Home-schooled girl fights for band spot

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

[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."

[airborne]

If I didn't make my thoughts clear, I apologize. Let me try again.

You said, YOu can't really choose to keep your kids out of the public school, and then pick and choose which programs you want them to participate in.

You said that you can't keep your kids out of public school...and I'm pointing out that some can.

BTW, I'm in this very situation. I'm trying to get a home schooled boy on our ice hockey team. Not sure where the school will come down on it, but the league is OK with it if the school district is.

[Chiapet]

'You said that you can't keep your kids out of public school...and I'm pointing out that some can."

Huh. I think that we're misunderstanding each other. I did not mean to imply that a parent cannot choose to homeschool. What I meant is that when a parent chooses to keep their child (or children) out of public school, they cannot then pick and choose whether they want their child to continue to participate in a program or two.

[demkicker]

Please see my post 333.............reading back it is obvious to me that I confused you with another poster and I offer my apologies.

I should know better than to get involved in thse types of threads when I am overtired. I'm not making excuses - just stating the obvious to remind myself :)

Your apology is accepted and I appreciate it more than you know. Thanks and have a great day!

[demkicker]

You're the one who butted in with your rude comment to me about not feeling sorry for your kids.

Does it sound to you as the only people my children see is MoM?

Think again I know I have missed some things. Don't feel sorry for my kids they are just fine.

And if you don't think your snippy 'tone' to me in your post was rude, then you need to re-read it. You know it was and if you deny it, it's hopeless to continue our correspondence.

I never claimed to be addressing all of your posts here and I don't see where Gabz did either. I responded to YOUR statement above

And I meant every word of my statement. If you'll note, I wasn't speaking about Home School Groups, but the kids who are stuck home day in and day out with Mom or Dad and don't get much socialization with other kids, thus the topic of this thread.... remember?

I believe that Gabz responded to your overall tone- but I can not speak for her.

Glad you're not trying to speak for Gabz because as you well know from the pings, she has already apologized to me for wrongly claiming that I was "attacking homeschoolers". I'll call your attention to her posts #333 & #335.

I noticed that you also conveniently ignored Born in a Rage's posts #323 to me and Gabz and her post #324 to you, which agreed with my remark that set you off in the first place.

Looks like you're the odd man out since both of them know that I made valid points. You made the mistake of taking my remark about feeling sorry for homeschoolers personally when it never was intended to be personal. When you made it personal, I'll admit it made me angry and I was rude to you in return.

Since I'm sick of this childish bickering I think we need to disengage and go on our merry ways...

[TomSmedley]

Once upon a time, local fire departments fielded marching bands. I wish there were more community bands out there -- it's hard to justify the purchase of a BBb bass for one's own amusement. (make that brass bands -- do you recall that scene in Woody ALlen's movie "Take the money and run" where he performs cello with a marching band?) ;)

[TomSmedley]

Then why entrust them to the PUBLIC SCHOOL BAND TEACHER?!

Music is more of a technical discipline than a cognitive one. The disciplines of mastering your instrument, and the music, and your position in the band, are wholesome. Marinating in liberal "socialist studies" is not.

[Rushgrrl]

I would have to say that's a poor point to make.

Police and fire dept are services that are "on-call" if and when you need their services, unlike schools, where, if you don't have children, are not "on-call" services.

It's one of my general "beefs" regarding property taxes, but there's nothing you can do about it. I don't plan on having kids, but I also know that protesting a portion of my taxes will only get me one thing...the potential to lose my property due to non-payment of taxes. Blech.

[Non-Sequitur]

I don't plan on having kids, but I also know that protesting a portion of my taxes will only get me one thing...the potential to lose my property due to non-payment of taxes. Blech.

If you look into it you would find that the value of your property is related to your local school system. The better the schools, the more desireable the area, the more your property values increase because, after all, most people do plan on having kids and things like schools factor into their decisions. So just think of it as an investment in your property, like carpeting or paint.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I butted in? Are you having a discussion in a vacum- or are you posting on a public message board? You need to get a grip and fast. You are taking yourself way too seriously.

[airborne]

Some parents can. Some schools allow them to do just that.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Sometimes the educrats can be so mean spirited.

