Greg Erken - Parental Rights on PBS 'To the Contrary'

Parental rights debate on PBS "To the Contrary," 3/8/96.

Background:
From 1994 - 1996, I was Executive Director and spokesman for Of The People, a national parental rights group. We advocated for a Parental Rights Amendment (PRA) to be added to state constitutions.

The amendment read:

1. The right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children shall not be infringed.

2. The legislature shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

The amendment drew wide support and was introduced in 30 state legislatures. The PRA advanced the farthest in Colorado, where over 83,000 signatures were gathered to put a citizens’ initiative on the state ballot in November, 1996 (Amendment 17).

The Colorado version of the Parental Rights Amendment differed from the text used elsewhere around the country, adding language that specified the right “of parents to direct and control the upbringing, education, values, and discipline of their children.”

This version of the amendment was defeated by a vote of 53% to 47% on Nov. 5, 1996.

I’ve uploaded all of the video I have relative to Of the People and parental rights to my YouTube channel. See my Parental Rights playlist for more.

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