Posted by Howard Richman on November 11 2005 at 09:26:28:
The picture above shows the signing ceremony. It accompanies an article by Eleanor Chute that appeared in today´s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. I think I can identify almost all of the homeschoolers standing behind Senator Regola, Governor Ridge, and Senator Jubelirer. From left to right they are: Lydia Wong, Oliver Monroy, Peter Ericson, Alison Weber, ? Ryerse, Samantha Weber, Olivia Loy, Howard Richman, Nancy Emerson, Haley Monroy, Karl Emerson, Amber Emerson. (I can´t tell from the picture who the people at the wings are -- if you recognize yourself, please post a response to this message.) Here´s a selection from the story:
Home-schooled student Samantha Weber of Freeport, Armstrong County, traveled to Harrisburg yesterday to watch her dream of trying out for the Freeport Area High School soccer team take wing.HowardThe 13-year-old saw Gov. Ed Rendell sign both her soccer ball and a bill that will require all school districts in the state to allow home-schoolers to participate in any extracurricular activities as long as they follow the rules that apply to everyone else.
Samantha´s district is one of 221 across the state that do not permit home-schooled children to participate in school sports or other extracurricular activities.
That will change on Jan. 1 when all 25,000 home-schooled students statewide will be eligible to participate in their home districts....
Samantha´s brother, Zachary, was not allowed to play soccer for the high school when he was a home-schooler, but he was on the team when he enrolled as a senior in a cyber school, from which he graduated in 2004, said their mom, Alison.
Samantha plays soccer with a Beadling cup team, but once she enters high school next year, the team won´t have a fall season because the other players will be on high school soccer teams. Samantha doesn´t want to lose a season of playing time.
"I just love the game, period. I love being part of the team. I like running and stuff like that," said Samantha.
Her Beadling teammates go to other high schools, but she previously played with some Freeport girls in recreational soccer. Her current teammates even called and e-mailed the governor in support of the bill even though they aren´t home-schoolers.
The bill covers extracurricular activities but not classes. Thus, if band, for example, is a class, home-schoolers still will not be able to participate. But if it is an extracurricular activity, they will be able to do so. Mr. Rendell waited to sign the bill while he weighed any financial implications and received more input from the home-schooling community.
"I found it disheartening that 221 of our school districts do not permit home-school children to engage in school sports, plays, clubs or other programs that promote good social values, integrate our communities and clearly contribute to the positive social development of our children," Mr. Rendell said.
"I agree with these dedicated parents that they have every right to be frustrated," he said, noting that the parents help pay for the schools through property taxes.
Tim Allwein, assistant executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, said his group argued that local school districts, not the state, should decide whether to permit home-schoolers to participate....
Marilyn Krzywiecki, a South Fayette parent who home schools two children, said she has "reservations" about the bill because she thinks home-schoolers should work with their local districts.
"I´m not in favor of the state imposing these. I think it opens doors to other things that would get imposed. I would like to see every school district open their doors to the participation of home-schoolers, but I think we have to be careful in how that´s accomplished."
She said her children are welcome to participate in South Fayette. "They look at it like we´re a welcome addition in the community rather than an outsider," she said....