Delays Big and Small

Today is November 18, and I am greatly disappointed to have to tell you our new website is still not up and running.  This makes the second postponement while we settle the technical issues so that everything will work properly.  We hope to have everything ironed out by the first of December, and I will keep you posted as the day draws near.

Every time I start to feel that this is a big delay, however, I remember a father named Joe from Paradise, California, who is still waiting to have his 9-month-old son returned.  Joe, who has done nothing wrong, went to court on November 10 to get his son back after a week of separation.  The judge told him to come back on the twentieth.  Now that is a big delay. 

Protecting Kids by Preserving a Parent’s Right

According to an August 12 report from KXLY in Spokane, Washington, the Department of Child Protective Services for nearby Colville has come under investigation after a number of parents and legal guardians complained about the department’s practices: removing children from perfectly good homes, splitting families for no apparent reason, and treating legal guardians with great disrespect. Added to parental complaints is a letter by local area physicians claiming they have no confidence in the Colville DCPS office.

All by itself, the story should raise concerns, but Colville is not alone.

Protecting children from abuse – and heartbreak

Richard Wexler, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, makes some thought-provoking points in his blog post on the recently-raided Texas compound. Foremost among his concerns is that the youngest children of the YFZ ranch will end up separated from their mothers. A few excerpts:

Many use California Ruling to Question Parents

The now famous California appeals court ruling has given many people the opportunity to ask a lot of offensive questions about parents and their ability to educate their children. Thomas D. Elias, a syndicated columnist certainly asked a lot of questions in his recent column.

His column starts off bad by accusing people of having a “knee-jerk” reaction to the ruling but it really runs off the tracks with this paragraph which follows quotes from the governor and other sources about the right of parents to direct their children’s education:

But pause for a moment and substitute the word “nourishment” for “education” in all this. Do parents have the right to provide as much or as little nourishment for their children as they like? If they don’t provide adequate nourishment, don’t they at some point become guilty of child abuse?

Who is claiming that, Mr. Elias? No one is saying parents have a right to abuse their children and no one is advocating that. It is insulting that you presume parents guilty in this way.

He goes on:

These questions lead to another: What about the rights of children to a quality education? Sure, many of the approximately 175,000 home-schooled California kids do get quality instruction from their parents. But what about children whose parents speak little English? What about those whose parents have less than a high school education of their own? How can they possibly be getting quality education in these circumstances?

Couldn’t all the same questions be asked about the California public schools? Why are parents the ones who are suspect but the state isn’t?

This line of thinking really goes to the heart of the question about parental rights. There are two legal doctrines at debate here:

My Kids Need Me

Our family experienced a minor disaster this past week that gave me new insight into my kids. Last weekend the city sewer system had a clog in it that caused the sewer to back up into our basement. Yeah, I know, gross! It flooded a little less than an inch in depth (thankfully!)but covered most of our basement. This happened in about four other townhouses near us as well. As a side note, the town has been great so far in fixing the problem and cleaning up and fixing our basement.

You can imagine the result to our basement and how it destroyed a lot of things (mostly toys) that were down there. We also had to stay at grandma’s house for a couple nights just to be safe. Right after that happened I had to go out of town for three days and three nights. These two things together had an emotional impact on my six year-old daughter. She really is doing great but at night as she’s going to bed she’s been a little traumatized and has a little trouble getting to sleep.

What struck me was how something like these events had such an impact on her emotionally. Her world is built on her family and her home and those two things were bumped this week. I just can’t imagine what something more serious would do to her and can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like for our child-parent bond to be broken.

As a nation we debate a lot of issues related to public policy and that is a good and healthy thing for our democracy. But as a nation we unify in agreement on certain core principles. I hope that one of those core principles remains the role that parents play in the lives of their children. What the policy and legislation looks like is debatable but we’ve got to agree that kids need their parents! We’ve got to protect that relationship, not undermine it. We’ve got to support parents, not tear them down. We’ve got to protect children, not tear down mom and dad. Bottom line is we’ve got to protect the parental rights doctrine.

My kids need me.

Washington Times: Treaty threatens parents’ rights

The following article by ParentalRights.org board member Michael Smith originally appeared in the Washington Times on January 14, 2008. It can be read at the Washington Times website here.

All good parents are committed to seeking the best for their children, and in the crucial days of the presidential nominating process, many of us are turning our eyes to the years ahead.

What will the future look like for our children?

Though candidates and voters may have different perspectives on the specifics of achieving a positive future, one thing remains certain: Children need their parents.

