The "Tebow" Bill

Another article in the Washington Post about home schooled students participating on High School Teams and VA’s “Tebow” bill. 

“If You Suit Up For A School, You Should Sit in its Classrooms, Too” by Preston Williams

A few points ----

Would we be having this same discussion if home school students wanted to participate on the debate team?  I think not.  Why are sports or athletics so different?

Let’s try to figure out why that home schooled student isn’t in the high school.  Maybe we should take a closer look at our educational system and local schools to try to remedy the increasing number of students who are being home schooled. 

I’m sure that the home schooled student would love to participate fully in the “high school experience” and be a part of the high school community. 

And I’m guessing that the home schooled student does participate in community events and has just as much school or community pride as any other high school student.  (Who doesn’t like to say they are a Titan, a Warrior, a Lancer, a Bulldog, because that is the community, not just the school)

People will say that the academics are different and that this isn’t a level playing field.  Really, in life, what is? 

It’s not any different than schools in different Divisions or Regions haven’t different attendance and grade requirements, it happens all the time. 
I remember when I played for T.C. Williams, (many yrs ago), we had to have an eligibility card signed on a weekly basis to show that we were academically eligible to participate.  No other school in our district at that time had that same requirement.   Was that a level playing field?

Does anyone really think that the stellar athlete will be cut from playing or lose a position on the team due to a home school student?

Athletes get cut all the time.  Sometimes for politics with the coach, sometimes another player “peaks” at that time, and some for other reasons but you shouldn’t deny the homes schooled student the opportunity to try out.  There is the same likelihood that the home school student might not even make the cut.  But they should be given the chance. 

Response from 2/7/12

While most of the time I agree with John Kelly's Washington Post column, today I have to disagree with with it.

Virginia home-schoolers can’t have their cake and eat it, too

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-home-schoolers-cant-have-their-cake-and-eat-it-too/2012/02/06/gIQAv9QAuQ_story.html

There are many reasons why a student is not in public school, some for religious reasons or other reasons stated in Mr. Kelly's column, but most of the reasons I have seen are that the current public schools are too big for most children or cannot meet their educational needs.  Many of these children need to have a more structured environment and less sensory overload.  The sheer number of times that a student needs to move throughout a day is mind blowing, and some children and teens just can't handle that.  Some can't handle a class of 25-30 students with 1 teacher.  Some can't handle the behavior issues from other students that are present in almost every classroom.  Some just can't handle a school with 700-2000 students in it.

So why can't that child, who happens to be home schooled, participate in sports at their public school?  Their parents pay taxes towards that school, the books and materials, the athletic equipment and the teachers, coaches and staff salary, just like everyone else in the neighborhood.  Are we going to say that just because I choose a job and to work from home, I shouldn't drive on the streets into DC or Old Town?  I pay for those streets.

Some folks say that there are other sports opportunities for the students that are home schooled.  There are recreation leagues or city leagues.  I beg to differ - not all sports have leagues outside of public schools - golf, crew and track for example.   Where else could these athletes compete?

I think that unless and until the City or public school system is going to refund the taxes paid by the parents (cost of educating 1 student for a yr), of a home schooled student, that student should be guaranteed the right to try out and participate with their peers on a high school athletic team.

So, Mr. Kelly, they are not having their cake and eating it to.