A few West Virginia parents choose to instruct their children at home instead of in public schools. Reasons vary, but whatever the reason, we are wary of bills in the Legislature that would make it easier for parents to remove their children from school - yet enjoy special benefits and advantages, paid for by public schools.
Bills introduced in the 2016 session include ones to reduce testing and paperwork for home-schooled youths, and even let them obtain Promise scholarships without first earning a high school diploma.
Now another proposal, Senate Bill 105, would let home-schooled students and those in private religious schools become players on public school sports teams.
It's called the "Tim Tebow Act" for the pious football star who was home-schooled by missionary parents.
The state Secondary School Activities Commission opposes this plan. Director Bernie Dolan told sports columnist Mitch Vingle:
"We're talking about home-schooled kids and private and parochial kids not in SSAC schools displacing kids in our schools," Dolan said. "For instance, under this bill, kids at Teays Valley Christian could go to Winfield, displace their kids, and play on sports teams."
Several concerns arise.
A home-schooled student might be able to log far more schoolday hours on practice and drilling while traditional students are in the classroom, where they should be.
How would a coach enforce discipline, short of putting a home-schooled student off the team? For students enrolled in public school, coaches have a variety of penalties that can be carried out during the school day to enforce good behavior.
What about fudging grades to qualify, or just genuinely incompatible grade scales between students evaluated by parents compared to those evaluated by teachers at school?
Standout athletes often become leaders among peers. If a student does not participate in school except for games and practice, how can that student realize the opportunity, or the school enjoy the development and service of that student leader?
And, of course, there is cost. In Sunday's paper, a retired Charleston Catholic High School principal warned that SB 105 would disrupt the atmosphere among students who are classmates all year long, and would impose extra costs and responsibilities on public schools.
Why are legislators wasting time on such topics? Forget SB 105. The state faces its worst financial crisis within memory. Lawmakers should focus on important concerns, not extraneous distractions.