Will government choose an "acceptable value system" for your child?

Prepared by David Boze, Education Policy Analyst

On June 4th, 1998 Governor Locke created a Commission on Early Learning (co-chaired by Mona Lee Locke and Melinda French Gates) to publicize activities parents can do to accelerate early learning for their children and "identify gaps in programs for children and parents." The following is a first draft of the "vision" statement which EFF obtained in January 1999.

Children’s Bill of Rights

We hold these truths to be self evident, that all children are born with certain inalienable rights, among these are a safe home, caring parents, a healthy body, an educated mind, and an optimistic outlook on life.

As the most helpless beings of all humanity and the most under-represented citizens we have, it is a fundamental obligation that all children be raised in a safe, warm, nurturing home and community. Children have a right to live in a safe haven, free from physical and psychological mistreatment. Children must be protected from violence and abuse, be provided proper nutrition, given unlimited love, and be encouraged to pursue life in as ambitious a way as possible.

Children deserve to have the constant and loving attention of their parents. Parents give birth to children and must be actively engaged in parenting during a part of each and every day, providing encouragement, support, discipline and love.

Quality care must be available when the parents are unable to provide personal care. Parents must fashion a quality environment by relying on an appropriate mix of personal, family, community and government agency support [emphasis added].

A healthy mind depends on a healthy body. Our children have a right to comprehensive health care [emphasis added] that includes prevention, early detection and intervention, and treatment when ill. No child shall be denied access to physical and mental health services for any reason.

Every child has a right to learn a socially acceptable value system [emphasis added] and obtain as age appropriate, quality education. As our children’s first teachers, parents need to become educated on how to parent and how to teach the basic rudiments for life-long learning.

To safeguard these Rights, We, the members of the Governor’s Commission On Early Learning, solemnly publish and pledge to support this Bill Of Rights For Children, so that all children can experience joy, happiness and hope and become responsible citizens and parents in their own right.

Unlike our Constitutional Bill of Rights, the purpose of which was to limit government’s powers, the Commission’s "Bill of Rights" appears intent on creating new government entitlements for medicine, childcare, and even a loving home. If the Commission’s work is to guide state policy on early learning, and if the current draft of their "vision" is any indication, the full scope of "successful" child-rearing will rely heavily on government’s expansion into these areas.

The Commission’s initial "vision" should offend some of the parents it was ostensibly created to support, since it advises parents that government must educate them on "how to parent" and "how to teach the basic rudiments of `life-long learning.’ " "Government agency support" is described as an essential mix in a "quality environment" for children.

Another striking aspect of the Commission’s draft statement is its lack of attention to academic achievement—the improvement of which was supposedly the primary purpose of the Commission. The vision vaguely addresses a "right" to an "educated mind," but our state constitution already guarantees children an opportunity for a basic education.

The "vision" begs the following questions, some of which border on the absurd:

Who defines a "socially acceptable value system?" Many liberals do not find conservative values acceptable and vice versa. This is so subjective, it begs for misuse.

Children are "under represented?" More than half of all general fund revenues are spent on educating and caring for children. Will the Commission advocate voting rights for minors?

What does a "right" to a "safe home" mean? We already have laws against abuse, and police are charged with protecting the citizenry.

How is the government going to guarantee a right to "caring parents?" Who defines "caring?"

How will government guarantee the right to a "healthy body?" Will meals and exercise be regulated?

How can government guarantee an "optimistic outlook on life?" Who defines this? What about different religious views that might not seem optimistic?

How can government guarantee that children receive "unlimited love?" Who defines "unlimited love?" Does this include love from a Creator?

The Commission cannot "safeguard" these "rights" nor will they be able to realistically guarantee them. And what are the penalties should parents fail to live up to, or agree with, the policies that will be birthed from this vision?

Spending time with children is the best way for mothers and fathers to help their children develop into healthy adults. Instead of searching for a way to get government more involved in child rearing, the Commission should limit its scope to supplying parents with information on activities they can do with their child to encourage early development. They might also forward suggestions to the governor and the legislature on ways to lower the tax burden on families by reducing government spending. In many cases, this would allow one of two parents to stay home to loving rear their own children.

Regardless of ideology, we all want children to grow up in a loving, nurturing environment. But the Commission’s "vision" cannot, and should not, guarantee this. As a guide for state policy, the Commission’s vision is poorly conceived and would likely do greater harm than good.

Although the Commission’s "Bill of Rights" is only a draft statement, it is disturbing in that it likely illustrates some key principles under which the Commission will operate. Fortunately, some Commission members have expressed concerns, and the Commission’s vision statement will likely change. EFF will be closely following the Commission’s work.

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org