As I’ve noted elsewhere, one of the many problems with the Parents’ Bill of Rights (SB 272) that recently failed to make it out of the General Court is that there are no penalties for failing to comply with it.
This isn’t a surprise. That’s the case for many RSAs, which are actually suggestions rather than laws. One of my recent favorites is RSA 193:H-2, which requires schools to ensure that all students are proficient, as measured by the state assessment.
No school has been within shouting distance of meeting this requirement within living memory. But what consequences have been meted out?
When I talk to school board members, I always recommend that they get into the habit of asking about any RSA or Department of Education rule that someone cites: Or what? What happens if we just ignore this?
The odds are pretty good that the answer is: Nothing.
Anyway, a school district in North Dakota has given us a preview of what happens when you pass a law ‘requiring’ schools to do something — in this case, requiring schools to be truthful with parents regarding gender issues with their children — without including penalties for non-compliance.
Just get your kids out of school already.
