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HB2795 hearing before Special Initiatives
sub-committee
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Somewhere between150-200 homeschoolers wait patiently in already crowded halls for nearly two hours for the hearing to actually start when it was delayed by previous hearings and moved to a different (larger) hearing room. The children in attendance were amazingly well-behaved. Thanks to Angie's family for the bright yellow stickers that ID'd the first 100 of us.
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Part 1 of 6 10:31 minutes Direct link to YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0J9vLe_69w
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Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis)
introduces his amended bill. Now instead of testing it mandates meetings
between the homeschooling leadership and the DOE.
He also comments on the tone of some of the contacts he's had with homeschoolers from near and far and states: "I'm not compelled to have to respond to individuals outside my district." Rep. John Mark Windle (D-Livingston), Chairman of this committee states he's had nothing but positive communication. Rep. Joe Towns (D-Memphis) also states he's had some unusually negative comments. While I certainly condemn any hateful comments from homeschoolers or others I certainly understand the frustration our community felt when our contacts with Rep. Hardaway and Rep. Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga) were consistently ignored. Stating you were calling about HB2795 meant you were told to call your own representative or told to send an email instead. Later Rep. Brown admits she turned her phone off. Towns provides the motion to hear the amendment and a second is provided. Hardaway asks for the bill to be rolled one week because he promised homeschool leaders that they could have input and he only just got the wording for the amendment. Groaning from the 150 or more homeschoolers in attendance could be heard. |
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Part 2 of 6
5:59 minutes
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Rep. Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga)
asks Dr. Bruce Opie of the Tn DOE if they don't already have the ability
to gather this sort of data already. She states that she finds a great
deal of information regarding homeschooling practices and techniques on
the Internet. Opie responds that his caveat is the "transferability" of these practices to the public system much like the conversations regarding what happens in charter schools. Rep. Joe Coley (R-Bartlett) asks about the Constitutionality of requiring people who have opted out of the public school system being required to meet or share information possibly in violation of their religious tenants. Opie declined to opine 'not being a Constitutional scholar".
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Part 3 of 6
6:12 minutes
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Dr. Charles Walker, Director of the Tennessee Association of Christian Schools testified that there is already a nine member non-public school advisory council set up by the State Board of Education. Further he stated that when "the test is mandated you control the curriculum and that the freedom to teach will be taken away from us." He also states that 5 weeks ago he gave Rep. Joe Towns (D-Memphis) test score information showing how much better TACS students were performing when compared to public school students. |
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Part 4 of 6
9:08 minutes
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Rep. Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga)
expresses her dislike of Gateway testing, resents Hardaway's "raising
anxiety to make a point' about Gateway tests, states she asked Hardaway to
withdraw the bill, she shut her phones down when the calls against
HB2795 interfered with business and that she could not support this bill
"whatever it is". She gets applause from the citizens in
attendance. The amendment to this bill is voted on and fails. Voting AGAINST the amendment: Brown, Coley, Lollar, Windle and Winningham. Voting FOR the amendment: Towns. This means the bill is back to it's original form---testing of non--public schoolers. Hardaway comments again in an effort to ensure no one is confused about the fact that he's amended the bill and it's not about testing now. He reiterates his concern that homeschoolers have a voice at the DOE table. Debbie Landers of the Tennessee Association of Non-Public Academic Schools states that she is the homeschool representative on the SBOE's non-public school advisory board. Hardaway, who is seated next to her asks, off microphone and without recognition from the Chair, if she's satisfied with that level of participation. She responds yes. She further states that she told Hardaway previously that this advisory committee existed.
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Part 5 of 6 9:02
minutes |
HSLDA attorney Dee Black testifies and states:
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While I'm very thankful for the streaming video provided by the State
you do miss some things. During Mr. Black's testimony what you can't see in the
video provided from the State is that Rep. Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga)
leaves her seat and comes down to chat with Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis).
She then goes and speaks to the Chairman of the Committee Rep. John Mark Windle (D-Livingston).
After that Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) goes up to have a word with Rep. Joe Towns (D-Memphis).
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Part 6 of 6
7:10 minutes |
I have to express my admiration for Chairman Rep. John Mark Windle's (D-Livingston)
handling of this bill despite the obvious efforts of its sponsor to
avoid a defeat. It's been a long month for homeschoolers and the
legislators on this committee and Windle
brings this all to a close by insisting the bill will be voted on then
and there. He recaps exactly were the bill stands. Rep. Joe Towns (D-Memphis)
asks to have the bill rolled. Windle asserts his authority as chair and
firmly states the bill will be voted on further stating that no discussion
can take place. The only other thing that can happen is a motion to adjourn the meeting which is then offered
by Towns.
The motion to adjourn fails. Windle is patient, firm and out of
professional courtesy allows another comment from
Rep. Tommie Brown (D-Chattanooga)
who isn't sure what's being voted on now and thought the bill had been
killed. A parliamentary inquiry from Rep. Ron Lollar (R-Bartlett)
who states the bill should be voted on. Again, Windle calls for a roll
call vote on the original bill. Voting NO: Brown, Coley, Lollar, Windle. Voting YES: Towns. Present but not voting: Winningham. Grateful homeschoolers and their supporters break out into applause and whoops of thanks and delight. |
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Disclaimer: Any legal information provided on this website is for informational
purposes only and should not be considered complete, professional legal advice.
Copyright © 1998 - 2008 Kay Brooks TnHomeEd.com
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