HB235

Adding new requirements to the Educator Code of Conduct will have several negative effects that will make it harder for schools and individual teachers to provide a high quality education for NH students. These new requirements will serve to distract teachers from their primary responsibility of providing an appropriate education in a safe environment. They will also drive experienced educators who are already feeling overburdened by the demands of teaching in the 21st century out of the profession while driving down the numbers of college students who are considering making a career in education. Parents who feel that their rights are not being respected already have many avenues for being heard, beginning with contacting their children's teachers directly and having respectful conversations about what is being taught and how. At the very least, if parental rights must be included in the Teacher Code of Conduct, delineate them now, before the bill goes further, and involve teachers in the process of writing them.

The OCA opposes HB235, as written, as it may have a chilling effect on the relationship between children and teachers, guidance counselors, or other school staff who are often a trusted support for children outside of their parents, especially if children are in dangerous home situations. It raises significant concerns about child welfare and safety as teachers' current ethical obligation to their students - a trusted, safe space for many children - would be expanded to include parents, which could put children in danger. Given the crucial nature of having a caring and supportive adult in a child’s life, Governor Sununu and the Executive Council contracted with the One Trusted Adult program in 152 of New Hampshire’s schools in the summer of 2022. In a New Hampshire Department of Education press release, founder Brooklyn Raney explained that “When a student can name a trusted adult at school, we create our best chance for preventing bullying, mental health issues, and substance abuse, all while promoting positive self-worth, engagement in community and availability for learning. The time is now to turn our efforts as educators, parents, guardians, and all adults showing up for youth towards our greatest hope for supporting positive youth development – healthy relationships.” Limiting supports for those children only increases their risk of internalizing feelings which can lead to depression, anxiety, and self-harm. When we seek to understand a child’s barriers to disclosing abuse and/or neglect, there are a variety of barrier types. They include threats by a perpetrator, fears of the child, lack of opportunity, lack of understanding, and proximity/relationship with the perpetrator. Opportunity is largely found in a place of safety, security, familiarity, and trust. For many children, that is school. When we suppress our educator’s ability to receive a child’s words and channel them via the proper reporting outlets, we not only risk interfering with the integrity of a potential abuse and neglect investigation, but we also work against a child’s opportunity. If teachers face potential loss of their educator credentials for failing to fulfill a new and rather ambiguous "responsibility to... parents," school settings are at risk of no longer being a safe space for children to talk about unmet needs and abuse/neglect in the home. This bill could potentially cut off an avenue of safe outcry for a child, and therefore the preservation of an appropriate system response to abuse and neglect. The OCA can confirm that an incredibly high percentage of children and youth report to school staff and it is our request that that option remains a safe and viable one. Parents already have strongly established rights in New Hampshire, and access to their child's education environment, and do not need to invade a safe and trusted space of children. HB 235 is not in the best interest of children.

This bill creates a conflict between school boards and the role of teachers and parents.

This bill undermines the student-educator relationship.

As a former (37 years) educator - I could not have taught under rules like these. Strongly oppose any limitations on public school educators, especially in this political climate. We are not an Autocracy (yet).

As a retired teacher I know that teachers listen to parents and don't need to be legally liable to do it. This legislature must be full of lawyers who need business

I oppose this bill

Parents continue to insert themselves into classrooms across this country, undermining educators and professionals. We cannot allow for this to continue.

It is important that qualified people are in teaching positions!

And why would we do this? Children should be allowed to review information in a safe, school, environment. Without their parents.

As a proud New Hampshire educator for the last 8 years, I am in constant worry about how this government will continue to hurt the public education process. HB 235 is a sure fire way to get more qualified educators to leave the state to seek employment elsewhere. Stop undermining our profession by requiring ever changing rules and regulations that hurt the process. Parents are an important member of our school community, but allowing parents to set individual rules and guidelines for every public educator to follow is impossible and bound to hurt more teachers than help. By making individual rules for every student we harm the overall student population. This is an elitist bill that hurts minorities, immigrants, and students who's parents are hard working citizens and TRUST the education process as it is.

I am so tired of this 'parental rights' nonsense. Parental rights = my child is an object with no personhood. Parental rights = I'm mad my underqualified ignorant self doesn't have full control over what my children learn. It puts children in danger. Teachers' responsibility is to the children they educate and their best interests, NOT to whatever unqualified parent decides that the trans boogeyman is going to make them use pronouns or whatever. "PARENTAL RIGHTS" MORE LIKE RIGHT TO MAKE MY CHILD AFRAID AND SUICIDAL!

The Code of Conduct changes proposed are unfair. Adding parents to the bill and then allowing Commissioner Edleblut and the state board to decide the fate of the teacher. Teachers need to focus on their students and not have to worry about their fate when a parent is angry or frustrated.

As an educator I already have many responsibilities towards my students. To extend further responsibilities requires more work and time. There are only so many hours in a day and I am already working hours of overtime with no extra pay. I would be working even more hours with no pay.

It could create an unclear and unworkable set of responsibilities for educators.

Educators are responsible for teaching students, and the Code of Conduct relates to that relationship.. Parents already completed high school, and they should not be included in the Code of Conduct. I am concerned that parents are continuing to not let their own children complete high school on their own terms, and continue to interfere, rather than provide traditional support from home. This bill is an affront to teachers, and should not be passed.

The teachers responsibility is to educate the child, according to state standards and board expectations. This bill appears to be an open-invitation for parents to request duties and services of teachers as they deem fit. Work smarter, not harder folks.

I oppose this bill.

I am an educator and oppose this bill as it would create unnecessary restrictions and rules that could prevent me from performing my main job which is to ensure the wellbeing of my students.

I have been a public school teacher for 29 years and do not support expanding the educator's code of conduct to include parents. I am a professional who treats all of my students with respect. I fear this bill will open doors to parents who have an agenda about who does and does not deserve to feel safe within my classroom.

All Americans are entitled to a free and appropriate education through public schools. If the wealthy choose to send their children to a private school, it should be at their expense and not the public’s tax payer.

As an educator and community member I am opposing this bill. Our number one responsibility is to our students and to change this bill to include parents in the Code of Ethics and Conduct, and giving the Commissioner carte blanche power to oversee these cases is threatening in nature to educators. Why are you trying to create laws and policies that make working in education more challenging and difficult than it already is? This committee should be supporting educators, not targeting them.