15 December 2014

Police Grilling Homeschool "Truants" in Wisconsin

Until recently, "stop and frisk" was the law of the land in New York City.  Cops could stop you for any reason or no reason at all, grill you, and pat you down.  It was only ended (for all intents and purposes) after the courts ruled it unconstitutional and a new mayor took office.  It might cut down on crime to stop everyone who looks a little shifty, but guess what?  People have the right to move about freely if they're not suspected of actually committing a crime.

Unless they're homeschoolers.

Ignoring all rights citizens normally possess, cops are bugging random kids they see out during "school hours," even if they have no evidence that that particular child is truant.  And worse?  They're now stopping and interrogating entire families as they move about their business, both parents and children.

Instead of putting in an injunction or using I don't know the hell what other recourse, HSLDA is meekly issuing a "guide" for parents in these situations.  It advises them to politely ask for a name and badge number, and give the cops names and addresses. 

Some in homeschooling discussion groups posit that this is simply an extension of Big Data under Common Core.  In an effort to "prevent" the so-called "school-to-prison pipeline," schools are teaming up with cops so that they can know where all children in their district are at all times.  I'm telling you, this is beyond creepy.

I would definitely be in full support of federal guidelines for discipline for public school students on campus or on busses.  We began homeschooling when my autistic child was locked in a closet called a "recovery" or "safe" room.  So guidelines that tell schools what sort of crazy-ass punishments they can and cannot implement, to my mind, would be most welcomed.

But leave the general public alone.  And yes, that means even those children who look like they ought be in school.  Get a warrant and a mug shot before you interrogating small children and their moms, wouldya?

4 comments:

  1. "stop and frisk" is the law of the land over there???
    What kind of crazy paranoid country is that?

    move to Australia.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stop and frisk was presented as an overall law, but in the end, it was used to make black and brown people unwelcome in Manhattan. Thank goodness it is now unconstitutional. As for stopping the public school to prison pipeline the BEST things parents can do is homeschool. That way the programming that happens in school will stop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! And not to sound paranoid, but I think the whole "stop truancy" thing is really all about power and money, NOT the best interests of the children.

      Who cares if they don't go to school? I don't. So long as they don't commit crimes, especially in the city, I can't say they're any worse off staying away from school.

      Delete

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