Rockford Homeschoolers' Quality of Life

Morrissey hopes to have the ordinance in place by the first day of school

Excerpts:The freedom that their children and other home-schooled students enjoy when they pack up their books, often at times different from traditional schools, is one issue that has emerged in the ongoing effort to establish a citywide daytime curfew.

The city really needs to address the huge home-school movement that's going on here," Bennett said. "They need to be aware of it and make sure they have an effective tool in place to address it. Children shouldn't have to feel intimidated or hassled walking out of their house."

Why does it not surprise me that Rockford has a huge homeschool movement. I like to see folks homeschooling but hate to see it because the school district is sorely lacking in accountability

Their hands tied by a lack of home-rule authority, city and school officials lobbied state lawmakers to expand truancy laws, with no luck.

Gee thanks, Boys. The rest of the state really appreciates your non-fixing of your problem. But more state legislation makes this world go round, aye?

Spurred by a truancy rate that is more than four times the state average, District 205 leaders approached the city about a year ago with the idea of a daytime curfew, city attorney John Giliberti said.

And the city didn't say Do Your Job!?! And again, why is the truancy rate so high? Because the school system isn't finding a way to keep these kids educated and intrigued and curious? Any teenager I know wants to have their brain engaged.

Do Your Job, Rockford School District.

Giliberti, who crafted the proposed curfew ordinance, studied cities in Illinois and nationwide that had implemented a truancy ordinance, daytime curfew or both. He closely modeled the proposed ordinance after the state's nighttime curfew law and recently amended it to include specific provisions for home-schooled children, as well as make clear that expelled and suspended students are not exempt from the curfew.

Definitely a money maker for the city. Plus they can have all those kids clean up the garbage that spills out affecting the Rockford Quality of Life. Fleece the kids and have them do community service. That'll keep some happy and most unhappy and the city attorney can be pleased about his money making venture on the backs of kids who should be learning.

He closely modeled the proposed ordinance after the state's nighttime curfew law and recently amended it to include specific provisions for home-schooled children, as well as make clear that expelled and suspended students are not exempt from the curfew.

Aah yes, the old exemption when you prove it.