Anhayte’s Antics: Giving Homeschooled Kids a Chance to Play in High School Athletics

ANHAYTE GUAJARDO
Staff Writer

One’s source of education can be significant in determining one’s future, in both the academic realm and sports field. For example there are many talented home-schooled athletes that would like to pursue a career in sports, but are unfortunately unable to join a high school sport because of their source of education. There are currently only thirteen states that allow broad (WC) access to homeschoolers and this year was the second year Virginia tried to be among those states.
A bill called the Tebow Law, named after NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, that would have allowed home schooled students to participate in public high school sports and other extracurricular activities, was outvoted on Feb. 4 in Virginia by members of the Senate Education and Health Committee. Some opponents who argued the bill stated that it was unfair that homeschoolers did not have to face the same standards that public schools must face.
Homeschooled students should be able to participate in high school sports teams because they deserve equal opportunities instead of being penalized for a family descision to be homeschooled. Parents may decide to homeschool their child because they are concerned about their safety; for example shielding them from negative influences such as drugs and peer pressure. However, that does not mean they should be excluded from participating in the public school’s sports team.
Forbidding students to join a sports team can hurt their chances to play sports in college. Letting them participate gives them an opportunity to show their talents and get recognized by colleges just like Tim Tebow. Being homeschooled himself, he received the opportunity to attend Florida State University to play football, and is now a successful NFL football player.
Students should not be denied access to sports that are an activity that can bring communities together and can prove to be rewarding for an athlete’s future.