Virginia's Senate Education and Health Committee shot down a bill Thursday that would have allowed home-schooled students to participate in public schools’ sports teams.
Committee members killed House Bill 1442 — also known as the “Tebow bill" — on a 7-8 vote, shelving it for the remainder of this legislative session.
But should the bill have reached the full Senate floor?
Fairfax County School Board member Ryan McElveen highlighted the defeat of the bill as one of the three most important actions residents could advocate for this session as Richmond pressed on with what he called an "educational extremism."
The school board voted to advocate against the proposal, McElveen wrote, "because, in short, the bill would be unfair to current FCPS students who must comply with academic standards in order to participate."
"While the Tebow bill would require home-schooled students to meet academic benchmarks for two years before joining a team, those standards are not clear. As some have argued, public schools aren’t “a la carte”—students and their families have the choice to participate in the public school system and all of the activities it provides."
Some commenters agreed, saying "school teams should be just that - composed of students at that school."
Another commenter said residents pay taxes to schools whether their children are enrolled in the public school system or not, so "public schools should always be forced to allow non-public school children to try out for sports teams."
Others pointed out blocking the bill as a whole is stopping jurisdictions beyond Fairfax from making their own decision.
"Some school boards want to say "yes" and by opposing it, you're blocking their right to choose what to do in their community," Catherine Myers wrote.
Tell us: Should the "Tebow" policy be passed in Fairfax? In Virginia? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Being on a school team is about representing your school and community. Students are proud to represent their school, they are proud to be a part of pep rallys, and enjoy the spirit of competition. It is about their team and their school. Public schools are not cloistered environment, save that for the nuns. They are for the public school children and their communities.
And since the facilities already exist, the school system could lease them to community groups, who would be responsible for maintenance and upgrade.
Instead of insisting that HSers become full time public school students we should be questioning why we accept the status quo. Why are sports tied to school in the first place? Why do we really care what side of any imaginary line some kids lives in when we decide what team he is allowed for? Why don't we allow everybody to mix and match self-directed education, classes at the local public school. classes at community college, maybe classes sponsored by businesses, online classes, etc.?
It isn't their high school, their high school is with other home schooler friends and families. They do not matriculate in these public high schools, they do not help support these schools through PTSAs or PTOs. They do not fund raise for these schools, they and their parents do not volunteer in these schools. It is not their school in terms of attendance, etc. To be blunt Jody you are out of the ballpark on this one. Home schoolers can attend club leagues like all other children. You make blanket statements and your animosity is chilling if someone disagrees with you.
Of course the homeschoolers should be included, because thats what we do, we include, or try to, considering our past propensity to exclude. Homeschoolers not only are paying their own freight but are actually saving the county money by not taking up space in the classrooms. If a homeschooler wants to sign up for a chemistry class, why not? It is to all of our benefit for him/her to be educated and there are many ways for that to be accomplished. Lets applaud the effort. Again the default position should always be INCLUSION never Exclusion.
Also anyone that complains that they pay taxes and don't have school aged children should be allowed to deduct that portion is an absolute idiot. If you feel that you're not getting your moneys worth, go foster or adopt a kid and enroll him or her in school. Last but not least I think people who home school are weird. Their kids are usually socially awkward as well. However they still deserve the opportunity to play sports at their local school, because its on their best interest.
That statement ranks right up there with any other discriminatory generalization that has been used against Blacks, Jews, Gays and Irish. I'm sorry if I have left any races or nationalities out.
These kids are in our neighborhood and in our community. I say fewer boxes, fewer hurdles. Open after-school sports to all kids because that's probably what they would want. It is supposed to be their thing. Show up, try out, and PLAY.
As many others have stated if you want to be on a public school team you should attend the school. If you choose to be home schooled or attend public school you choose to give up that opportunity.
It is about multi-culturalism! It is about diversity! It is about accepting those different than you! You cannot discard those students who are being home schooled like they are second class citizens. When their parents pay for it, they are entitled to it however they see fit! They can choose to use it all. They can choose to use not of it. They can pick and choose whatever elements theyt want for their kids. That is the American way. When did we forget about that!