[Chena]

"Being in the school band means you WANT to represent that school. Obviously she doesnt or else she would go there." Or perhaps playing her clarinet in the school band means she wants to be able to play her clarinet in the school band so she can make music with others in her peer group? She must be terribly demanding.

[Chena]

I don't know what you'll win here, but it should be something better than a public education, because that's not much of a prize these days.

[demkicker]

Since you only want to stay offended and continue nitpicking, I'll repeat it again: Since I'm sick of this childish bickering I think we need to disengage and go on our merry ways...

ENOUGH ALREADY. I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY TO YOU, SO IF YOU POST TO ME AGAIN, IT WILL BE IGNORED. BUH-BYE.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Since I have been accused of ignoring your post I went back and looked for it- of course got it last night along with 17 pings and it got lost in the shuffle.

I think there is a great deal of poor judgment on this thread re: Demkicker who has really gone off the deep end attacking me and my posts, if you ask me.

Since I am a homeschooler I am proud of homeschooling- no doubt about it and I will defend homeschoolers. IF you will read demkickers comments to me I am sure you can see why I would take offense. There is not one child I know of who does not play with more children then their public school counterpart. Good, worse or otherwise... that is my experience. SO I saw Demkickers comments as insulting. Did I attack, call names or anything of the sort.. no. Her complaint is that I am a braggart and a Diva and a Prima Donnna- and other things- who acts like a 6 year old and on and on and on.

Oh no, It was because I mentioned I go to the Pool and play tennis at a Country Club...

well I did that to illustrate it was NOT the pool in my back yard. Had I any idea that the words Country Club would have set someone upon such a rage I would have used two different words. Oh there was the Summer home comment. Surely anyone who has a summer home and uses it in an explanation of where they travel to and how they have ties to people not in their immediate family is worthy or contempt and personal attacks.

She said ,"I feel sorry for homeschool kids"... And I said don't feel sorry for my homeschool kids... and that was worhty of such personal, heated attacks?

There is a good deal of jealousy that appears when this topic is introduced. Jealousy over the silliest of things- and on both sides I have seen it.

The parents who are secure- homeschool or public school, or private school- do not attack other parents for their choices.

I am not sure what to say about your son BIAR- My son has a different experience. I don't know what else I can say about that.

One thing is my child interact with other children about 6 or 7 hours a day- almost everyday. So I disagree that ALL homeschoolers are home only with Mom or Dad.

BTW- if you want to allow Demkicker to hold you two up to me as how y'all put me in my place and left me "odd man out" (her words in the last post to me) that is up to you.

[Gabz]

I hope I didn't come across to you as leaving you "odd man out" or putting you in your place - I did no such thing and never meant it to appear I was doing so.

You and I have always been pretty much in total agreement regarding this issue and my opinion has not changed one iota.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

:] got it. thanks. I certainly did not read your comments that way.

[right wing]

Good grief, Diva! You like to beat dead horses, don't you? Give it a rest already!

I lurk but don't usually post. As a matter of fact, I haven't posted anything since March, but after reading yours and demkicker's posts, I can't help but say you started the "fight" and need to let it go. I've known several parents who have home schooled their kids who didn't have the benefit of a Home School Group like you have.

Demkicker made it very clear that his/her comments were not about kids in Home School Groups who have many extra cirricular opportunities. Anyone who reads this thread can clearly see that you insulted demkicker first. Granted, dk fired back, but IMO, you get what you give.

To try and continue the argument while trying to get Born in a Rage & Gabz drawn into it is extremely immature on your part and I seriously doubt either one of them wants to join in. You'd be better off calming down and letting it go. Demkicker did and you need to do the same.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

And who is bringing it up now? And who is continuing this discussion? LOL! You came out of hiding to clown around on this thread, after so long an absence. With me? Why I am honored. (*curtsies*) Thankyouverymuch ladies and gents- I will be in town all week. Try the fish!

[right wing]

And who is bringing it up now? And who is continuing this discussion? LOL! You came out of hiding to clown around on this thread, after so long an absence. With me?

To use your own previous words:

"Are you having a discussion in a vacum- or are you posting on a public message board? You need to get a grip and fast. You are taking yourself way too seriously."

P.S. It's time for your meds.