State Representatives Kevin Schmidt (R–Cahokia Heights) and Brandun Schweizer (R–Danville) held a press conference Wednesday to promote HB 4253 — a bill that would mandate kindergarten for every child in Illinois. Apparently, no one has told them that conservatives oppose expanding government school influences over our children — especially homeschool families who have deliberately chosen a different path.

In 2013, lawmakers in Springfield lowered the compulsory school age from 7 to 6. Now, shockingly, two downstate Republicans want to push that mandate even further? There is no justification for the government to usurp the God-given authority of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children. Parents, not politicians, are best equipped to determine when their child is ready socially, emotionally, and academically for formal schooling.

Forcing children into the system earlier will not fix what’s broken in education. More seat time does not equal better outcomes. In fact, it often means earlier exposure to the same systemic problems many families are already trying to avoid.

Think about it. In Illinois, so-called “comprehensive” sex education begins in kindergarten!

And let’s be honest — there isn’t much real education happening in many government schools today. The decision about when a child begins formal education — especially in a system increasingly shaped by political agendas and powerful teachers unions — belongs to parents, not the state.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send an email to your state representative to ask him/her to vote against HB 4253 and the expanding role of government in the affairs of Illinois families. Government should not be expanding its control over our children.

BACKGROUND

Why do our elected officials keep introducing legislation that effectively pushes parents aside? Do they really believe the government can better educate and care for our children? The record says otherwise. According to Wirepoints, only 39 in every 100 Illinois student can read at grade level.

That is horrific!

Parents, grandparents, and church leaders must also understand what’s at stake. The earlier the Left gains a captive audience with our children, the more likely their influence is to take root. One hour of Sunday school cannot compete with 30–35 hours per week of godless indoctrination. Parents, grandparents, and church leaders must understand how important it is that we remove our children from these indoctrination camps.

There is no good reason for parents to hand their children over to a system that seeks to undermine their God-given authority. Parents — not politicians — are best equipped to decide when their children are socially, emotionally, and academically ready for formal education.

State lawmakers will not fix what’s broken in education by forcing children into the system earlier. More seat time does not produce better outcomes — it often just exposes children sooner to the same systemic problems families are trying to avoid.

IFI continues to call on Christian families to take responsibility for the education and formation of their children. Too many government schools have drifted away from core academic instruction and toward social engineering, moral confusion, and revisionist history.

And now some lawmakers want to start that even earlier — by mandating kindergarten? What’s next? Mandatory preschool?

(IFI staff & AI tools assisted with proofreading, additions & clarity;
the human author made all final content decisions.)