I am not sure if this has been asked or even an issue but how do you handle someone asking why your kid isn't in school? I had never thought about it but my son was home sick yesterday and we had to run up to Kroger to get some medicine and the lady checking us out asked "why aren't you in school?" I just said he's home sick but when I start homeschooling he will be running all my errands with me. Has anyone had a problem with this? If a cop asks me I know I will just respond "he's homeschooled" but do I need to carry around proof like my registration with the academy? Truancy is a BIG issue here in Tennessee and I wouldn't want to get in any trouble.
When asked (which isn't often but it does happen) I smile sweetly and say my girls are homeschooled. And I say it in a very positive way. The person asking usually just says "Oh" and that is the end of it.
I rarely have any one ask why my ds isn't in school and when they do he is the one who usually pipes up "I'm doing homeschool." There have been no negative responses to that --at least none that have been vocalized! LOL!-- If I answer it is usually a quick "We homeschool" and leave it at that. I have never been approached by an officer so maybe truancy is more of an issue in Memphis? (I'm in the Nashville area.) And even though ds is in k, he looks older because of his height so I know people realize he is old enough for school. I actually have more people look at us and ask "homeschool?" then why he isn't in school......and generally that usually turns into a pretty positive conversation about someone they know who homeschools or wants to. After all that, I think you should answer however you feel most comfortable or let ds answer...........
the same as the other ladies. i get asked that often. i or one of the kids answer that we homeschool. we get a lot of positive responses mixed with the odd off hand comment. which we ignre and go on.
Lately I've noticed more schoolage kids out and about. We needed to buy Rachael a top for pictures last Thursday, and there were THREE families (other than ours!) with schoolage kids in Kohl's alone! If asked, my kids usually just tell them, "We're homeschooled!" It's common enough now that people don't ask any further. Though I HAVE been out places on field trips (once in the summer even!) and people (mostly older!) come up and comment, "Oh, do you homeschool your children?" One was asking, because her daughter was wanting to hs, and she was curious how I did things.
Yup, I just answer that we homeschool and usually it's the end of the conversation. Sometimes though we get positive or negative feedback after that. I know what you mean about being afraid of truancy and such. One day during my first month of homeschooling there was a city function at the local police station at noon. I wanted to show my kids the police building and let them see the police officers and the new police K9 unit. I figured that was part of our social studies studying our community. I was so nervous to be around city officials and police officers with my son not being in school and no documentation on me. No one ever asked though! I think I've read in a homeschooling book somewhere that you might want to keep a copy of your home education forms in your car's glove box just in case you need them or just to make yourself feel comfortable.
We tell whoever asks that we homeschool. I do not carry anything special with me except my HSLDA card incase I have to call them. Other than that, I do not carry proof that we homeschool.
when we have been asked my dd1 says 'i am home educated' and if they are negative she will go on to say how she was bullied at school and how happy she is!! i have never told her to say anything but she stand her own now
We just say that we homeschool. I just wanted to add that I have never been stopped by or asked by anyone of any importance. The truancy thing is big here too, but it's the school who presses the charges, not just a random cop.
We just say we homeschool and it's never been an issue. I keep my association cards in my wallet just in case I can use them for a discount!
I can not imagine that there is a place in the United States of America where you could be with your children and have a police officer need to see some sort of paper!!!! for heaven sake. I got stopped for speeding once in Tucson...I was on my way to work (over 20 years ago) and the police officer asked me what I was doing "in this part of town" I was so shocked at the tone of the question it took me a minute to find my voice. (I lived on the other side of town) I asked him what right he had to speak to me that way. I told him if he would like to give me a ticket that I wished for him to do that as quickly as possible but that in this country it was none of his business why I was anywhere in public...he stammered a bit and looking back, maybe he was flirting??? but I didn't get a ticket. OK sorry a bit of topic eh? Another story...small town. My son goes to Band at the Middle school, He walks there, at about 10:45. So somebody saw him and called the local elementary school. (He is quite small for his age) thinking maybe he was "misplaced" The councillor called me, thinking it might be Jazz as she knows us. (He went to ps until middle of 5th) There are not very many blonde boys around here. All in all, I don't worry too much about what other people think, but I try not to come off as snotty, so as to gain a friend of hs rather than put people off.
Thanks for all the responses! I knew I would just tell people he's homeschooled but was just wondering about the proof thing..then again like someone else said I doubt some cop is going to take the time to do anything besides ask me why he's not in school!
as long as your son is with you and not acting up and making a big scene. No one ever does a thing about it. They never ask here. If they did I would just say we homeschool and love it.
hey you all just reminded me, we have been to big city function where they were opening a park, and my kids won prizes, when asked by the Mayor where they attend school they both said "I homeschool" and the mayor said great!
Here's a story for you. I was homeschooled, and during spring break, a friend (who went to ps) and I were at the mall. We were told that McDonalds wouldn't serve us and stopped by a security guard. I explained but he looked at me like I was trying to pull one over on him.
We are told to have the kids carry a copy of their "excuse" from public school on them if they do any errands during the school day. I'm sure that would help in this situation! I have had a discussion just this year with the head of the civic association. They sent out a newsletter, and in it they said that school-age children were not permitted out in public during school hours (!!!). Supposedly it came from the police department. I called the police department, and the juvenile division said they knew NOTHING about it (!!!). So I wrote the president, and told him that I was VERY concerned about his printing misinformation, and was concerned that someone might see my children outside playing during a break and call Children's Services. He was very nice and sent me the exact law. According to the law, it DID "exempt" homeschool children, but he hadn't quoted THAT part!
wow! Living near a public school we see the truancy car every so often, it even says the name on the side lol. I have kids who play inside because of my own fears of them getting in trouble and causing us problems. IF I had known then what Iknow now, I would have let them play wherever on breaks, now we go to parks and take runs around the block during the school day, one person whow orked with special ed kids at one of our parks questioned me once, thats all.
