Homeschooler out walking during the day?

[annettemarie]

Here in PA, we have a great equal access law that means my homeschooler gets to participate in the public school district's excellent award-winning strings program. This year, Michael is in middle school orchestra, and as luck would have it, the middle school is two blocks up the street. Considering that last year we had to take either him or his sister to a different elementary school every other week for a half hour because it was too far to walk, this is a very welcome improvement!

However, I just sent him for her first day--sniff!-- and I'm a little stressed out wondering if someone is going to stop him and ask him why he's out walking and not in school. I told him to ignore any strangers and if it's a police officer, to explain he's a homeschooler, but I'm still stressed out. Is there anything else I could or should do? Should I just not worry? Should I give him a note to keep in his pocket?

[zeldamomma]

I have heard of kids having a laminated "homeschool id" with a parent's phone number on it. If that would give you and him some piece of mind, I'd do it.

[VisionaryMom]

A note may not be a bad idea. DS has already been asked a couple of times if he "should be in school" if we're out doing errands during the day, so I would imagine a few people will ask, even in the 2 blocks.

[annettemarie]

It just feels yucky to me that he needs some sort of pass to be out in public, but you're probably right. I keep meaning to make homeschool IDs anyway.

[eclipse]

Yeah, I'd probably go with some sort of ID. I know when I was in HS and dual enrolled with community college for a couple of classes, it came in handy to have a card issued by my hs explaining why I wasn't in school during certain school hours. My friend (who was driving several of us from the HS to the CC campus) got pulled over for a burned out tail light and, since they were in a truancy crackdown, we were questioned about why we weren't at school. Having documentation just made life a lot easier for us.

[Arduinna]

I totally understand your concern. Most people don't even know that HSing exists so they automatically assume any child not on school property is truant or being neglected. Heck, I was stopped by the police myself as a teen while walking down the street for just this reason. Ok maybe I shouldn't have posted that, it probably doesn't make you feel any better. I'd give him an ID too, although I agree it's sad that we have to be worried about this.

[phathui5]

Since he's going to/from school, he doesn't have to bring up homeschooling if he doesn't want to. He can just say "I'm on my way to school/home."

[SagMom]

This is our 10th year hsing and we have daytime curfew laws here. Initially, I thought this would be an issue. My kids are often out and about without regard for the school's calendar. When they first started doing so, I gave them each a hs ID card with their photo, my name and number on it. My older two have both been stopped by the police and they explained that they were hsed--and that was the end of it (they didn't even show the cards.)

Shortly after I gave them the cards, ds's went through the laundry and I know dd often forgot to carry hers, but it's never been an issue. I just told them to tell the officer that they were hsed and to give our address/phone if the police asked. When they were younger, I reinforced that they SHOULDN'T give out our address/phone to random people--we had several residents in the neighborhood who always seemed to be interested in why my kids were out, but I told them they could just say, "We homeschool." to them and be done.

[CrazyCatLady]

I did independent study as a kid and I got pulled over and harassed very frequently by the police. They would always accuse me of being a run away, they never believed me when I said that I didn't have a student ID (I never did have one), and they frequently took so long bugging me that I would miss my bus and then of course they "couldn't give me a ride" once they found out that I was in fact legitimately walking around town.

So yes, I HIGHLY recommend getting him a home school student ID. My dd is six and she has one. And even a letter written by you with your contact info to keep tucked away in his wallet couldn't hurt. This is the days of cell phones so even if he does get stopped by police, it would probably be easier to straighten things out than it was when I was a kid.

I hope he doesn't have any problems.

[fruitfulmomma]

We are a block from the school and no one has ever said anything about our kids, who are all out playing right now. Our neighbors right across the street home/unschooled though so I know they don't care.

An ID is a good idea if you are concerned though.

[PGTlatte]

I just this morning ordered my kids IDs from Homeschool Buyers Coop. They are free if you print them yourself, or you can pay to have them made up and sent to you.

Also today, I went to Cafepress and made up custom buttons. The kids' buttons are 2.25" and say "I am in HOME School". My button is a 1" mini-button that says "YES it's legal".

