Knight in Shining Armor - Granite Grok

Knight in Shining Armor

So here’s this group of folks – “an all-volunteer coalition of concerned citizens and leaders in the community that advocates for educational options in the Granite State. We support parents directing their children’s education and making the decisions that best fit their children’s needs. We believe that families should not be limited to their zip codes or socioeconomic status to have their children’s learning needs and goals met. When a child is in a program that “fits” them — everyone wins…the child, the family, and the community” – that’s been doing yeoman’s work at the state house in Concord for years trying to stem the ever-overreaching arm of the state Department of Education.

The Most High Commissioner of Education, Queen Barry, routinely sets her minions upon them whenever they dare to the oppose, nay, even question her reign.  Under her reign, the NH Department of Education has been weaponized, strong-arming legislators, school administrators and parents, directing her army of thralls to attack whenever any peasant attempts to raise his or her head over the parapet.

Yesterday, one such peasant, simply desiring to comply with state law, was so set upon.

“Earlier today I visited the Corporate Division of the Secretary of State’s office to register the trade name School Choice for New Hampshire. While this is usually a straight-forward process, I experienced the petty fiefdom of state bureaucrats. Although my application passed initial scrutiny, the final step of obtaining the certificate was halted by the overreach of the Department of Education. Apparently the Department of Education has a lock on all names that use the word “school” or “college.” The SOS bureaucrat could only tell me that I needed to obtain the DOE’s consent to use one of these magic words, yet they could only supply the main office phone number, and not the particular department or person to contact. That would be a dead-end bureaucratic maze if ever one existed. My offer to obtain a notarized document attesting that the organization will not offer a degree, diploma, or certification was not sufficient, and not the real issue. There is no statute giving the DOE this authority, yet the Secretary of State’s office is willing to hold organizations and businesses hostage to the department’s will.

While my friend and I considered our options, including contacting an attorney, we decided to visit the State House to see if some friendly senators were available. Thankfully, Senator Kevin Avard came to my rescue. Sen. Avard immediately offered to help, and accompanied us back across the street right there and then. Once back at the Corporate Division’s offices, the staff came to the conclusion that a few additional words to describe the organization was all that was needed to approve the trade name, all without the DOE’s blessing.

Thank you to Sen. Kevin Avard for his unfailing aid to help allies and fight unjust bureaucratic overreach whenever needed.

In what seems like a 100 years war  between DOE bureaucrats and NH parents, finding a knight, a champion, like Senator Avard, is a rare and beautiful thing.

Thank you, Sir Avard, for stepping into the breach. And know that those you defend and help protect will not forget.

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