Across the States
Daytime curfew in Clayton
Clayton is very small, yet the city fathers seem to believe they have an exceptionally big truancy problem. A daytime curfew was adopted in 1996 (Clayton City Ordinance Number 604), but local officials have not attempted to enforce it. However, at the start of the 2005–2006 school year, the police department announced its intention to work with Clayton school officials and the municipal court system to “monitor attendance and enforce truancy issues” through the daytime curfew.
The daytime curfew ordinance makes it “unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to loiter, idle, wander, stroll or play in or upon the public streets, highways, alleys, parks, playgrounds, other public places or buildings, or vacant lots during the hours when said person is required to be in attendance at either a public or other school as required by state law.”
When other jurisdictions have adopted such daytime curfews, homeschoolers have been subjected to needless suspicion. HSLDA will vigorously defend any member family whose homeschooled child is unjustly stopped by police pursuant to a daytime curfew ordinance.
— by Scott W. Somerville
