S.C. leaders gather to urge passing of ‘Parental Bill of Rights’
Multiple groups held a press conference at the South Carolina State House on Wednesday to urge senators to vote for the Parental Bill of Rights.
The bill, which passed on a bipartisan 105-1 margin in the House, would establish a statewide policy that affirms and enumerates the “fundamental rights of parents to direct the upbringing, education, healthcare and general welfare of their children.”
Rights that would be granted to parents in the proposed bill include:
- Directing a child’s upbringing
- Directing a child’s moral and religious training
- Making and consenting to all physical and mental healthcare decisions for the child
- Accessing and reviewing all of the child’s health records
- Directing the education of the child, including school choice and to make “reasonable decisions” about the child’s education in public schools
- Accessing and reviewing all educational records, written and electronic, that a local education agency has that relate to the child
If passed, the bill would also require the State Board of Education and other local education agencies, such as school boards, to create, implement and enforce minimum standards related to parental rights.
In addition to abiding by the minimum standards laid out in the bill, local education agencies’ in policies would have to include:
- A plan to improve parent-teacher communication and involvement when it comes to homework, discipline and attendance
- Procedures to allow parents to review curriculum and teacher-training materials for any class that their child is enrolled in or considering enrolling in
- Procedures allowing parents to learn the nature and purpose of school clubs and other extracurricular activities and to withdraw their child from activities they object to
- Procedures requiring a five-day notice to receive consent from a parent before their child receives instruction concerning gender roles, stereotypes, identity, expression or sexual orientation.
- Allowing parents to withdraw their child from any instruction or presentation that they believe is harmful, including those that conflict with their beliefs and/or practices concerning sex, morality or religion
Current health policies would also be changed to “clarify, strengthen and expand requirements for parental consent for non-emergency medical treatment of minors.”
Supporters of the bill said that its creation was years in the making and involved members of the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women, the South Carolina Catholic Conference, the South Carolina Southern Baptist Convention, Palmetto Promise, Palmetto Family and Moms for Liberty.
Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs for Moms for Liberty, Charlie Misseijer, said that the bill shifts the burden of proof from parents to the government.
“If the government ever tries to interfere or overstep your fundamental right to raise your child as you see fit, it must meet the highest, toughest test our legal system has developed,” she said.