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Republicans Pledge To Ease Home School Restriction
Mar 16, 2010
Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats said if elected, he will appoint representatives from the home school community to the state’s Board of Education.
Vander Plaats said the move would “symbolically, if nothing else, make sure this is about parental rights, not government control.”
“If we allow a Supreme Court to dictate what our freedoms are, how you educate your children is in jeopardy,” Vander Plaats said. “This is a freedom issue.”
Vander Plaats is generally considered more conservative than his two fellow candidates, but Branstad has been racing to prove his conservative bona fides in the closing months of the race.
“As I look to the future, I want to assure you that with me you have a friend who understands that the primary responsibility for educating children lies with you, the parents,” Branstad said.
Vander Plaats said activists shouldn’t be afraid of voting with their convictions.
“We should not have to compromise, we should be able to vote for a principled conservative,” Vander Plaats said.
Whoever emerges will face Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, who has not made a formal announcement of his candidacy but filed his nominating petition this week. He has left little doubt that he will seek a second term in office.
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