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.
September 26, 2008 at 7:22 pm
What’s really sad is our local Catholic schools won’t let the kids participate. While we are answering the call to be the first and principal educators of our children (CCC#1653) the Catholic schools see us as competition. They want nothing to do with us.
There are some private Christian homeschool high school sports teams but you are required to sign a statement of faith which many times contradicts our Catholic faith (sola scriptura) therefore our kids can’t play there either. I would be more than willing to pay an athletic/activity fee for my kids to be involved.
In Ohio it is up to each individual school district to decide if they are going to allow hs kids to participate. Some school districts will let them, some require partial enrollment and mine says NO WAY! My property taxes pay for 85% of their funding. We live in one of the top districts in the state and they won’t let my kids play.
September 26, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Don’t get me started.
We are in MS. It is stupid to think that we, homeschoolers, have NO chance of our children playing in public sports. NoNE.
And get this. Where we are moving in Texas, you can participate in the local public school (this includes band) BUT if they go to championships, forget being able to play. I was flat out told…why don’t you just start your own team, you seem to be doing that anyway! Fine dude. Just give me my money back and I will.
September 26, 2008 at 8:34 pm
We did not participate in the local public school when my husband was principal, eventhough the board would have allowed it . Teachers seemed disinterested, and some parents were resentful. It would have required expending energy on resolving the differences, and we considered that energy better spent elsewhere.Also we were aware that eventhough we paid taxes, because our kids were not ‘registered’, the school was not being allocated funds on their behalf.
Now, with a parish school nearby, our kids have participated in sports teams, phys.ed. classes, and music and drama programs. This year they will not be, because of some parents’ resentment and teacher’s indifference , although the priest and the principal are willing. The parents pay $7000/yr/student.
We have other opportunities in the community to participate in sports and music without cost, and with an attitude of interest in the kids, which makes the ‘energy expended’ seem worth it. Homeschooling is almost non-existent here (Cayman) and viewed with suspicion, so we keep fairly low key, and anyone at the parish can easily figure out that the Catholic fees for our numerous kids would exceed our income, so we have no need to discuss our actual reasons for homeschooling…
that our curriculum and social atmosphere is better at home!
September 26, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Its most likely less than 24 … ESPN states: Only 24 states allow homeschoolers to participate in extracurricular activities at public schools.
A source citing the source I am sure they used states: According to The Homeschooling Book of Answers by Linda Dobson, 24 states allow homeschoolers to participate in interscholastic sports (one school competing against another school). Those states that accommodate homeschoolers include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington state, and Wyoming. Vermont allows homeschoolers to participate in individual sports, like golf and tennis, but not in team sports.
That doesn’t mean those 24 states allow participation in public school athletics.
September 26, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Um…sports? Where is your focus, folks?
— Mack
September 27, 2008 at 3:52 am
Maybe it comes down to the schools getting funding for homeschooled kids. I understand that as a valid point. Quite honestly, it would make sense for the school district to get the funding since the student is part of the district and the parent has to do all reporting to the district. It would make even more sense for each homeschooling parent to get a portion of those funds to use on curriculum, field trips, etc and then to let the school district keep the rest if the student wants to participate in team sports, band, musicals,etc.
I would love for my children to be involved in that stuff, eventually. Here in NYS, it won’t happen. The local homeschool groups here are Christian (not Catholic), and as part of their programs, children have to participate in a religion class. I guess my only solution is to keep having children until we can do bands, sports teams, musicals, etc, all on our own. 🙂
September 27, 2008 at 4:12 am
Um…sports? Where is your focus, folks?
On a complete education of course, which includes desire for cultivating virtues to be found in competitive athletics. Is this really controversial?
September 27, 2008 at 4:24 am
Sports…
It also includes sending your children to band class, creative arts, etc. Sports is representative of the other extra-curricular activities that homeschoolers are barred from.
September 27, 2008 at 5:32 am
sports, and other extra-curricular activities are important because we are body, mind, and soul composites. we need to be able to glorify God with all three and cultivate all three to be healthy. sports are a fantastic way to glorify God with our bodies!