The overwhelming majority know that parental involvement in the lives of children makes a key difference when it comes to their healthy development, education and positive life choices. In particular, home-school families know firsthand the impact of strong parental involvement in the lives of children.

Few dispute the vital role of parents in raising the next generation, but, regrettably, few recognize that the fundamental role of parents is under direct attack.

Bravo “American Girl”

Several weeks back we highlighted a Florida county that allowed McDonald’s to market directly to children through report cards that upset some parents who felt it undermined their desire to teach healthy eating habits to their children.

Yesterday my wife received a letter in the mail from American Girl that was a welcome contrast. Our three girls love their American Girl dolls and this mailing was a marketing piece for American Girl Magazine which is apparently designed for 8-12 year-old girls. I don’t know anything about the magazine so don’t confuse this post as a recommendation. I can say that American Girl dolls are a welcome contrast to other girls toys like Bratz.

There were several great things about the mailing from American Girl. First, it was addressed to a parent rather than the children and the whole package was pitching the magazine to the parent rather than bypassing the parent. Secondly, this part from the enclosed flyer was very encouraging to me:

Why Parents love American Girl magazine:

It’s a great parenting tool, supporting you in your efforts to raise a healthy, confident girl. You’ll enjoy all the articles, and you’ll appreciate how they inspire conversations with your daughter.

You’ll also appreciate what’s not in American Girl magazine:

• No tips on how to flirt with boys;
• No articles on losing weight or plastic surgery;
• No ads pushing sugary snacks, sexy clothes, or R-rated DVDs–
• Nothing pushing your daughter to grow up too fast!

When American Girl magazine arrives in your mailbox, you can be sure that your daughter will be thrilled to receive it. And you’ll be delighted she’s spending time with a magazine you can trust.

So I say, “Bravo American Girl for supporting the critical role of parents in the lives of their daughters!” It is too bad that our government does not always show that same kind of respect. Learn the Issue and find out why we are working for a parental rights amendment to the Constitution. After that, be sure and sign the petition!

ParentalRights.org in the News

ParentalRights.org was recently quoted in this news article, with excerpts below. 

Judge Boots Parents from Son’s Schooling

Another judge in Massachusetts has ruled against parental input regarding the education of their own children, this time deciding that a district’s special education program for a 13-year-old can move forward even though his parents refused to sign an authorization for the additional monitoring and counseling…

Officials at Parental Rights (www.ParentalRights.org) said they couldn’t comment on the specific case without seeing more information about the judge’s order, which was issued verbally and not in writing. But they said in general, the system should not push parents away.

“Parents know their children better than anyone and if the state refuses to partner with parents in public schools then we’ve got a serious problem,” a spokesman said.

“Meddling” with your kids may be the best thing for them

The National Survey of Student Engagement has released their 2007 Annual Report, which collects information from colleges and universities nationwide about student participation and academic performance.  Among their findings is an extensive discussion about the role of parental involvement in the lives of college students, which garnered the intriguing headline: “Smart parents are meddling parents.” 

According to the Virginian-Pilot, the survey “reaches the surprising conclusion that students who are regularly in touch with their parents fare better than those who rarely call home.”  Among its findings, the report concludes that seven of ten college students communicate “very often” with at least one parent, and about three quarters of all students frequently followed the advice of a parent, often resulting in more exchanges with professors and more participation in educational activities that improve the quality of education. 

The NSSE findings highlight the importance of the vital child-parent relationship: not only in the lives of their children, but also in their development and educational potential. The battle for the parental rights amendment is the battle to protect this vital relationship. 

Join the battle for parental rights by becoming a Citizen Co-sponsor of the Petition to protect parental rights.

Children taken through secret courts in the UK

Below is a sad video about a mother who was a victim of domestic violence. Her child was taken as a result and put up for adoption. All of this was done in secret courts in the name of the “best interest of the child.” Don’t think that this could never happen in the United States. We are on the same path and have got to do something to stop it. Abuse does need to be investigated but the burden of proof must remain on the government. Kids staying with their parents is what is in the best interest of the child!

Maintaining the fundamental right of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children is key and it can only be protected through a Constitutional Amendment. The reason that this is the only way is because of the source of the threat being federal courts and international law. Please join our campaign and help propel this amendment to a national issue. This is far broader than liberals against conservatives or Republicans against Democrats. It is about kids and their parents and how kids need their parents.

One last quick note, the last good Supreme Court case on parental rights, Troxel v. Granville, involved a mother fighting for her parental rights who was a victim of domestic violence. Even though the mom won that case, there are significant reasons to be worried about the precarious position of the child-parent bond.