If she looked young and didn't have an ID on her, I can understand them taking her in. I do think I would be open to having hs'ed kids carry an ID on them when out in public without an adult. But even then, so many kids are getting in trouble by hanging with young, 20-somethings. And so many of the teens at co-op drive themselves and their friends.
Personally, I believe the security airports have implemented is necessary, although I also believe that curfew laws are different. As I read through this thread. I do not believe that the majority have a problem with homeschoolers being questioned. The problem rests with what happens when officers or school administration think they are above the law and try to enforce their own. Those who know me will vouch for the fact that I am huge on law enforcement. But when a homeschool student, who proves they are homeschooled, is treated as though they are truant, when most private schools operate under a different brick and mortar law than the public system, then I can understand the problem. I live in a high crime area too. Still, I do not believe that any official has a right to go above the law and homeschooling laws in Cali say that we operate as our own private schools unless we are under a program or independent study. Meaning we make our own rules as long as they fall under what the state requires (how corny does that sound?! :lol: ) Public school curfews do not apply. Yet they are being applied to homeschoolers when legally, they shouldn't be. Again, I do not have a problem with officials asking us to show we homeschool, I have a problem with them trying to apply rules where they do not legally apply. ...and I agree that it would be nice if we could come up with a way to show that we homeschool so the officers can focus on other matters. ...and personally, I know some will not agree, I do not believe the police should be involved in truancy matters. It is a public school matter. If the student is out breaking the law, then they need to get involved for the crime commited but leave the truancy matters to the school.
I believe that truancy laws are unconstitutional. They are for a small group that is seperated out of the general public because an even smaller subgroup of that is misbehaving. The police should deal with people of whatever age that are commiting crimes. I do not have any problem with a police officer questioning my child...it is reasonable to assume that there may be a problem...however, with a polite answer that should be that. It is like the 20 yo...she is guilty until she can prove her age??!!! that is craziness. What about a 16 yo who has legally dropped out? a 17 yo that has graduated and is in the military...it is just silly to make a law that certain people are not allowed "out". Imagine if it was race instead of age. any black person (or in our area) hispanic couldn't go to Sonic on friday night because the last 15 incidents involved someone who could be classified that way. ugh. It makes just as much sense. I once had a police officer ask me during a traffic stop why I was "so far away from home" (across town?? maybe 10 miles.) It was definitly a "tone" thing. I retorted that last time I checked it wasn't the police's business why I was anywhere, and did he want to give me a ticket for speeding, because I had things to do. (I guess technically as I was breaking the law, he felt he could ask me what I was doing.) Anyway, to make a long story longer. My point is I will allow my children to go where I need them to go, when I need them to do so. I would fight any daytime cufew tooth and nail should it come up. I do not believe it is right to criminalize a persons presense in an otherwise public place due to age or disability.
In California a student has to be 18 to drop out without parental consent and 16 with parental consent. It is said that the student needs to pass the California High School Proficiency Exam in order to get out at 16 but this isn't completely true. I know at least 9 people who dropped out of high school and never took this test. Two of these people are my sisters. The others are the children of different friends. The parents just went to the school and signed them out permanently.
Yeppers Jackie you are right. Actually they have 14 days from the time of your notification. But with the Code it doesn't spell out if those days are business days or actual days. And yes they have to send you by the code a letter of compliance and excuse of attendance. But with Wyatt Earp at the helm of our school district it never happens lol.
Lol, Heather! I had a secretary from the district call me about two years ago, all upset that I didn't have grades down for my kids. Never mind that 1) it's not required and 2) I've NEVER listed grades. She was very upset about that, telling me that "everyone else" had provided that information, etc. And then she said that she just wouldn't process the forms if I didn't give her the information she needed. So I sweetly explained that *I* was in compliance by sending in my paperwork; whether or not *she* chose to be in compliance by processing it really didn't matter to me!
