Illinois
Truant Officers Target Slow Reader
Every child learns at his or her own unique pace. And it’s a commonly known fact that most boys tend to grow and learn at a slower pace than girls, especially in the elementary years. But in a culture where everyone is judged by the “norm,” a boy who learns to read more slowly than others can attract unfavorable attention. Well-meaning but uninformed relatives may be the first to notice, as recently happened to an Illinois Home School Legal Defense Association member family.
A relative submitted a complaint about a child who was not reading yet. As a result, a truant officer began asking the family for information about their home school program. The parents initially provided information. Around Christmas, a different relative submitted yet another complaint. When this resulted in two truant officers pressing for yet more information, the family put their foot down.
The family refused to provide additional information and contacted HSLDA for assistance. In January, HSLDA informed the regional office of education that the family was now represented and that all communications should go through their attorney. There has been no further communication from the truant officers, and it appears the matter has been dropped. — Scott A. Woodruff
