January 28, 2009
Grain Valley Daytime Curfew Adopted
Despite major citizen opposition, the Grain Valley Board of Aldermen adopted a curfew in August that threatens every homeschool family’s liberty.
HSLDA Attorney Scott Woodruff, Brad Haines (Families for Home Education), as well as other local homeschool parents opposed the bill. Elected aldermen stubbornly brushed aside the opposition, however, in a headlong quest to increase governmental control over their citizens. Rather than address the root of the problem, which lies within the walls of the public school system, the aldermen chose the easier target—those outside the schools.
Until public schools deal with the root causes of truancy, “Band-Aids” like daytime curfews are doomed to failure. And they are likely to erode the freedom of law-abiding citizens in the process.
If you are a member of HSLDA in the Grain Valley area, we recommend that you keep on doing exactly what you have been doing. Let your kids out during the day and let them enjoy the freedom you know is their birthright as free citizens of a nation born in the sacrifice of the minutemen of Lexington.
Bear in mind that as written, the curfew does not apply to homeschoolers at all. The primary threat to homeschool freedom lies not in the curfew itself, but in the possibility that our children will be investigated and harassed as they enjoy their liberty. Even though there is essentially no possibility that lawfully homeschooled children could be found guilty of violating the ordinance, they could be made to feel like criminals.
If any government agent questions you or your child in connection with this curfew, let us know right away so we can investigate to see if your rights have been violated. And remember that all of the aldermen will be up for re-election—so do not forget how they voted.
Before the Battle of Lexington, American Captain John Parker ordered his men: “Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.” In Grain Valley, it is now time for homeschoolers to “stand their ground.”
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