It was with great anticipation that many of us homeschool families watched the 2007 Heisman Trophy awards ceremony. Of course, we were all hoping for the best for Colt Brennan. However, we were thrilled for Tim Tebow as well. Tim Tebow was homeschooled throughout highschool. Florida, like 24 other states, allows homeschooled children to participate in afterschool activities at the neighborhood school they would otherwise attend. Tebow participated, and the rest, as they say, is history.
I was disappointed to find that Hawaii did not have a similar law. I contacted Senator Sam Slom (my district, Hawaii Kai) and he wrote SB2 476 which you can view at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/SB2476_SD1_.htm This bill, if passed, would give Hawaii's homeschooled kids the same opportunity that Tim Tebow had.
The homeschool community in Hawaii is large and growing. Currently over 9,000 kids in the state are homeschooled! Homeschooling is chosen for many reasons: to help a child with a learning disability, to allow the family to spend more time together so that family values can be instilled in the children, because the family is transient (as in the military). One thing most of us have in common is that we are still very involved in our communities.
The Education Committee, headed by Sen. Norman Sakamoto, heard SB 2476 and passed it to the Ways/Means Committee. A large group of homeschoolers attended the hearing on Feb. 4, 2008, and gave their testimony. We are now trying to get the Senate Ways and Means Committee to hear this important bill within the next month.
Homeschool families pay the same taxes as families who send their children to public schools. These taxes fund our public schools, whether homeschoolers elect to use them or not. Just as we have access to public institutions such as libraries, hospitals, and parks, we are respectfully requesting access to public school programs like sports, band, cheerleading, and clubs.
Please contact Sen. Roz Baker, chair of the Ways and Means committee, and ask her to hear the bill. She is located at the Hawaii State Capitol, Room 210 on 415 South Beretania Street in Honolulu, HI 96813; her phone is 808-586-6070 and her fax is 808-586-6071
From Maui, toll free 984-2400 + 66070 or email her at mailto:senbaker@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Kristi Lundell can be reached at mailto:lundellk001@hawaii.rr.com
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