Posted on 06/18/2005 8:15:49 AM PDT by Graybeard58
Before the parade passes her by, Tiffany Hasley will stand up for her right to perform with the Beatrice High School marching band. She'll be on the corner of 13th and Court streets in Beatrice at 8:30 a.m. this morning, all lined up for today's Homestead Days Parade.
Clarinet in hand, standing tall in her stiff new band shoes, she plans to leave quietly when school officials tell her she cannot march. Because the home-schooled eighth-grader does not want to make a scene, just a point. That is: Home-school students should be allowed to participate in any public school activity, as long as they pay taxes and live within the school district.
"I'm not in tears," she said. "But I'm kind of mad. My band teacher says I'm a good student. And I am first-chair clarinet."
Beatrice High School officials told Tiffany last month that she would not be able to participate in band next year as a ninth-grader. The school bars home-school students from being in activities regulated by the Nebraska School Activities Association.
Tiffany's parents, Ron and Vicki Hasley, plan to fight the school's decision, maybe even in court. But, at least for this summer, they figured she could still play with the band.
That's not the case, they learned Wednesday when band director Bruce Greenwell told Tiffany just before practice that Superintendent Dale Kruse decided she should sit out Saturday's parade. On Friday, the Hasleys received a formal letter from Kruse stating the same.
"They say she isn't registered, but no one has to be registered until school starts this fall," said Ron Hasley. "Really, quote me that policy. Show me that statute."
Both Kruse and BHS activities director Randy Coleman were unavailable for comment Friday.
But Roger Harris, attorney for the Beatrice school board, said the decision is consistent with school policy. No one can play in the band unless they are registered, full-time students at the school, he said.
"Even though marching in the parade is an informal thing, it's not open to just anyone," Harris said.
"Say a student from Wymore wanted to march. Would anyone care? Probably not. But the perception is, ‘This is the Beatrice High School band,' and we have to protect that."
Whether homeschool students can be in marching band is at the discretion of each school, said Jim Tenopir, director of the NSAA.
Band members can practice or perform at non-NSAA events such as parades or high school football games. But for competitive activities, the NSAA only allows students from accredited schools to compete against other students.
NSAA eligibility rules ensure that high school students keep up their grades and attend school regularly, or they cannot compete, Tenopir said.
Enforcing the very specific and rigid rules among homeschoolers would be impossible, he said.
"You are probably not going to hear a parent say, ‘I caught my kid smoking so please don't let him play football,'" Tenopir said.
But some state senators would like to change both school policies and NSAA rules to include homeschool students.
Legislative bills addressing that issue have been introduced for the past few years, most recently by Sens. Phil Erdman and Mike Foley. But none of the bills have made it out of committee.
Ron Hasley said he's "a constitution kind of guy," who will pursue the issue, not only for his daughter but for other homeschool students.
"I pay taxes," he said. "I'm asking for a service, and I'm not getting it. I hope what happens here sets precedence for the state."
Not exactly. In many states, the homeschoolers are required to provide attendance records to the school district - so that the school district can claim the state and/or federal assistance money for that child. Further, the local school taxes paid by the family still go to the school district.
As far as choices and sacifices, the sacrifice is borne by the family - they pay TWICE for their child's education. First, through taxes. Second, through spending their own time and money to school at home. To now say that, barring state laws that preclude her participation (a whole other issue), her musical talents must be sacrificed on the altar of NEA control doesn't make sense.
Yeah. Sports and band. Chess club, too. If your private school doesn't offer it.
"Why don't I get the percentage of MY taxes that goes to public schools refunded?"
Creeping Socialism.
Nobody is "entitled" to be in a band in a school that they are not attending. She should be allowed to be in the school band just because she plays an instrument and lives in the area? That's ridiculous. Her parents made the decision to home-school her, let them live with the consequences of that decision.
Yes! Said more clearly than me with the conclusion I want! All people paid by government taxes should be required to be community-freindly. All these public service unions have become little socialist cells and enclaves. It is time to make public service respectable again. It is 75 years from 1930 and it is time for a change here, don't you think?
"People will complain about tax monies buying books that aren't to their taste"
A good reson to stop government funding of groups like PBS, NPR and the UN. Nothing tasteful about leftists.
I see. So, if somebody is being "denied a service" that they are "entitled to receive", they should get their money back, but if somebody else is paying through the nose for that "entitlement" with no intention of ever using the "service", they should have to continue to pay through the nose?
It never ceases to amaze me how home-schooling parents consistently demand that they should get MY money back in THEIR pocket. I want MY money back in MY pocket!
Must depend on the state you live in because what you KNOW doesn't apply in my state. Payment is based on core classes - not extra-curriculars.
In contract law, no one is allowed to pay for services they don't use. Apply this logic to the tax reform question. Shreiks and bellows will be heard coast-to-coast.
You said it yourself, but you don't seem to understand it:
She WOULD be attending if they let her attend...
This was the parent's decision. They decided to opt out of the public school system. The school band is part of the public school system. It was their decision. They have to live with it.
In contract law, no one is allowed to pay for services they don't use.
Of course you're ALLOWED to pay for services you don't use. I can order cable TV, not use it, but pay my bill every month. The cable TV company won't tell me I'm not allowed to pay.
I've sent three children through Lincoln Public Schools. One marched in the East High band for four years. i found the education they received to be uniformaly high quality, and I'm tired of knee-jerk attacks on the public school system. Some public schools suck, some don't. Some homeschooled kids get a decent education, some don't.
It's also THEIR decision to let her attend to play in the band. Get it?
I pay taxes. I currently have no kids in the school district. What do I get?
I pay taxes. I currently have no kids in the school district. What do I get?
Uh, a community in which the kids have a better chance of finding a job and less motive for bonking you on the head for your wallet? Perhaps a few high achievers who leave the community for higher education and then come back as doctors or civil engineers? It's a long list...
In other words, exactly what these homeschooling parents get. Now tell me again why they're entitled to something extra?
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