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Should Homeschoolers Be Included?

Posted on: Thursday, 7 July 2005, 15:00 CDT

All the 15-year-old wanted to do was play drums in the marching band and play soccer. But Derek Baughman was not allowed to participate in Lampeter-Strasburg School District extracurricular activities because he was homeschooled. I have, and our board has, always viewed homeschool children as a private school, L-S superintendent Bob Frick said. At least 10 of the countys 16 school districts do not allow homeschoolers to join in district student activities. But all that could change because of recent legislation passed by the state Senate that would require the states 501 school districts to open their doors to homeschoolers for extracurricular activities. Lancaster County has about 2,595 homeschoolers, the largest number in the state. There are 24,415 homeschool students in Pennsylvania. Many homeschool families feel that because they pay taxes, their children have the right to participate in public- school activities such as sports, band, clubs and theater. They are making us feel like we are segregated, said Stephany Baughman of Strasburg. They tell us, You are the one that chose to home school, so you get nothing from us. Baughman fought L-S school district for more than a year for the right for her children to participate in sports and band. The school board refused. So she enrolled Derek in Dayspring Christian Academy. She hopes a law would open the door so her younger son, Brandon, can play sports.

State Sen. Bob Regola, a Westmoreland County Republican, introduced the homeschool bill. His chief of staff, Suzanne OBerry, said, The whole point of this issue is that 260 school districts already (allow homeschoolers to participate), and they have had no problems. Its working for the Conestoga Valley School District, which has allowed homeschool children to join in activities for about four years, said Superintendent Gerald Huesken. There is one downside, he said. If four students join up in football, then the school must count the 150 homeschoolers in the district as part of its student population. This can change the competition class for the sports teams.

Meanwhile, this is the first time legislation such as this has traveled so far with state lawmakers, OBerry said. The Senate vote was 34-16. Basically this bill has been introduced and re- introduced for the past 10 years, and it has never gotten this far, OBerry said. So there is hope for Lancaster County homeschoolers who want to play football and play in the band.

Rhonda Zimmerman of Mount Joy homeschools her two children, ages 10 and 8, and is optimistic about the legislation. I just feel that if the districts would work with us a little bit more...we are not homeschooling because we dont want to be a part of the community, she said. We are homeschooling because we feel that its what is best for our children. Deanna Rabe of New Providence said joining in public school activities hasnt been an issue for her five children, who are homeschooled. But she understands why it is for others, since the schools get to use our money without having to spend it on our children anyway, Rabe said.

The homeschool bill is now before the House Education Committee. If the panel approves the bill, it could go to the House floor for a vote. State Rep. Mike Sturla, a Lancaster Democrat, said he supports the bill. There is a whole socialization process that goes on in schools and if that can only occur on the football field, then at least its going to occur there. Dave Dumeyer, executive director of the House Education Committee and chairman of the Lancaster County Republican Committee, agreed with Sturla that the bill looks promising. But not without much deliberation, he said. As taxpayers, they should have access to that, Dumeyer said. But we will have some who believe that this is the first foot in the door toward government control of education programs. If there were no changes, the bill would land on the governors desk for signing.

A spokesperson for Gov. Ed Rendells office was quoted in the Allentown Morning Call newspaper as saying Rendell could veto it, depending on what form the bill takes when it passes both houses. In Penn Manor, homeschoolers can join in sports, but not band or clubs. And they must adhere to the same rules as other students for the privilege to participate, Superintendent Don Stewart said. Rules include attendance and grades and behavior. If a football player shows up late to school, then he cant play in the game that day, for example. These same rules would apply for homeschoolers, but enforcing them would pose some problems, Stewart said. Parents of homeschoolers would have to report if their children were not following the rules. He, along with other educators, is skeptical of how fair that is. And if the law passes, Penn Manor would have to let homeschoolers join the band, but band is held in a regular class during the school day, and that would cause disruptions, he said. And Stewart said that whether or not they participate is a local decision not a state one. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania State Education Association agree and have both opposed the bill. Not every educator feels that way. Lancaster School District Superintendent Rita Bishop says homeschoolers are welcome. Their parents pay taxes, she said. We are talking about children. I personally believe that they need to be a part of the community.

In addition to CV, Lancaster and Penn Manor, local districts that allow homeschoolers to participate in at least some extracurricular activities are Cocalico, Elizabethtown and Eastern Lancaster County. State Rep. Gibson C. Armstrong, a Strasburg Township Republican, is thrilled that the state legislation has moved this far. Im very supportive of families who educate their children at home because education is fundamentally the responsibility of the parents, he said. Frick, of L-S, said that if the bill becomes law, then the district will comply. But that doesnt mean he likes it. Personally, its a mistake. Either you are a public school student or a private school student. Thats their choice.

Source: Intelligencer Journal

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