LESS THAN A SPORTING CHANCE
My faith in home educators was greatly bolstered seeing this report of survey results on Kay’s comprehensive Tennessee HE info site (scroll down to “2/18/05” under “News”):
1. Do you believe that home educated students whose parents support the public education system through taxes paid to local and state governments should have the right to participate in public school extra-curricular activities? 97% yes
2. If a bill was passed to allow home educated students to participate in extra-curricular activities would your family take advantage of this opportunity? 79% yes
3. If a bill passed that required the home educated student to register with the local school superintendent in order to participate would your family participate? 28% yes
4. If a bill passed that required your home educated student to take placement exams at the local school in order to participate would your family still take advantage of this opportunity? 19% yes
It’s pretty clear: Folks would like to have access, but most aren’t willing to trade their educational freedom — or, heck, even their names, apparently — for it.
7 Responses to “LESS THAN A SPORTING CHANCE”
 Comment by Daryl April 28th, 2005 at 11:54 am |
I’d have been in the 3%. Yeah- I don’t think the schools should be spending nearly the time, energy, and money they do on extracurriculars. But we opted out of their system and the fun things (including sports) are part of the system. |
 Comment by Chris April 28th, 2005 at 1:09 pm |
I’d be in 97%. We *should* have the right to participate as we wish – no strings attached. (As should all other tax paying parents, regardless of their educational choices). However, under current rules we don’t, and participating on the government’s terms is something I’m not willing to do. |
 Comment by Rikki April 28th, 2005 at 1:21 pm |
I’m in the 3.3333333%. I don’t want their services, I want my tax money to do with as I please. 🙂 |
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Comment by Chris April 28th, 2005 at 2:28 pm |
Rikki, I’m working on the very realistic assumption that hell will freeze over before we ever see any kind of no strings attached tax refund to people who don’t utilize government services. And at some level, the public schools are providing a service to homeschoolers. All those kids are out of our way during the day when we want to go out and do stuff 🙂 |
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Comment by Eric Holcombe April 28th, 2005 at 3:24 pm |
Thanks Chris, I needed that. |
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Comment by traci April 28th, 2005 at 8:12 pm |
Good one Chris… When our local park day ended up on the same day as the local school district had a day off. My exact thoughts were…. “Heh shouldn’t these kids be in school? Just what are they using our tax $ for ?” Now we tend to time our personal HE field trips for later in the afternoon like around 1 oclock. By then most school groups are either off eating lunch or getting ready to head back to school to be dismissed. |
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Comment by Chris April 28th, 2005 at 10:53 pm |
Plan your HE trips on Monday and Friday. Schools usually avoid those days for field trips. |