Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, today officially introduced legislation to protect the rights of parents in Michigan public schools.

House Bill 5703 would require all public schools to prominently post an affirmation of the parental rights provided by state law in administration offices and board hearing rooms.

“Sadly, there are politicians and bureaucrats who are hostile to the rights of parents in our public schools – and even worse, they are shockingly open about it,” Glenn said.  “These critics should be reminded that parents’ rights are clearly established in Michigan law. This legislation will reinforce parental rights in a very public and prominent way.”

Two passages would be included in the postings required in public schools, noting the importance of education and parental rights:

From Michigan’s Revised School Code of 1976: “It is the natural, fundamental right of parents and legal guardians to determine and direct the care, teaching, and education of their children. The public schools of this state serve the needs of the pupils by cooperating with the pupil’s parents and legal guardians to develop the pupil’s intellectual capabilities and vocational skills in a safe and positive environment.”

From Article VIII of the Michigan Constitution: “Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged.”

Glenn’s legislation also would require that all school district personnel attend an annual presentation regarding parental rights to ensure awareness of state law.

Glenn said the importance of her initiative was reinforced when the Michigan Democratic Party recently posted a Facebook message questioning the role of parents in the state’s public schools. After receiving sharp public criticism, the post was deleted.

The Democratic Party’s post included: “Not sure where this ‘parents-should-control-what-is-taught-in-schools-because-they-are-our-kids’ is originating …The purpose of a public education in a public school is not to teach kids only what parents want them to be taught. It is to teach them what society needs them to know.”

Glenn compared the Michigan Democratic Party’s post to similar comments last year by Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, who lost in an upset to newly sworn-in Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. “I’m not going to let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decision,” McAuliffe said during a September gubernatorial debate. “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”

Glenn said her legislation is modeled after federal and state laws that for decades have required workplaces to publicly post notices of civil, employment, labor, and workplace safety protections provided by law.

House Bill 5703 was officially read in the legislative record Tuesday and assigned to the House Education Committee.

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