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."
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.
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.
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.
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"
You say she's half-in/half-out, I say it's the school district.
But you had the ability to at least. They're denying her even the chance. How is that seen as fair?
Same with the public schools.
No. The price is the taxes the parents pay, they have paid it, and they should attend if they want to.
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.
And she has the ability to enroll in the school and participate in the band.
If homosexuality and promiscuity are rampant in any puplic school, a parent should get paid to put their children someplace else.
"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.
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.
What's a banana condom?
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
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.
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.
Oh.
Purple? Very sporty.
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.
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.
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