Homeschooling and Sports

Did you know that only 24 states allow homeschoolers to participate in extracurricular activities at public schools? Neither did I until Tito sent me this link to fascinating article over at ESPN on the fate of homeschoolers who want to play high school sports and have opportunities for scholarships.

Since homeschooling became legal in all 50 states in 1993, the number of participating families has escalated. The reasons vary.

The Forciers chose the concept because Tate needed more one-on-one attention and more time to focus on athletics.

Dr. Byron Ketchum of Russellville, Ala., homeschooled eight of his nine children because he was not happy with the lack of religious education in public schools.

Bob Tebow homeschooled all five of his children because he believes the Bible says parents should, above all else, teach God’s word. The Tebows, including Tim, the University of Florida’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, studied with academics as the third focus, after God and character.

“In the Constitution, [parents] have the right to direct the lives of their children,” Bob Tebow said, referencing the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the 1925 case of Pierce v. Society of Sister.

By now, Tim Tebow’s story is well known. Because of the passing of a state law in 1996, he was allowed to be homeschooled and play for Nease High in Florida.

“How can we deny these people the rights when they pay taxes? That was the issue in the Florida legislature,” said Bob Tebow, who added he would have moved to where Tim could play.

The article goes on to say that there is suprisingluy little supprt for homeschoolers sports rights even in homeschooling havens such as Mississippi.

In homeschool-heavy Mississippi, proposed legislation never made it out of committee. Videt Carmichael (R-District 33), the chair of the senate’s education committee, said he vaguely recalled such a bill. Sen. Gray Tollison (D-District 9), who supports it, explained why it has received little to no traction.

“The general attitude among some people is, if they don’t go to public school, they shouldn’t be allowed to participate in public school sports,” Tollison said. “Either you’re in or you’re out, they feel.”

I think that homeschoolers have every right to these extracurricular activities. You pay your taxes, play ball.

Read the entire article and let us know what you think.