| With that in mind, open up your Trapper Keeper (remember those?) because here’s your parental checklist to prepare for the new school year.
Stay informed.
You might have thought your days of homework ended once you graduated. But having school-aged kids means homework for parents, too.
So read through the policies for your child’s school and the school district. That can help to either expose or resolve a lot of problems before they become major issues. You may even be asked to sign something saying you’ve read them. We’ve all been there. It’s easy to just check the box. But take the time to find out what is expected of your kids and you, and don’t assume that the school district’s lawyers have a working knowledge of the Constitution.
From there, get to know your kid’s teachers. Odds are good that despite all the recent controversy over issues in education, your kid’s teacher actually wants your kid to learn and thrive – and wants to partner with you to make that happen. At least, that’s our good-faith assumption until proven wrong. There’s also data to back it up. For example, a report by nonpartisan international research organization More in Common found that “a majority of Americans across political affiliations agree on fundamental ideas about our national history and how it should be taught.”
And if you still have questions, speak up. It’s your right. Public school board meetings are public forums, which means that your First Amendment rights apply. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of recent examples of school officials restricting comments or shutting down meetings altogether. This raises free speech concerns because the government can’t condition the use of public property on whether the government approves of what the speakers say.
Parents have the right to: - Request and receive information about school policies and decision-making.
- Attend and speak up at school board meetings.
- In many circumstances, exempt your child from activities that would violate constitutional rights.
Knowing what is and isn’t permitted on public property will help ensure your First Amendment rights aren’t violated – and neither are anyone else’s.
If your child plans to attend college, start preparing now by learning about different colleges’ free speech rankings.
Does it feel overwhelming? It can be. The stakes are high. But parents and organizations across the country stand alongside you in support of free speech and educational freedom. The First Amendment is for everyone.
Thanks!
-Casey Casey Mattox Vice President for Legal and Judicial Strategy
Americans for Prosperity
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