Friends,

The State of Michigan is inarguably one of the best states in our
Republic in which to home educate our children.  Except Driver Education.

A few years ago, I contacted the Michigan Secretary of State to
determine if there was any way of teaching my kids to drive.  I was
told in no uncertain terms that unless I was a certified Driver
Education Instructor, there was no mechanism to teach my children to
drive.  Their letter did say that the Michigan Legislature could draft
a law to change that requirement.

Several states allow parent directed driver education using several
approved curricula, including Driver Ed in a Box
www.driveredtraining.com and the National Driver Training Institute
www.nationaldrivertraining.com.  My daughter attended a local Driver
Education school.  Surprisingly, after only 4 hours of classroom and 2
hours behind the wheel, my daughter was given a provisional driver
permit.  Obviously, the state believes that parents are completely
qualified to teach their children to drive.  (As an aside, Michigan
has an excellent and comprehensive graduated new driver law.)

So, it was off to the Legislature.  I discussed this issue with
Senator Alan Sanborn who referred me to his Legislative Director, Phil
Hendges.  He was excited about the idea and referred it to his
research staff.  Mr. Hendges also told me that Senator Sanborn, along
with most of the Senate and a great number of Representatives are very
supportive of home schooling.

While in Lansing this past week, I met with Mr. Hendges to discuss
this issue.  He informed me that the draft legislation has been
written but that (not surprisingly) I am the only constituent to contact

their office about this issue.  I told him that I thought we could
change that.

What can you do?

First, read the report "Parent Taught Driver Education Saves Lives" by
Christopher J. Klicka of Home School Legal Defense Association.
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000036.asp

Then, contact your State Representative and your State Senator in
Lansing. You can find their contact information at
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Find.aspx.

Send them a copy of the HSLDA report and ask them to support or
co-sponsor Senator Sanborn's legislation.  Together, we can greatly
improve Michigan's Home Schooling legacy, and teach our own children
to be safer drivers.  At the request of Phil Hendges, please copy your
correspondence to Senator Sanborn as well senasanborn@senate.michigan.gov

As a side note, while in the Senator's office, I asked my daughter if
she learned anything in Driver-Ed could not have taught her.  She told
us "No, from about the age of eleven, you were telling me about things
I would need to know when I began to drive."

Please pass this on to any home school friends and family, or anyone
else who supports this common sense legislation.  If you would like to
discuss this, please e-mail me at  parentleddrivered@yahoo.com.

Regards,

Steve Padgett

Below is a sample letter to your Legislator


Senator _________________

Lansing, MI


Dear Senator ___________,

The State of Michigan has led the nation in enacting graduated driver
education licensing for our young drivers.  It has led to a marked
decrease in fatalities and accidents.  For many of us though, it is
not enough.

Michigan is also a great state in which to educate our children in a
number of ways.  My family chooses to home educate our children.  We
are able, with no government or school district interference to fully
educate our children up through high school.  However, we are unable
to educate our children in one crucial, life changing and critical
curriculum, that of driver education.

According to insurance statistics, out of every 100 teen drivers:

37 will be ticketed for speeding

28 will be involved in accidents

13 will be injured in an automobile accident

4 will be ticked for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

1 will be killed in an automobile accident

Conversely, a University of Colorado survey of students taught using
the National Driver Training Institute parent taught driver education
program, www.nationaldrivertraining.com out of every 100 teen drivers:

8 will be ticketed for speeding

8 will be involved in accidents

6 will be injured in an automobile accident

1 will be ticked for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

There were no fatalities

Senator Alan Sanborn is preparing legislation to allow home educators
and other parents to join several other States in our Republic in allowing parent led
driver education.

I would encourage you to read the article entitled "Parent Taught
Driver Education Saves Lives" written by Christopher J. Klicka, Senior
Counsel of the Home School Legal Defense Association.  .
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000036.asp

Then, please co-sponsor or support Senator Sanborn's common sense
legislation to allow parents in the State of Michigan the freedom to
practice their responsibility, if they so desire of teaching their
children the importance of safe, mature driving.

Thank you for serving our state and considering my request.  I look
forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,