Home-schooled girl fights for band spot

Lincoln Journal Star ^ | June 18, 2005 | Kendra Waltke

[Right Wing Professor]

What you view as "socialization" i.e. discussion of mature subject matter, learning new four letter words, school violence, etc. is socialization my children have done quite well without.

Perhaps if you were better socialized, you would be able to converse with others without projecting grossly offensive opinions on them, thereby leading them to write you off as a complete jerk.

[Alberta's Child]

In NJ high schools can't exclude adults who live within the community from marching with the band, as long as the band director or head of the music curriculum gives a volunteer waiver to the adult.

Maybe we have two completely different understandings of what a high school marching band is. I've always thought of high school marching bands as groups that actually compete with bands from other schools. I can't imagine that any high school band that allows adults would be able to do that.

[California Patriot]

With all due respect, this one just isn't worth fighting.
These people are trying to have their cake and eat it too
-- in other words, they're acting like liberals. It just trivializes our legitimate beefs with the public schools.

[Amish with an attitude]

I think I see what has ruffled your feathers. Please allow me to reword what came across as so offensive.

"If what you view as "socialization"

[Future Snake Eater]

Then why did they allow her into the class in the first place? She's using school property on school time. She's merely requesting a logical extension of the activity already granted to her.

You say she's half-in/half-out, I say it's the school district.

[Future Snake Eater]

I didn't call the police or the fire department once last year.

But you had the ability to at least. They're denying her even the chance. How is that seen as fair?

[Non-Sequitur]

But the point is that if you needed their services they were there for you. apples and oranges

Same with the public schools.

[Born in a Rage]

They are supplied, but the "price" is enrollment in school. They can decide to pay or not. It is fully up to them.

No. The price is the taxes the parents pay, they have paid it, and they should attend if they want to.

[Born in a Rage]

You want to make the choices for your children?

I do make the educational choices for my children. I feel sorry for the parents of public schooled kids who evidently lack so much control over what their kids do, that they have to grasp at any little thing they think is a 'plus' for their kid and hold on to it for dear life...out of fear a few home schooled children might 'take it over'. LOL!

Wow. It's like watching someone falling off of a building and holding on tight to the last little straw they have left as they whine, "It's mine, mine, mine!" They could care less about the music or physical education of a home educated child. The more I hear things like this, the more I could care less about whatever happens at a public school - if something happens there or theeir kids can't read, forget 'em.

[Non-Sequitur]

But you had the ability to at least. They're denying her even the chance. How is that seen as fair?

And she has the ability to enroll in the school and participate in the band.

[BobS]

If homosexuality and promiscuity are rampant in any puplic school, a parent should get paid to put their children someplace else.

[Poser]

"If this girl doesn't attend school then she is not among the head count for the district, meaining the school does NOT receive any money for her."

You have assumed that the school district gets money based on head count. We don't know that. Here in New Hampshire, the head count has nothing to do with the budget.

[Born in a Rage]

With all due respect, this one just isn't worth fighting. These people are trying to have their cake and eat it too -- in other words, they're acting like liberals. It just trivializes our legitimate beefs with the public schools.

You don't care about home schoolers "beefs with the public schools", why should any home schooler care about yours? After reading this thread, the only thing I can say is - forget you. You get deserve whatever 'liberal' stuff is thrown at you. Banana condoms, fighting bus drivers, Muslim studies (like how 9/11 was America's fault), and all the rest of it.

[durasell]

What's a banana condom?

[Born in a Rage]

Choices have consequences. This is one.

Remember that the next time you want to complain about something going on in the public schools that you don't like. It's just the price you'll have to pay, so be ready to deal with whatever they dish out at you. You might as well join the NEA and Moveon.org

[MortMan]

Yes, choices have consequences. However, the rules in this case are inconsistent. If the participation were ruled out across the board, then I would have less issue with it. But they are not.

It's not a liberalness issue - it's a consistency issue.

[Born in a Rage]

It's the big purple condom that they have kids put on a banana during some health classes to 'teach' them how to do it correctly.

[durasell]

Oh.

Purple? Very sporty.

[Born in a Rage]

Actually, in my niece's class on Long Island it was purple with sparkles. She got to put it on the banana. She is a much better person for it now...and they let her play in band, too.

[EDINVA]

We chose to home school two of our kids and in making that decision knew that they would not be able to participate in the public school extracurricular programs. Those are the decisions home-schooling parents make. Let these parents live with their decisions, and all their consequences. We continue to pay our school taxes. So do all the seniors and single people who live here.