Tim Jones: Proposed constitutional amendment would protect parents' rights

(In a portion of his latest newsletter, Speaker of the House Tim Jones, R-Eureka, explains a proposed constitutional amendment which, according to him, would protect parents' rights.)

As my colleagues joined me in standing in defense of the lives of the unborn, they also joined me in defending the rights of parents to raise their children. Our constitution outlines our basic rights from freedom of speech to freedom of religion, but it does not spell out the rights of parents. Because we believe parents should have the final say in the upbringing of their children, we approved a piece of legislation that would forever enshrine the rights of parents in our Missouri Constitution.

The proposed constitutional amendment specifies that parents have a fundamental right to exercise exclusive control over the care, custody, and upbringing of their minor children, including all decisions involving the discipline, education, religious instruction, health, medical care, place of habitation, and general well-being of the minor children. Parents have the right to choose to educate their children in public schools, private schools, or in-home education to prepare them for future obligations in life.

To protect that right the amendment would prohibit the state from denying or impairing the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children.

With this we can protect this fundamental right that currently is not enunciated in our constitution. By doing so we can ensure parents continue to be the decision makers in the lives of their children just as they should be.

The legislation now moves to the Senate. If approved there it would appear on the November ballot for voter approval.