I was just thinking that lol. Alright different note say you wanted to get Homeschool Id's for your kids. Where in the world would you get them from? Or do you just make them?
good ?, i was wondering that myself, lol Katie, i know your boys are good boys and are by no means punks, lol. im just saying, we have lived in a very small town also, but every now and then a state trooper comes rolling through, who wouldnt know swat about your boys and might just assume thiings, lol. i agree with the point that the police have no way to tell who is hsed and who isnt, im just saying that once we have proven we are hsing, they shouldnt give us any more grief.
I think you can get one through HSLDA. Our district doesn't issue my kids ID's, but they do give a letter they ask them to carry if they're doing errands during school hours. Carl and I have discussed making ID's ourselves. It really isn't hard to do in the days of internet.
Alright I found a template for Homeschool ID's. Now it looks like you can print them free from your computer/ printer but they do have the option to order ones that are plastic. http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/homeschool-id/?source=HCOM030909
Whether one lives in a high crime area or not isn't the issue. The issue is, are we willing to criminalize a group of people based on how they look or some other thing that they cannot change? (age, color) as opposed to their actions. are we willing to give up our rights (or our childrens rights...and that is easier, isn't it, when it isn't really us? How I would LOVE to get "hauled in" as a truant!!!hee hee) Anyway, are we willing to give up rights for security? Is hassling young people "out" in the daytime making us safer?? Really? I find it hard to believe. It just gives the police "probable cause" to hassle those they do not like the "looks" of. Since there are plenty of legal reasons why a child should be out and about during the day, to criminalize that is unAmerican. ugh.
I agree with much that was said opposing the curfew...or at least not applying it to homeschoolers. I never carry my papers that prove I homeschool on me. I can't imagine a cop coming up to me as I walk down the street asking me for my papers! LOL. I would think I entered the twilight zone or was sent back in time to Germany or something. lol. Benjamin Franklin once said that those who give up liberty for temporary comfort do not deserve liberty. I agree. We give up our rights little by little everyday because we just want it handled or "someone" should take care of it. GM may as well stand for Government Motors...geesh...this is NOT the America our forefathers.......ok...ok...I am rambling again....LOL...I am just so opposed to anything BIG BROTHERISH...or big government. Makes my skin crawl.
Ladies, I am totaly againist big brother stepping in. But, hay come on it's American, which one of you ladies right now would sit back here and take it if someone broke into your house and took some of your things and it was a teenager that should of been in school. Which one of you ladies would sit here and say I set my dd or ds on a errand and he or she was raped. All because cops weren't doing there job because hs'er don't want cops to stop and check anyone walking during the hours of 8 and 3pm. They aren't asking for our arm or leg they are just telling us to be more careful. I have never been stop or answer twice about the girls being out of school. I think as long as they are with someone it's fine. No kids should be just left to walk alone. Ok if they have to run to the library or something like that, that is fine, Have a ID on them. It's nothing big. A piece of paper. I am not one for people to step into anyone business or ask a ton of question, so to stop people from doing that what do you do, don't draw attention. A child walking alone on a street with nothing is drawing attention.
I get your argument, Kris but I still disagree. There were daytime break-ins in my neighborhood by teens and I still am against this. I don't think it's "American" to question someone for walking down the street. Police should not have the power to simply question whoever they want because they loosely fit a description. There are many reasons a kid could be out on the street between 8-3 and not all mean he/she is a rapist or a thief. Cops should not have the power to take someone into custody until the person can be proven innocent. Sometime ago, a neighor a few doors down had her house broken into. The description was of a black man. Well, my dh is black. He wasn't home at the time...but my neighbor had to vouch for him to a cop because someone else said there was only one black man who lived on the block. Being black was not reason enough to suspect my husband. Maybe if on top of being black he was caught walking down the street with a tv...lol. Sure, he wasn't questioned or even a real suspect. Point is that being young is not reason enough to be questioned either.
