Daytime Curfew/Homeschoolers

Discussion in 'Homeschooling in the News' started by HOMEMOM, Apr 2, 2009.

  1. HOMEMOM

    HOMEMOM New Member

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    Quote:

    DALLAS — This city is considering joining a rising number of others across the country that are imposing criminal penalties on kids who skip school to hang out at the mall or on local street corners.

    Such juvenile daytime curfews to combat truancy and crime are drawing protests from groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and from the parents of homeschooled children who, along with some parents of public-school students, object on grounds that such laws in effect criminalize otherwise law-abiding kids who may have good reasons for not being in school.


    See Full Story//www.homeedmag.com/blogs/newscomm/3017/wsj-more-cities-targeting-teens-with-daytime-curfew/
     
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  3. dalynnrmc

    dalynnrmc New Member

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    Austin has a daytime curfew, and in my understanding it gives homeschooling moms of high schoolers headaches.
     
  4. Sherri

    Sherri New Member

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    Hi DaLynn! We recently moved just outside of Austin (Leander for a few months)

    and see that you are in Austin:)

    I will only have a 10yo homeschooling but had not heard about the daytime curfew? Wow, I thought TX was waay easy for HS'ers?? Even in that regard. I see that is not so :eek:(.

    I am guessing that there is NOT a problem with being out with my 10ds during the day, correct? Not that it matters much...........we will do what we will do :lol:

    Other than this, have you found HSing here in TX to be *easy*? I have been researching HSing groups and have found a few through Yahoo Groups (to name one venue) but have not been involved as yet...waiting until I pull ds out of ps :)

    So........Hello! My name is Sherri and we don't know where we will live come Feb 2010 when our lease is up...still trying to decide between *suburban living*, neighborhood and all.......or *out* a little (not way out!)...I lean towards out a little, but don't want to take forever to get places *sigh*. LOL

    Looking forward to being *here*!
    Sherri
     
  5. mommix3

    mommix3 Active Member

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    Next year we are buying a homeschool I.D. for my older 2. They go to the skatepark and like to fish at the pond in the city park. I've been waiting for a call about truncey. If they have a HS I.D. Hopefully that will be enough proof that they are not skipping if an officer were to approach them.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2009
  6. dalynnrmc

    dalynnrmc New Member

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    First, it *is* only Austin city limits. Out in Leander, you shouldn't have a problem. And, even *in* city limits, we've never had issues and our kids are 10, 5, and 4. No one has ever even said anything to us.


    But yes, it's easy to homeschool here. We report to no one, just make sure you cover the basic 5... and even then, no one checks unless there's a problem. (The basic 5 are spelling, writing, grammar, math, and citizenship. Citizenship can include things like social studies work - maps and flags and such, or scouts - like we use, character work - like if you do any religious training, economical or environmental responsibility... anyway, it's not defined, and it's easy to make almost anything count for it. LOL)


    We are in far south Austin, in the process of a move to just outside of Kyle.

    Yes, though, getting around in Austin is a big deal. All depends on where work is and other places you frequent. I-35 and Mopac are both horrible. :evil: Feel free to PM me or start a new thread, though after today I'll be MIA for a while! :cool:
     
  7. homeschooler06

    homeschooler06 Active Member

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    Our state has something simliar. I am not sure everyone made a HUGE deal about it. Hubby and I were like we don't use the PS system so it don't concern us. It will be awhile before my children are out and about on their own, by then they will have their photo IDs and a cell. There is an issue call dad at work or mom at home.
     
  8. Emma's#1fan

    Emma's#1fan Active Member

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    We have a daytime curfew but it doesn't apply to homeschoolers. Not to say they aren't questioned if they are out without parental supervision. If they are with parents, they are usually not questioned.
     
  9. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    There's something similar here, and hs'ers are supposedly exempt. And the laws, from the way I understand them, are for children WITHOUT their parents, so it IS OK to take your kids with you to the store, park, etc. And when we get our paperwork back from the school district, we are given a letter that they are to carry on them to "prove" they are not truant if they are stopped. But having this letter on them is NOT required by law, regardless of what they tell you. HOWEVER, I make a point NOT to let my children out in public on their own during school hours. I figure that, even though they have the legal right, I'd rather not invite trouble.
     
  10. KrisRV

    KrisRV New Member

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    I think what they are talking about are kids without parents. It doesn't make a different if they are ps or hs.

    I have to agree with them. Children under the age of 18 should be with parents during school hours or someone who is in charge of them.


    I don't think hs'er should be treated any different then ps kids. If ps kids get in trouble for being out alone during school hours then so should hs kids.
     
  11. mamaof3peas

    mamaof3peas New Member

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    I personally dont see why you would think that even hs dc shouldnt be out during school hours. I mean, as long as they are getting the amt of school req. by law, and as long as they arent causing an issue, i think is ok. I mean, what about when they are 16 and want to get a job, or want to run an errand for mom, lol. I believe that if hs i legal, then we shouldnt have to force our kids to stay in during the hours a ps warrants are school hours. JMO though.
     
  12. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    I'm with 3Peas. For example, when my fil was at the hospital, we were going over and letting the dog out. It's not far, and if it were summer, I wouldn't have hesitated sending Rachael over on her bike. Or, if Rachael was old enough to drive, why shouldn't I send her to the store for me? That doesn't mean she's not getting her studies done. Our schedule is different than the PS school schedule.

    Or how about this. In central Ohio, different districts have spring break different weeks. Should the kids in district A not be permitted to go to a park with friends simply because district B isn't on break that week?
     
  13. HOMEMOM

    HOMEMOM New Member

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    I agree. The article also addressed this.

