a “messaging bill”

For those who do not know their rights they might think government is doing them a favor.

AYLA HOFLER says:
February 16, 2023 at 6:01 pm
I agree with analysis, we need to keep quoting the constitution of the USA. Our parental and property and health care and faith are there. We need a bill that stops the state from making our children “Wards of the state” when they enter public school.
Ayla