Homeschoolers Barred from H.S. Sports but Illegal Immigrant Peers Play On

Homeschoolers Barred from H.S. Sports but Illegal Immigrant Peers Play
On

breitbart.com
by Benjamin Chance21 Feb 201362post a comment

Is it "fair" that illegal immigrants and foreign exchange students are
allowed to play high school football on Friday nights and to
participate in extra curricular activities at public schools, while
many of their peers, who are legal US citizens but who happen to be
homeschooled, are being denied "equal" access to the same
opportunities in their local communities?
In Virginia last week, seven Democrats and a lone Republican, perhaps
unaware or unmoved by such a discrepancy, made the point moot and
rejected the so called "Tebow Bill" that sought to "level the playing
field."

In the weeks preceding the committee vote, the national media took an
interest in Virginia's version of the "Tebow Bill." Most notably,
Laura Ingraham, "the most listened-to woman in political talk radio in
the United States," had a memorable exchange discussing the measure on
her show with guest Ken Tilley, Executive Director of the Virginia
High School League (VHSL) and a fierce opponent of the bill. According
to the Washington Post "The current ban against home-schoolers is the
result of long-standing policy set by the Virginia High School League,
which governs interscholastic sports and other activities in
Virginia's more than 300 high schools."

After Tilley put forth several reasons for the opposition such as
"participation is a privilege not a right" and "equity and fairness,"
Ingraham, whose conservatism, wisdom and wit is like kryptonite to the
left's speciousness, took to task Tilley's "equity arguments."
Ingraham highlighted how exemptions seemingly are being made for every
group except homeschoolers and the country's big push for
inclusiveness doesn't include tax paying parents that choose to
homeschool. At one point, Ingraham asked Tilley if undocumented
immigrants have to have parents residing in the attendance zones to
compete and the response given was "We don't address that point."

By calling out the practice of giving exemptions to some (illegal
immigrants and foreign exchange students) but denying similar
treatment to others (homeschooled US citizens), Ingraham invalidated
Tilley's core talking points. More importantly, Ingraham offered a new
dynamic over "what's fair" conspicuously absent in both previous and
current debates.

Although many leftists believe they own a monopoly on the terms and
conditions of how to define and apply "fairness," Ingraham forcefully
demonstrated how the left's pretense of "equity" and "fairness" can
collapse upon closer examination. When pointed questions like
Ingraham's are introduced, "Professional" politicians and educators
frequently become exposed not only by their opposition to measures
like the "Tebow Bill," but also by their mannered sincerity.

These "professionals" love to lecture about the notions of "fairness,"
of "equal access," and of "a commitment to united excellence" in
education, yet circle the wagons year after year to deny 14 and 15
year old homeschoolers the opportunity to tryout for the high school
basketball or debate team. What exactly are these "professionals"
dedicated to? Do they seek to promote a safe and healthy environment
to educate and develop every child, or only those students who attend
"their" public schools?

In view of current exemptions, people's overwhelming support, and
legislative provisions, arguments against the "Tebow Bill" appear
small and punitive. For example, in a 2010 article, Tilley said "By
playing by a different set of rules it's inequitable and unfair to
public school students." He added "the parents of homeschooled
students have voluntarily chosen not to participate in the free public
school system in order to educate their children at home. That's fine,
but in making that choice they have also chosen to forgo the
privileges incidental to public education. One of which is the
opportunity to play athletics."

Tilley's notion of "choice" further invalidates his argument. Most
likely, illegal immigrants parents did not give their children a
choice to stay behind when the decision was made to ignore our
nation's rules and enter the country illegally. American's,
nevertheless, are compassionate and even the most fervent advocates
for stricter immigration laws, can both appreciate and understand that
a child should not be punished for his parents actions.

Why then do "Tebow Bill" opponents believe it's "fair" and "equitable"
to punish teenage homeschoolers because their law-abiding tax-paying
parents made a different choice on how to educate best their
children?

Even the Washington Post's position has evolved from skeptical to
acceptable. According to a recent editorial "State athletic officials
ought to look for a solution that preserves a level playing field but
doesn't deny local school districts or their students the important
right to choose." What's more, a January 2013 survey released by the
Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute indicated 67% of Virginian's
"favored allowing students who are homeschooled to participate on
local public school sport teams."

Over the years, proponents have worked to address various objections
and the proposed bill is a common sense and comprehensive solution.
Currently, the "Tebow bill" stipulates that only home-schoolers who
meet specific eligibility, disciplinary, and residency criteria can be
eligible to try out for high school extracurricular activities or
sports. For example, to comply with academic requisites, homeschoolers
must provide standardized test scores or undergo an annual review by
the school system.

The bill also provides for individual localities, not the state, to
decide if home-schoolers should be allowed to participate or not.
Additional provisions in the bill prevent students from "school
shopping" and allows localities to charge homeschoolers any additional
fees incurred as a result of their joining the team or club.

Home schoolers are asking only for the opportunity to compete and want
to earn a roster spot not take one away. They may not walk the halls
with their public school peers during the day, but that shouldn't
disqualify them as potential teammates in the afternoon. Ultimately,
as more people are made aware of the opposition's false arguments,
their false posturing "of wanting everyone to play by the same rules,"
and their false definitions of "fairness," homeschoolers should be
optimistic about next year's prospects for the "Tebow Bill" to pass
and become law.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Open Debate Political Forum IMHO" group.
To post to this group, send email to OpenDebateForum@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to OpenDebateForum-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/OpenDebateForum?hl=en
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Open Debate Political Forum IMHO" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opendebateforum+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to opendebateforum@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/opendebateforum?hl=en.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.