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."
Can I assume that you weren't thrilled to have to put together 18 pages of documents to prove your child's academic abilities? That seems to me an intrusion most homeschooled parents don't appreciate.
Here in Kentucky, I've seen 2 previously homeschooled children enrolled in public school. The first grader (entered mid-first grade) could not read at all and didn't know his letters. The second grader could read and write well but couldn't add or subtract. I guess they 'got away' with that. And then they came to school and lowered the averages.
Much like I feel it is in the best interests of public schools and teachers to have clear standards and demand results, I think homeschoolers ought to support some documentation of learning. It doesn't help homeschooling to have these children represent you anymore than it helps me to have idiot teachers represent me.
Maybe, but she is already a member of the band. And apparently, the NSAA has no problem with that as long as such students don't march in competition. Also, the Superintendent did a rather weasely thing by saying that she couldn't be in the parade because she isn't registered, when none of the other students are registered either.
My sister home schools my nieces in Phoenix and I fully support her. But, she doesn't try to force the schools to allow her kids to participate in their extra curricular activities. If the schools allowed home schooled kids in their band program or sports programs? Great. But if they don't? So be it. You take the good with the bad. You don't get to pick and choose. Got a problem with that? It must suck to be you, b/c that's the way the world works.
There are plenty of taxes you and I don't benefit from paying. Tell you what, call up the IRS and let them know which taxes you'll pay. I'm sure they'll be very impressed and will pay a lot of attention to you.
guaranteed, but I never said the school system was completely faultless now did I?
You say, "They receive the portion of the local and state taxes her parents pay that are applied to education. The only money they DON'T receive for her is the per pupil federal money."
Depends on the state - many are based STRICTLY on head count and the STATES pay per head, not the federal government. If that were the case, teacher's pay would be more equitable throughout the nation.
For someone who claims to be educated, I'll point out how ignorant your above remark is. Throughout our history people have stood up for what they believe is wrong or unfair and by gathering support, have made changes. And people everywhere don't just have to take the good with the bad, and yes, I do have a problem with that. If it's bad, I admire people who advocate change by standing up for what is just and fair.
It must suck to be you, b/c that's the way the world works.
The good news is that you don't have any kids. Great idea.
I certainly salute you and others who stand up for what they believe in and are willing to fight for the changes they feel are necessary. We have this in common, but you and I have a different opinion about what is just and fair. I have and will continue to support the home school movement. It is wrong to force people to send their children to a school they don't feel is in their children's best interest or is harmful.
Perhaps one day parents will be able to choose one school's band program and another school's sports program, yet another school's calculus class and still another school's cafeteria. A payment voucher will follow the student from place to place and pay as they go. I would support that level of freedom of choice, but in my humblest of opinions, it isn't going to happen.
Ok...insult away. You can have the last word.
It could also mean that she wants to represent the community she lives in, and she could want the oppurtunity to play in a band, and she could want the oppurtunity to meet new people, and she could want the oppurtunity to travel, and she could want the oppurtunity to learn about team work, and she could want the satisfaction of using a skill and working with her hobby.
yeah but she should still enroll at the school at least part time to do so.
It really isn't about community anymore in the high schools anyway, at least not in Ohio. It is about the actual games.
I am still of the opinion that the parents are trying to make a point at the expense of the child.
I am a homeschooler and I was instrumental in getting my school district to allow homeschoolers to participate in extracurricular activities, ( and yes I know that to be true because that is what the superintendent told me).
My point is that it is taxpayer funded- so we should not discriminate against children. And the School district is responsible for providing educational resources to all children in the community.
Since chidlren have different learning styles, we should not discriminate against a child who is active in the learning process- whether they attend the brick and mortar building or not.
And most parents would agree that participating in school sports teams is indeed a learning activity.
I stood up for the ideals and I was NOT suing my child in the slightest. I want him to have the same opportunities that everyone else has- and if I am helping to pay for it I should not be barred from reaping the benefits.
my first comment on the thread was if they pay taxes they should have access to whatever they wish, let's remember. I have no problem with that.
I also think that if you homeschool, you should be exempt from any school taxes.
There are better ways to work out what this parent is going through, ways that you used, than by suing. Apparently this system is a bit cash strapped, so donate. They would be paying to bus the child around from event to event.
I just have a problem with a child promoting a school (which is what the band does) which they have no other affliation too. Same with the sports teams. She could be a part time student there no problem I am sure.
I just need new fingers myself :)
I think I see your motivation and I can't say that I think it is wrong to want the child to have more school ties than she does- but that isn't always possible. ( I don't know if it is in this family's case or not).
Here is an interesting twist. I am a homeschooler who supports Public education and I know that I would still pay taxes whether I had children or not and I believe it is the American way to provide education for all American children.
There are some inequalities tho- parents of publicly schooled children do receive some tax benefits which are denied homeschool parents. Now, that is unfair and discriminatory. There are certain tax benefits that public school teachers get which are denied homeschool parents. And that is wrong as well.
My motivation is that all citizens benefit from having a strong educational system. I just think it is time to talk about what the boundaries of "education system" are. I want all children to have access to the best education, but because the public school system has done a poor job of addressing the needs of masses of us- we have a large homeschooling movement, and it is not going to get smaller.
SO we need to deal with it and barring people from getting what is paid for by taxpayers and earmarked for children's education is not fair, of I say ,the American way.
yeah...
well the ENTIRE educational system needs an overhaul anyway.
Wishful thinking, but my kids are probably going to a good private school, an academy or a catholic school. We havent decided yet, but the kids arent born yet either :)
Good morning!!!
I know I'm late chiming in here, but I did read through the entire thread :)
You and I have discussed homeschool/public school in the past and are pretty much on the same page.
I'm really torn on this one though...........the arguments for and against are both equally compelling (except of course the usual suspects). I went to Catholic growing up and thus couldn't participate in programs offered in the public schools.
Personally I don't see a problem with homeschooled children participating with extra curricular activities offered by the public schools.....but I can also see a problem arising, because the same opportunity should be offered to kids in private or religious schools if those schools don't offer the same programs. But where is the line drawn?
Should Johnny, who attends school A be able to play football on school B's team because he is a star player and school A's football team is not as good as school B's?
I realize I'm stretching the point to the extreme, but I can see such happening unless strict guidelines are installed and applied across the board.
I like to add- The solution is not easy, but like I always say- we can not just deny people things because the debate is difficult.
I know you are right Gabz- where to draw the line???
Whew.. I can not say for sure. That is indeed a difficult question.
:]
I guess people have to just keep talking about it until a solution comes up.
(That is the lazy way out, huh?)
Where a child gets an education is at least secondary in importance to their success in life.
ARe you expecting any soon?( Aren't I the nosy one???)
A little off topic: I don't know your plans for your kids, but what if the home schooling background carries with it a stigma in the larger world?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.