    Quote:

    Homeschoolers, kids who attend private schools on different schedules than the public schools are targets to be stopped. Even public school kids within the same district who might be on year round schedules (or visa versa) will be detained with the assumption of guilt until proven innocent.
     
  14. Emma's#1fan

    Emma's#1fan Active Member

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    Homeschoolers should be able to be out and about as long as they are following homeschool regulations.

    At the same time, I can understand homeschoolers being questioned while they are out without parental supervision. Since a person can't tell the difference between a homeschooler at the park and a truant public student, then they do have to be questioned to tell the difference between who is who. It becomes a problem when the officer goes beyond a simple question and causes a bigger problem, such as taking the child in when they already proved they are homeschooled.

    A few years back there was a problem like this. A boy was shopping for the holidays. He was found riding his bike to the store. He was already done with his daily lessons. He was taken in by the officer who saw him out during public school hours. His mom was arrested. After HSLDA took it to court, charges were dropped. The problem is this never should have gone this far. Once the boy and his mom were questioned, the officer should have headed the other direction.
     
  15. mommix3

    mommix3 Active Member

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    I really don't think that my kids should have to stay with me during school hours. We have a totally differant schedule than the public school. It's nothing for us to take a few weeks off during a month while p.s. kids are in school. But at the same time, my kids are doing their studies during the summer when the other kids are out on their summer break. I think that as long as they have proof that they are homeschooled and they aren't causing mischief than they should be allowed to go out into public.
     
  16. sixcloar

    sixcloar New Member

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    We have a daytime curfew, too. I haven't heard of anyone having trouble with it. My kids have HSLDA ID's so, if they ever need to be out away from me, we can use those.

    As long as children are with an adult there isn't a problem anyway.
     
  17. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    A few years ago, there were two hs'ed kids at the Rec Center (or outside it maybe...?) during school hours. Someone called, police came. The kids HAD THE PAPER FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THEM that said they were hs'ed, and showed this to the police officer. The police hauled them in anyway, saying they had no business being out and about during school hours. It caused a big stink at the time (lots of hs'ers in our area). Don't remember how it was resolved. I think the police said it had nothing to do with them being "truant", but for their "safety".
     
  18. dalynnrmc

    dalynnrmc New Member

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    Yes, supposedly hs'd kids are exempt here, too... but they do go a little nuts sometimes on having the kids "prove" they are homeschooled. The city police dept has an ID system and they want all the hs'd kids to do that... but we're in green Austin, and so many of the people object to that, too. (Big brother government conspiracy, apparently. They want to keep track of all of us and know our every moves! RUNN!!! aaahhhh!!! Geesh, it's just an ID card, :roll: and it would save you a ton of headaches.)

    But I've heard of folks having problems with kids being taken in even when they have one of these ID cards, so maybe that's part of the problem. Something about just because the APD has it, not all the officers are fmailiar with it and they think the kids just came up with some fake ID all on their own.... :?:

    Anyway. One mom made up their own hs'ing ID and on the back it says something about part of their hs curriculum is that she wants her kiddos to learn to navigate the city's public transportation system and they have school permission to be out and about and using the buses, etc, at any time of day. :lol: (It's in small type on the back of the card, or something. I thought it was a great idea, and she does have a story about her kids - 14 and 17 - being stopped and the IDs being accepted as proof of them HSing and they weren't hassled, etc. Heavily questioned and all, but not taken in.)


    Okay, done. I'm bored. Waiting on realtor's call.
     
  19. Heather

    Heather New Member

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    Now we are in Ohio as well and there is no daytime curfew in our district/ county. But like so many other hs'ers in our area we are just waiting for that moment. Our super. does not send out the letters stating that our notifications are in and we are excused from attendance in the public schools. So what we all do is carry a copy of our notifications. We live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and most of the time people don't say much but I do have to share one thing.
    One morning (after the public school started their day) we decided that we need doughnuts for breakfast. So we went to the local shop walked in and the lady at the counter started talking to my oldest about why he wasn't in school and was he buying these for his class so on. I love love love my son's answer " What do you want to know for? Is this the Spanish Inquisition?" And then of course the lady behind the counter says Spanish Inquisition? And my son says you know when people were interrogated and killed for their beliefs. And then finishes with perhaps you should have read your history. LOL I did inform him we do not talk to others that way but mom was standing there with a smile on my face and thinking go get her son lol.
     
  20. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    LOL!!! Isn't it amazing? When my fil came home from the hospital, I had to be at his house when the hospital bed arrived. We weren't sure about the timing, so I brought all three of my kids with their school work. He arrives, starts assembling the bed, and I'm at the kitchen table, helping Phillip with his math. The guy comments, "So are you on Break from school this week, and Mom is STILL making you do school work!?!?" Phillip explained to him that no, they were homeschooled. This guy must live in the middle of nowhere, because he had never heard of hs'ing before!

    I'm thinking that in Ohio, the superintendent is REQUIRED to send you a letter within so many days of receiving yours. If not, HE is in violation of the law! It's not something I'd want to push, but it's something to keep in the back of your mind.
     
  21. KrisRV

    KrisRV New Member

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    ok I am going to be the hardball here. Now don't get me wrong I do hs and have for years and will till both girls through high school.

    I don't see any different in a hs child being stop and question by a police man. So, what if they hs and have different lifes. The policeman don't know that and they are doing there jobs and need to keep the kids off the street.

    If you child is 16 and needs to run a errand without you then make them take a ID whats wrong with that. PS have too.

    We should not be treated any different, all it does is draw more attention to hs'ers and we don't need it.


    I feel that if a child is left alone for along time or out alone thats when they find trouble.

    So, I think of all laws out there this is one that is great and needs to stay put.
     

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