My brother called and asked if I had heard about the Tebow law.. Never heard of it before so googled it.. From what I found homeschool kids across the nation will be able to play sports at public schools.. Anyone know anything about this??? Angela
I have heard about it, but I'm skeptical. My concern is that allowing homeschool kids on ps sports teams opens up hs families to ps scrutiny. In a state like Texas where there is no oversight, this could be disasterous for our autonomy. By taking advantage of ps programs, will we then be subject to ps policies? This could be a good thing for some people, but I will say thanks, but no thanks.
We have lived in both Iowa and Illinois. Iowa has allowed it for years; however, Illinois does not for the most part. Iowa already has homeschoolers choosing one of three ways to verify progress and they must file paperwork yearly with the district, so there is no more or less oversight for them to play sports, join a club or take classes they choose. Illinois has laws allowing for playing sports; HOWEVER, the school must agree to oversee the curriculum, monitor the student's grades weekly for eligibility requirements and offer credit from the school toward a diploma in order for the student to play. This is actually not Illinois school code, but the policy of the Illinois High School Athletics Association which the schools must join in order to be put on the schedule and play in tournaments with the other schools. Sigh...... I'd love to see it happen as long as the oversight is only related to participation. It is only fair for the homeschooled students to abide by the same regulations the public schooled students must follow.
I have been watching this bill, because I have a 7th grader who hopes to earn a swimming scholarship to college (Me, too, since we've invested so much money into the sport!). She currently swims club swim through USA Swimming. Ultimately, times are what matter, but high school swimming gets more recruiters. Mississippi is one of the 3 or 4 states that is holding out completely against the Tebow Law. We already have to register with the school system, so they are aware of us. I would not want the schools to be over my curriculum choices in ANY way, but I would like to benefit a little from my tax dollars that go to education. BTW, Tim Tebow's parents have said they would have moved had their state/district not allowed Tim to play football. That's simply not feasible for everyone though.
I don't think this is a federal issue. It is up to the state to determine the best way to oversee their education. I don't like this one bit.
I have mixed feelings.. I want my kids to be able to play sports somewhere since there is nothing in our small town for them, but then again, I don't want the Gov't in my homeschool business. Would LOVE to join the Titan team in Lubbock but can't afford to drive 85 miles every day for practices and then drive for games.. Just not happening.... Guess my kids won't die if they don't get to play sports...
I doubt I would allow my children to play at the local school(s) regardless. I don't think there's anything wrong with the option, just not what I would want. They would somehow have to validate the grades, curriculum, or whatever. But the issue with us is the caliber of kids playing. My husband has taught in our neighborhood high school, though the parents in our neighborhood that cares get their children sent to a different school with a much better reputation. But for sports, we wouldn't have that option. A friend had a daughter that attended an Alternative High School without a sports program. The daughter was allowed to play sports at her neighborhood high school. But this didn't go well. The other girls resented her presence, and gave her lots of grief. She wasn't part of their school, and they wanted nothing to do with her. Plus, her presence meant that one of their friends had been cut from the team. She lasted only one season.
Our friends whose children have played at the public school in Iowa have been met with open arms in a large district which held try-outs for the teams. It can go either way, I suppose. Guess I didn't think about taking homeschooing law to the federal level. Not too comfy with that idea.
I think it would depend on the area and the team or sport as to whether or not the child would be well-received. In club swim, you are already swimming with many high school swimmers (the serious ones at least). If your child had a decent chance at a sports scholarship, but needed to particiate in a public/private school to be "seen", would it be worth it? I'm genuinely interested in opinions, because it is something I have to consider if my state allows it.
I suppose it would depend on the sport, and the district. In our district, I'm not sure there are any schools with a swim team. That is done more in the summer at the local pools. But if you had a son who was a good football or basketball player, I could see wanting to go that route. Over all, I think I'm for anything that will allow the homeschooler opportunity.
What got me to really thinking about it was our summer swim league coach last year (separate fun league). He is a local high school coach and was talking to my dd about swimming in high school. (This was in TX, and we were zoned for his school.) He told me that according to UIL rules, she would have to be enrolled in a public/private school for at least 4 hours during her senior year to obtain a scholarship. We actually started looking at a private school that offered online classes and also had a swim team. We were thinking maybe the school would allow her to take some online classes and swim on their team. Then we moved here. No private schools have swim teams here, so that option is out. Now, I really don't know how great dd is in the overall swim world (not going for the Olympics or anything). Previous coaches have told her as long as she stays healthy (no major injuries) she will make a college team. I am going to talk to her coaches more in the next year. There has to be options for club swimmers in areas that don't have high school teams. As a parent of an athlete, I totally see how this law could help homeschoolers. As a homeschooler, it scares me to take the chance at letting her be a part of a school sports team only. What would we be opening ourselves up to?
As it stands at the moment, the issue of Homeschooling (in every way) is a state issue. If this passes at a Federal level, then suddenly the fed has the right and opportunity to step in and assert their own rules and regulations. I can't see how that could ever been good.
I absolutely think the law should be decided at the state level! I had stated that earlier, so I didn't clarify it in that last post.
Very good point, Amie! And I agree. But then you DO have people who move across state lines, and it doesn't seem fair that they can in one place and not in another.
I think sport programs and public school should be separated. 1. Schools would stop hiring teachers for their coaching ability. I loved the coaches I had as teachers, but I didn't learn much in their classes. They were coaches 1st and teachers 2nd. 2. Tax money could be redirected into community rec clubs that would benefit all students: homeschooled, privately educated and public schoolers. Also, it would benefit all ages. Why should the basketball star who decides to work in his family business instead of going to college stop playing Saturday night basketball? We've sucked the fun out of sports by making it a money-making venture (scholarships or wealth as a pro). 3. It would be more cost effective for an area to share 1 stadium rather than have 3 area high schools build their own. 4. It would take some of the distraction caused by sports out of the schools. School spirit could be redirected to pride in academic accomplishments. 5. It would develop community spirit which could translate into civic awareness and community renewal.
The one advantage of school sports, Alice, is that some kids keept their grades up and attend just to play. If they no longer played for the school, they would have no longer have that incentive.
They are supposed to keep their grades up, but from what I hear star athletes are given the grades they need. In San Antonio, athletes that were in AP classes were exempt from the grades rule---so they were all in AP classes. I have to agree with Alice about the coaches. Every coach-teacher I had in high school was "fun", but I didn't learn much. My American History teacher had "free day" every Friday during football season. My Algebra I teacher skipped the lessons on word problems because they were too hard. (I know there are exceptions.) Alice had some great points!
If high schools weren't footing the bill for million dollar stadiums, imagine how much more money could go to those pesky nuisance expenses no on can afford... you know, like text books. (Yes, I realize that not all school districts have their priorities skewed like that. But all the ones I've lived in did.)
NO KIDDING!!! I voted against a 5.3 MILLION dollar bond to build an Olympic quality pool (and a new school-that part was OK) in the school district we lived in in TX. A high school team does not need an Olympic-quality pool. It passed because it was pitched as bringing in at least 5 large USA Swimming meets a year thus providing the city with more tourist dollars. That won't actually happen, because big meets are bid for, not assigned by USA Swimming. And anyway, what does it have to do with the school team? The high school football stadiums/athletic complexes in San Antonio are HUGE, but they don't have enough textbooks for all students. They laid off hundreds of teachers last year due to budget cuts-- but they are building a million dollar pool. (off my soapbox now)
