Virginia Dems Slam Athletic Doors on Home-Schoolers

Believe it or not, there are almost 44,000 home-schooled kids in Virginia. But if one of them is a budding Olympian or a Heisman Trophy-quality ball slinger, we may never hear about them.

On Wednesday, Democrats in the House of Delegates killed the “Tebow Bill.” A measure already enacted by a majority of the states. It would allow home-schooled students to play on public school athletic teams.

Think about it. Home-schooling parents pay property taxes that help pay for sports facilities, just like the parents of the public school enrollees. Why not let home-schoolers try out for teams?

This bill has passed the General Assembly three times, was vetoed each time by former Gov. Terry McAuliffe who, like a dutiful Democrat, was afraid to stand up to the teachers’ association that vehemently opposed the bill.

If the academics aren’t good enough for them, why should they be allowed to play sports? they growl.

You see,  Democrats believe in “choice” but only when it comes to abortion. Make the choice to take your kids out of public school, and you won’t get vouchers or any other help from the state.

Did I mention home-schooling parents pay taxes like everyone else?

The Tebow bill is named for Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who was home-schooled but played on the Allen D. Nease High School varsity football team in Ponte Vedra, thanks to an enlightened Florida law that allowed him to try out.

In his senior year Tebow led the Nease Panthers to the state championship.

But who wants a state title if it means you have to let those oddball kids on your team, am I right?

When he was nominated for the Heisman, Tebow told The Washington Post that he was happy to show a different side of the home-schooled student. 

“That’s really cool. A lot of times people have this stereotype of home-schoolers as not very athletic — it’s like, go win a spelling bee or something like that. It’s an honor for me to be the first one to do that.”

Actually, with all the emphasis on diversity these days, you’d think public schools would welcome home-schooled kids. It would keep home-schoolers connected to other students. And it would let public school kids spend time with others who are being educated differently. 

I guess the Democratic commitment to diversity doesn’t go that  far, though. After all, many home-schoolers are - dare I say it - evangelical Christians.

Last time Virginia’s Tebow proposal was in the news I remember one angry parent declaring that it wouldn’t be fair for home-schooled kids to compete with hers, since the home-schoolers probably spent all day playing sports.

Sounded a lot like a load of begrudgery to me.

Look, of all the home-schooled high schoolers in Virginia, how many are athletic enough to make varsity teams, anyway? What’s the harm in letting them compete?

At last count, 28 states allowed home-schoolers to play on public school athletic teams. Another 15 were considering Tebow Bills.

Ooops. Make that 14.