I did all this because the owner of a pet food store gave my son a hard time yesterday when we went out at 12:15 (easily lunch period) to buy a 3-month supply of (expensive) dog food. He didn't address me, he addressed my 7 yo, and rather rudely. I would like to minimize the number of people who get in my son's face when we run the occasional errand, and give him a way to feel less uncomfortable when it happens.

[zebra15]

Really? you all think there would be a problem? If he is going to orchestra thats all he would have to say? "Im going to/from orchestra practice". I wouldn't worry about it.

HS is huge where I live, as well as charter schools, private schools, alternative school etc. that have varied schedules so kids are out all the time. No one would think twice about a kid outside, at the pet store etc.

**Wishing I could get my kid to take art class at the local school

[annettemarie]

We have a fairly active homeschooling community in my area. I'm just not sure how aware the police would be. And I have no idea if there are daytime curfew laws. That never even occurred to me! I'll probably print out an ID card, but the kid's 11- it's not like he carries a wallet or anything.

[Sunflower223]

My kids are still little so I never even thought of this before. I feel like homeschooling is pretty normal in my part of the world. Not the kind of homeschooling we do, but that is another story. Anyway considering what everyone else has said I would definitely get some sort of ID. He doesn't have to wear it around or anything, he can just put it in his pocket. As long as he has idenitification I am sure it will be fine.

I do remember a few kids who were actually truant having the cops called to them because they were walking around the shops near the school that I used to teach at. They were in uniform though, so it was more obvious.

[tanyalynn]

Is he carrying an instrument with him, or is it stored at school? If he's near a school with an instrument case, it stretches my imagination to think that a simple explanation that he's homeschooled and participating in the school orchestra wouldn't be sufficient for a police officer.

[ambersrose]

I think empowering the child to feel confident in what he is doing is important. As long as he can feel comfortable telling a police officer what he is doing and provide your name and number if needed I dont think there would be a problem. Being able to talk comfortably with authority figures is a good skill for us all to have.

I have never met anyone who carried a homeschool ID, are they common?

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by tanyalynn

Is he carrying an instrument with him, or is it stored at school? If he's near a school with an instrument case, it stretches my imagination to think that a simple explanation that he's homeschooled and participating in the school orchestra wouldn't be sufficient for a police officer.

The school has instruments, which struck me as odd. He's upset, too, because he says he likes his cello better.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

The school has instruments, which struck me as odd. He's upset, too, because he says he likes his cello better.

Nah the school usually has instruments, esp. the larger ones. Not all families can afford the rent on instruments or to buy them- lots of families just rent them for the school year. Carrying a flute around is one thing, a cello back and forth on the bus is another(for kids in school). Thats why the school has some available.(plus the $$ issue)

Sounds like he has a nice instrument either way.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by zebra15

Nah the school usually has instruments, esp. the larger ones. Not all families can afford the rent on instruments or to buy them- lots of families just rent them for the school year. Carrying a flute around is one thing, a cello back and forth on the bus is another(for kids in school). Thats why the school has some available.(plus the $$ issue)

Sounds like he has a nice instrument either way.

In our school district, there are a limited number of school-owned instruments available for $40 a year and everyone else rents. I'm just surprised they have enough cellos for everyone to borrow during the school day. But you're right, it makes more sense than having the kids tote them back and forth, especially the bigger instruments. And orchestra is every other day, so this way the kids can still practice at home like they're expected to.

I think it's funny he's formed an attachment to his cello at the tender age of 11 though.

[CrazyCatLady]

Really? you all think there would be a problem? If he is going to orchestra thats all he would have to say? "Im going to/from orchestra practice". I wouldn't worry about it.

it stretches my imagination to think that a simple explanation that he's homeschooled and participating in the school orchestra wouldn't be sufficient for a police officer.

I grew up in an area with a lot of home schoolers and alternative schools too. It didn't stop the police from harassing me and other home schooled kids frequently when they saw us walking around.

I don't know how common it is, and I hope it doesn't happen to the OP's son. But preparing him with an ID and what to do/how to act should he get some grief from the local police couldn't hurt anything.

Because when I was a kid/teen the cops were really mean to us and it was really scary. They never wanted to "believe" that I was home schooled and they accused me of everything from being a delinquent, a run away, to a drug dealer. And it did happen quite a few times, especially during my teen years.