The public sports participation bill in, SB 37, passed the Utah state senate, but not without a little bit of mud-slinging.
Senate passes home-school sports bill, 11 February 2008, Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah
Bell’s amendment would have required home schoolers to get independent verification of academic progress before participating in activities. Madsen’s bill only calls for parents to sign an affidavit about their child’s progress.
Bell’s concern is with parents lying to get their kids into sports. …
Madesen, a home-schooler, and other bill supporters said if there’s going to be a third-party process for home-schoolers, it ought to be the same for public school students.
The comments at the site reflect a similar belief that parents will lie for their children.
What strikes me as odd is that communities can have sporting programs for children to which nothing schoolish is attached. Summer baseball and soccer are played without reference to school grades. Bowling leagues get together without worry about school attendance. Recreational programs continue without GPA qualification.
If sport programs are to serve the children of a community through taxpayer funding, then the programs should be divorced from the schools.
If school sports are meant to be farm teams for professional development, then come out and say so. That point needs to be hashed out, if indeed professional development through school teams is the case.
Other information:
- Bill would change home-schooled students’ access to activities, 25 January 2008, HEM News and Commentary
- Home school debate reignited, 6 February 2008, Deseret Morning News, Salt Lake City, Utah
posted by Valerie
HEM
Helen
Tracy
mark
marynix
ann-lahrson-fisher
valerie
sandi
david