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."
FYI, more teachers homeschool their kids than any other demographic group. I know plenty of them.
Really? I thought they were sending their kids to Swiss boarding schools with all the money they were making because of the unions.
Wow. I don't know how you managed to define what I said in this manner, but you sure did do it. I guess I'll try this again.
If a student is enrolled in a public school they can either participate in that school's extracurricular activities or not. If a student is NOT enrolled in that public school then they do not have any right whatsoever to participate in that school's activities.
If a student is enrolled in a public school and they are learning disabled or don't speak english well, and they spend half of the day with tutors, they are still enrolled in that public school. If they are enrolled in that school then they can participate in extracurricular activities.
If a student has been pulled out of the public school system, and is being home-schooled, then they should have no expectation whatsoever of being able to participate in extracurricular activities of the school that they are not even enrolled in.
This could actually get quite complicated if taxpayers can pick and choose between public and home schooling in a cafeteria style.
Ain't it the truth. That's along with making up the rules to fit them as they go along. I have a problem with people that want it both ways. Either go to public school or don't go to public school. Choose, then live with the decision.
...a matter of taxation without representation.
Don't you vote for the local school board? If so, then you have representation.
Keep something in mind here: THAT WAS YOUR DECISION, NOT MINE. Don't blame me for your decisions.
YOU have a lot of nerve. YOU and some other public schooled or childless people are the ones screaming for refunds.
Nope. The only time that I am "screaming for refunds" is when home-schoolers want vouchers, etc. Part of that voucher that they are demanding isn't their money. It's mine. That is when I start demanding my money back.
All the homeschoolers are saying, is to let our kids use the facility we pay school taxes for.
If people want to participate in the public school system, and use the facilities of the public school system, they need to be enrolled in the public school system. Otherwise, if they want their kids to participate in certain activities then they need to provide it themselves.
By the same token, anyone whose child is not registered in the school shouldn't have to pay to support it.
You SHOULD get your money back.
My source is the good old fashioned (not dumbed down) "Iowa test". Our children have taken it annually for the past four years. The test results rank the student's performance based upon state and national averages as well as home schooler's as a group.
They try, and they try, and they try, and I fight them every step of the way. Whether it is vouchers, or charter schools, or whatever, they are trying to take my money without giving me any control over how it is spent. That is wrong, and I will continue to fight them over it.
If people want to home-school their kids, fine. I have no problem with that. It's when they have their hand out that I get "a bit irritated." In nearly every election cycle in my state, home-schoolers submit initiatives to attempt to take money from the public school system and put it into their own. It is an ongoing battle here, and I will not stop fighting it.
Once again: if you want to home-school your kids, fine. Leave me out of it.
Ever heard of a school board? It isn't much, but at least it is something.
While I agree with you in principle, the fact is that the parents are paying taxes to support the public school, which they should be able to opt out of when they choose to homeschool their kids. Unfortunately, the almighty government trumps the people it is supposed to serve...again. As long as the parents are supporting the virtually worthless public education system, they are entitled to avail themselves of some benefit from it should they choose to do so.
I re-read what I posted, and what you have posted, and I have no idea where this comment is coming from. I said nothing prejudicial or discriminatory, and I feel that I addressed the points in the post that I was responding to.
As for taxation without representation, that is exactly the point that I am trying to make with regards to vouchers. If tax money is taken out of the public school system and delivered to home-schoolers, or charter schools, or whatever, then I have no representation whatsoever on how that money is being spent. It is a direct violation of my rights as a taxpayer and a citizen.
You got an opinion on this?
You should!!
The discrimination lies in letting some kids partake in school activities and not letting others partake in those same activities even though they clearly want to and pay for them.
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