A harried homeschool mom on one of the e-mail loops I read recently wrote that she has been warned to stay in the house with her kids during local school hours so that she will not be harassed by truant officers and police officers.
It is so sad that people are still giving out this kind of misguided advice. We don't need to cower in fear as long as we are obeying the law. I'm not a lawyer, and I don't play one on TV ;), but for what it's worth, here's the response I wrote to this dear lady:
Unless (1) your town has a daytime curfew or (2) your state/local homeschooling laws (actual laws, not just what the often-misinformed truant officers "think") specify that you must school for specific hours of the day as opposed to just a total number of hours per day/year, and (3) if you are complying with the applicable homeschooling laws, there is no reason to imprison yourself and your children in the house during government school hours.
In my early years of homeschooling (this is our ninth), I heard people advocate this kind of hiding during the day. I just don't buy it.
Sure, if your kids are visible during government school hours, you will get more questions. But if you are complying with the law, you have nothing to fear. You can answer questions with a simple "we're homeschooling" and, if you want to say more, "We're homeschooling, and we have our own schedule." In my experience, that satisfies 90% of questioners. Many folks, in fact, talk about how they know someone who homeschools, or they wish they had homeschooled, or say how wonderful they think it is that we're homeschooling, etc. I've written about how to respond to folks who question our homeschooling here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/EclecticBibliophile/18679/
Truant officers and police officers are not authorized to "harass" law-abiding American citizens. If this is a problem in your area, I strongly suggest that you join Homeschool Legal Defense Association (details at end of message). In fact, I actually recommend HSLDA membership for all homeschooling families. Comparatively cheap "insurance." Our local attendance officer once demanded much more information than I had provided on our annual "certificate of enrollment," which I had filled out in accordance with state law. I consulted HSLDA, called her back, and informed her that my attorney had advised me I did not have to provide any more information. Not only did she back down, but she also called the state educational official and called me back, much chastened, to acknowledge that her demands were illegal and they would be changing the wording of their letter requesting information from homeschoolers.
Just this week I was reading The Swiss Family Robinson aloud to my boys in our front yard on an unseasonably pleasant afternoon, around 2:00. Reading aloud to my boys outdoors is one of the great pleasures of homeschooling. My delight was only reinforced by the mailman asking my 13yo, "Shouldn't you be in school today?" and my son replying, "We're doing school right now!" Ahhhhh....
Taking advantage of our freedom as homeschoolers does not, in itself, make us irresponsible. Does it really matter what months, days, or hours you educate your children? Unless your local laws unfortunately specify times, I don't think it does. Education happens 24/7, whether we log it as "school" or not.
You already have quite a challenge in balancing all you have described, and I hope the replies here have been helpful. Don't make your burden heavier by living in fear.
*****
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Do any of you actually have local laws requiring you to "school" during certain hours or days? What has your experience been in being out and about with your children during government school hours?
Mary Jo
Info on Home School Legal Defense Association - Membership entitles you to free professional legal representation related to homeschooling, product discounts, monthly Court Report magazine, and more. If you are a member of a local support group, your annual membership fee is discounted. To join, go to www.hslda.org/join/coupon.asp. Use referral number 4099227 to receive a $10 gift certificate toward the purchase of any HSDLA publication.
Sep. 20, 2005 - No Way
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