Home-field advantage:Should homeschool kids be able to participate in public-school activities?

World Magazine ^ | dec 6, 2003 | By Lynn Vincent

[RaceBannon]

Izzy Lyman Bump!

[RaceBannon]

bumpus for Izzy Lyman

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Absolutely, yes. At least so long as the homeschoolers parents have to pay property taxes to support the public achools, even though they are smart enough not to want to send their kids to them!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Homeschoolers still pay taxes for public education. In Washington State, HS kids can go into any class or extracurricular activity like sports and participate. I think it can be beneficial. Most HS educators are more selective about what their children learn.

[pgkdan]

Of course they should. Home school parents are paying for these extra curricular activities with their property taxes..as are every other property owner in the community, whether they have school age children or not.

[Conservateacher]

What you said bump

[ppaul]

Should homeschool kids be able to participate in taxpayers fund public-school activities?

To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical. -- Thomas Jefferson

[Lunatic Fringe]

OK- let me play Devil's advocate....

If this were a kid in a public high school who insisted on playing sports for another high school with a better football-wrestling-baseball-etc team, should he then be permitted to participate just because the parents' property taxes go to the other school? In Texas, my property tax dollars go to schools all over the state (it's called the Robin Hood plan).

I would say no- the parents and the child made a decision not to participate in the academic curriculum of the school, why then should he be allowed to participate in the athletic curriculum, and receive the advantages of demonstrating his athletic abilities for of college scouts (which I am certain is a huge factor)?

[phil1750]

Until homeschoolers parents are allowed to opt out of paying school property taxes, they should be able to pick and choose what extra-currecular activities they want for their kids (including: art, music, and sports). THEY PAID THE MONEY.

[Conservateacher]

"If this were a kid in a public high school who insisted on playing sports for another high school with a better football"

Minor issue but a solution would be to make him play for the school in his home area.

"I would say no- the parents and the child made a decision not to participate in the academic curriculum of the school,"

They should have this right!

"why then should he be allowed to participate in the athletic curriculum"

Uh. Because they paid for it?


"and receive the advantages of demonstrating his athletic abilities for of college scouts (which I am certain is a huge factor)?"

Another minor issue. The number of students who go on to receive college athletic scholarships is very small. Those who go on to professional sports is a minute fraction of those(my bonafidies-20 year public school coach, former professional athlete)

[coloradan]

If homeschooled kids can be prohibited from engaging in any government school activities, then government school kids should be prohibited from engaging in any homeschool activities. Government-schooling parents ought to face the same prohibitions against teaching that homeschooling parents face attempting to have their own kids do government sports: It's fair, and it's for the children.

[Lunatic Fringe]

So what? I pay tax money on all kinds of services that I don't receive...

This kid is taking a spot on the wrestling team that someone who is actually GOING to the school might wish to have.

I strongly believe in homeschooling, but this seems to be a case of wanting to have your cake and eat it too. The student is not subject to GPA requirements, the burden of carrying elective classes which requires more time and academic commitment, nor is he subject to school district rules (other than during his participation in the sporting event).

I believe if he wants to participate in sports, he needs to go to the school.

[elfman2]

Only if you want them to pay taxes.

[Amadeo]

Absolutely yes, if they are paying taxes for public education, but send their children to private schools.

[Looking4Truth]

Should homeschool kids be able to participate in public-school activities?

As long as Dad and Mom are paying property taxes, HELL YES!

[CrazyIvan]

If an illegal alien can get a drivers license.........

[GummyIII]

OK- let me play Devil's advocate.... If this were a kid in a public high school who insisted on playing sports for another high school with a better football-wrestling-baseball-etc team, should he then be permitted to participate just because the parents' property taxes go to the other school? In Texas, my property tax dollars go to schools all over the state (it's called the Robin Hood plan).

I would say no- the parents and the child made a decision not to participate in the academic curriculum of the school, why then should he be allowed to participate in the athletic curriculum, and receive the advantages of demonstrating his athletic abilities for of college scouts (which I am certain is a huge factor)?

I don't know about where you live, but most of our funds for our county schools come from local taxes (more than 80% of them), so a local person should be able to participate in at least 80% of funded programs in the system, by your analogy. Secondly, anyone in this county can choose the public school to whom they send their child if they want to furnish the transportation. I happen to teach in one of these public schools. I had the option of sending my children (now graduated and in college) to the school(s) of my choice within the system.

[Texas Eagle]

If an illegal alien can get a drivers license.........

...then why can't we put a man on the moon?

No. Wait.

[Bubba_Leroy]

Laws in 16 states allow homeschoolers "equal access" to one or more of these types of activities (see chart).

I can't find the chart on the website. Can anyone point me to it or tell me which states allow equal access and which ones don't?