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-- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas, Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969)
Are you opposed to Mandatory Public School Uniforms in Crandall ISD? Then please read on!
There are TONS of people just like you all over the country FIGHTING for our rights and the rights of our children. They WILL be here to assist you. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does." --Margaret Mead
This flyer is not meant to dictate what you should or should not believe. It is meant to inform you of information you may not be aware of. What you choose to do with the information is up to you, but please remember, parental rights not asserted are parental rights lost.
Our role as a parent is to determine what is in the best interest of our children, I would refer you to Justice O’Connor’s opinion in Troxel wherein she states that, "there is a presumption that fit parents act in the best interests of their children." She refers us to Parham v. J. R., 442 U.S. 584, as she quotes from the decision that "[O]ur constitutional system long ago rejected any notion that a child is the mere creature of the State and, on the contrary, asserted that parents generally have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare [their children] for additional obligations. . . . The law’s concept of the family rests on a presumption that parents possess what a child lacks in maturity, experience, and capacity for judgment required for making life’s difficult decisions. More important, historically it has recognized that natural bonds of affection lead parents to act in the best interests of their children." 442 U. S., at 602 (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Id. page 9-10. It is quite obvious, as evidenced in Troxel and the cases cited therein, that we do have a constitutional right to rear and direct the upbringing of our children. It is also quite obvious that we, as fit parents are the best suited to determine what is in the best interest of our children. As such, denial of our opt-out provision would violate our constitutionally protected parental rights, because we do not agree that mandatory uniforms or standardized dress serve the best interests of our children.
NOTE: To parents and students who support this mandatory dress code. We are not anti uniform; we are pro choice. We support your right to wear a uniform if that is your choice. There was absolutely NOTHING stopping you from wearing a uniform before this district implemented this MANDATORY policy. We merely expect fair and equal consideration NOT TO.
Did you know Texas law (Texas Education Code (TEC) 11.162) requires public schools to provide an opt-out provision for those of you who have religious or philosophical objections to the requirement?
(a) The board of trustees of an independent school district may adopt rules that require students at a school in the district to wear school uniforms if the board determines that the requirement would improve the learning environment at the school.
(b) The rules the board of trustees adopts must designate a source of funding that shall be used in providing uniforms for students at the school who are educationally disadvantaged.
(c) A parent or guardian of a student assigned to attend a school at which students are required to wear school uniforms may choose for the student to be exempted from the requirement or to transfer to a school at which students are not required to wear uniforms and at which space is available if the parent or guardian provides a written statement that, as determined by the board of trustees, states a bona fide religious or philosophical objection to the requirement.
(d) Students at a school at which uniforms are required shall wear the uniforms beginning on the 90th day after the date on which the board of trustees adopts the rules that require the uniforms.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff.
May 30, 1995.
If you have objections to CISD’s uniform requirement, get started right away with your exemption request. I have attached the "Crandall ISD Request for Exemption from the Student Uniform Requirement" form. On the back of the form you will find CISD policy regarding steps to request an exemption for currently enrolled students.
Crandall ISD has not yet allowed any exemptions. This does not mean it is impossible. Once the school board has denied the request, you can appeal their decision to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). There is a family in Forney whose appeal to the TEA was recently granted. There are several pending cases currently before the TEA. However, it does take time. Please don’t give up. Uniform supporters are counting on that. Silence is submission. It is not only okay to assert your rights as a parent, but it is your duty as well.
My case is currently pending before the TEA. The appeal process can be very time consuming, but the right to raise my children on my religious and philosophical beliefs is very important to me. "The Congress finds that … parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children, the States, localities, and private institutions, have the primary responsibility for supporting that parental role…" (Department of Education Organization Act. Pub. I., 96-98, Title 1, § 101, Oct. 17, 1979, 93. Stat. 669, codified in 20 U.S.C. § 3401 [3]).
Parents have the statutory rights, fundamental rights, duties and authority over their child(ren), including, but not limited to the right to direct the moral and religious training, and to establish the duty of care, control, protection, the right to make decisions concerning the child’s education; and it is the parent’s duty to provide clothing for the child. (alteration to original, irrelevant sections omitted) (Texas Family Code §151.003).
A state agency may not adopt rules or policies or take any other action that violates the fundamental right and duty of a parent to direct the upbringing of the parent's child. (§ 151.005. Limitation on State Agency Action)
"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest." --Elie Wiesel, writer, Nobel laureate
Educate yourself!
Join and visit some of the e-mail groups and links below
to help you with your questions, let your point of view be heard, discuss
your opinions and share information. There is a lot of information out
there that supports our arguments. Knowing this information will give you
the tools you need to defend your position.
| Join APROD – Asserting Parental
Rights - It's Our Duty http://aprod.freeyellow.com/
Join Yahoo Groups CrandallUniforms and MandatorySchoolUniforms |
Helpful sites against mandatory
school uniforms in Texas public schools
Crandall http://www.pcpages.com/notouniforms/ Forney http://www.schooluniforms-not.org/ Alvin http://aisdinuniforms.org/ Pearland http://www.freepisd.com |
"Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes." --Henry David Thoreau
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety,
deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." --Benjamin Franklin
"The unity of freedom has never relied on uniformity of opinion." --John Fitzgerald Kennedy
SPREAD THE WORD!!! Together we can make a difference.
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