Homeschoolers playing sports for public schools?

Depending on where you live, your homeschooled high school student may or may not be allowed by state law (or Department of Defense Guidelines) to play sports for the local public school.

Personally, it doesn't bother me if my children cannot participate in public school sports.  In Texas, where I currently homeschool, they are considered students in a private school and may not play sports on a public school team. Period.

There is a revealing article in the 2 April 2012 issue of Time magazine.  

"Tebow Law" Article in Time Magazine  

The article in the 2 April  2012 issue of Time magazine gives great insight into the realm of homeschooled students playing on public school sports teams.  Twelve states are considering legislation, nicknamed Tebow Laws, which would allow homeschooled students to play on public school sports teams.

As a military family, obviously we move around.  As an Army family specifically, we move about every 2-3 years.  In the past 12 years I've homeschooled in Virginia, Washington state, Louisiana, Germany and Texas.  In Washington state homeschooled high school students can play sports in the public school.  In Germany, at least where we lived, my son could have played baseball for the local Department of Defense School.  I didn't inquire about any other sports there.  Time magazine says that homeschooled kids "have access" to play sports in the public schools in Louisiana.  Not sure if that was possible where we lived.   I now have a high school student and, in Texas, he cannot play sports on the public school team.

What do we do?!  Can he possibly play sports in college?!  On a college scholarship?!  Can he play competitively?! 

 
He plays club soccer, and last year he played select baseball too (yes sports are important in our family!).  He plays on the local homeschool high school soccer team which won the Texas Christian Athletic League (a Texas private school league) State Championship last year!!

He is playing in a D1 soccer league as is his younger brother who will be in 9th grade next year. And my next oldest, my 12 yo daughter, is playing on a club soccer team too.  My 3 year old desperately wants to be on a team too, but I told him, "When Luke graduates you can play soccer."  Fortunately, 3 year olds don't have a great concept of time!

The down side of club sports?  It costs money.  A lot of money for a military family.  

But we homeschool.  That costs money.  We know we'll have expenses above and beyond the free public school system and we deal with that.  We have the choice to homeschool! Ahh.  Remember, we homeschooled in Germany (which is allowed due to the Status of Forces Agreement that the US has with Germany).  In Germany, the Germans can't legally homeschool.  I guess I'll leave that issue for a potential future blog.  It's great being an American!

Is there a potential downside to homeschooled children being allowed to play sports in the public school?  Maybe.  According to the Time magazine article when homeschooled students have access to public school sports, the government is going to ask something of you.  A potential slippery slope for our homeschool freedoms.  

R. C. Sproul, Jr. in his book, When You Rise Up, eloquently and sufficiently stated that it really doesn't matter about all that.  I'll summarize, "If God wants your child to play college sports, or pro-sports, or do whatever, He'll make it happen regardless."   After reading and believing that, I sleep well at night. 

If you homeschool and you are thinking of putting your child in a public so he/she can play sports, go to the prom, get socialized (hehe), etc., consider reading When You Rise Up by R. C. Sproul, Jr. and talking to a highschool consultant at Home School Legal Defense Association.  You'll be glad you did. 

What did you agree with in this post?  What did you disagree with?  Leave me a comment and let me know. 

"It's Monday and I'm being "Miss Elaine-ous" over at The Miss Elaine-ous Life!" 
Miss Elaineous Life

Family Dinners

As much as possible, our family eats dinner together.  All eight of us at the table.  We have a big table.  My 3 year old loves to say the prayer and end it with a loud "Amen" while raising his arms to the ceiling with a big smile.

A few years ago I read something, can't remember what or where, that prompted me to have everyone at the table say "Three Things."  The three things are something that they did that day. Good or bad.  And they say a little about each one.  Some say more than others.  When guests come, they are included.  (It's also public speaking training but they don't know that.) 

I think my 3 yo got "three things" mixed together with the prayer, so his prayers usually go like this..."Dear God, I went to the playground, I played with so-and-so, and I took a nap.  Thank you for the food.  Amen."  Add the big arm motion.

On page 4-5 of Apologia's 2012 catalog  is a letter from the president of Apologia, Davis Carman.    Mr. Carman, the father of seven children, has a must read letter about the family.  It made me think about how important our family dinners are.  

Cooking is not something I like to do, but I've learned to cook for eight.  Of course not everyone likes everything I cook (I don't even like all of it!).  My rule is that if you don't like something that someone else cooked, you don't say anything unless they ask you for your opinion.  However, if you like it, you can certainly say so!

How much do we eat?  It depends on how much everyone likes the food and how hungry they are.  Our main dish is usually a 9x12 casserole size.  I add vegetables and maybe potatoes, pasta, rice and/or bread on the side.  I love my bread machine and use it often to add to meals.  Late in the afternoon I try to have a plate with fresh fruit and vegetables cut up so they are easy to eat so as the kids are getting hungry they much on that. 

 I encourage you to read the letter in the Apologia catalog (click on the link above).

What are your family dinner rituals?

Lost in the Prairies Link-Up

Co-op Speech Class

In a previous post I mentioned co-ops where the teachers are the moms, or dads, of the kids taking the classes.  Click here for that post.  Teaching a Co-op Class

There is another type of co-op where students are taught by teachers who are independent contractors.  The teachers are usually homeschool moms, but there are also homeschool dads and even homeschooled kids who teach.  Our local homeschool co-op offers a multitude of classes in a setting like this.  

And, ta-da....next school year I am going to teach a speech class to 7th-12th grade homeschooled students at our local co-op where I'll be an independent contractor.


 Well, I'll teach if there are at least 10 students who sign up. 

I will be using Institute for Excellence in Writing's Speech Boot Camp and possibly  Toastmaster material. 

My older 5 kids ages 7-15 participated in a speech club this school year.  The kids age 7-12 had a beginner speech class and they had so much fun telling jokes, reciting poems, and having "show-and-tell". They didn't even know it was really a speech class.  When kids learn to comfortable speaking in front of people at young age like that, they hopefully won't have that fear of talking in front of others that so many people experience.

I hope to bridge that and help students enjoy public speaking and learn positive techniques for presenting in public. 

Question:  How many of you feel comfortable getting up and speaking in public?   Do you use that skill?  When and where?