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Sociological Strip Search Bill Is Back Again

This bill is like herpes. It keeps coming back.  We’ve been fighting it since June of 2011.

The state legislature is once again looking to authorize public schools to interrogate your children about private family matters and your political views.  The IRS, NSA , TSA and Drones can’t catch everything.  The government needs school children to spy on their families too. If the schools can get the information from the kids, the federal government sends money.

Assembly Bill A2421 is up for a vote before the full Assembly this afternoon.  Call or email you legislators now, right now, and tell them to vote NO.  Call or email Governor Christie and ask that he veto the bill if it passes and gets to him.  It has already passed the Senate.

The original bill would have removed a requirement that parents provide written consent before schools can ask students questions like this:

(1) political affiliations;

(2) mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student or the student’s family;

(3) sexual behavior and attitudes;

(4) illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior;

(5) critical appraisals of other individuals with whom a respondent has a close family relationship;

(6) legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers;

(7) income, other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under a program; or

(8) social security number.

If this bill become law, schools will simply have to notify parents that the survey will take place.  No written consent for their children to participate “voluntarily” will be required.

In an effort to thwart opposition, the sponsors have proposed amending the bill to remove questions about political affiliation, sexual behavior/attitudes and social security number from authorized questions.  The amendment would also prohibit the intrusive information collected from being used for marketing or other commercial purposes “not related to education” (drive a truck through that loop hole).  The amendment makes the bill no less dangerous or objectionable.

GET WRITTEN PARENTAL CONSENT.  Educators get that consent for field trips, etc.  The argument that it is too difficult to get for intrusive survey is bull.’ Assuming” that parents are just not paying attention is as disingenuous the telemarketer assuming you will love that ginzu knife they’re giving you for a ‘free trial.’

The proponents of the bill want to allow schools to employ a scamming tactic referred to as “negative consent.”  That’s the technique that telemarketers use when they offer you a product or service for “free” for 30 days.  If you don’t take affirmative action to cancel the “free trial” your credit card is charged monthly until you catch up with the scammers and cancel.

Our ongoing thanks to Carolee Adams, President of the Eagle Forum of New Jersey, for fighting this government intrusion into our personal lives, and for keeping us informed.

 

Posted: June 20th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: NJ State Legislature | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments »