For many years Home Education Magazine has posted news and information about curfew issues around the country, reminding parents of important points about curfews. Many of us grew up in communities with truant officers, who were in charge of assuring that all children attended school every day, checking on unexcused absences. By the early 1970’s curfew laws and the truant officer had almost disappeared, but a publication from the federal government a few years ago brought back the idea that law enforcement and schools should work together to combat truancy, recommending tough policies to deal with young people who, under compulsory attendance laws, should be in school.
In July, 1996, the U.S. Department of Education in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice issued a “Manual to Combat Truancy.” The manual speaks of truancy as “the first sign of trouble,” and “a gateway to crime.” It encourages communities to involve parents, ensure that students face firm sanctions for truancy, create meaningful incentives for parental responsibility, establish ongoing truancy prevention programs in school, and involve local law enforcement in truancy reduction efforts.
As Larry and Susan Kaseman wrote in their 1999 1999 column for HEM: “As homeschoolers, we need to be prepared to oppose curfews, keeping the focus on the fact that curfews undermine basic freedoms and not letting the discussion shift to ways in which curfews can be fixed so they don’t interfere with homeschoolers’ community activities.”
A few helpful articles and columns on curfews and truancy, for anyone seeking information and resources:
Taking Charge: Curfews and Homeschoolers
“You Wanna Do What To My Kid?”
American Homeschool Association 