Bill would open Mizzou Public School sports to home-schooled students...

[Graphic Edge Guy]

https://www.fultonsun.com/news/2023/dec/27/bill-would-open-missouri-public-school-sports-to/

A bill to allow home-educated students to participate in Missouri public school activities is back for the upcoming legislative session -- and has been coupled with provisions rolling back state oversight of homeschooling families.

Sen. Ben Brown, a Washington Republican, pre-filed a 52-page bill that largely resembles the version he sponsored that cleared the Senate last session.

While it initially was only two pages and focused on giving homeschool kids the opportunity to play sports and join clubs in public schools, it now would add a new category for home-educated students and rescind attendance officers' authority over homeschool families.

"As a former athlete myself whose childhood was greatly impacted by my participation in the sport of wrestling, I feel strongly that it is wrong to deny these potentially life-changing opportunities to children," Brown told the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee during a March hearing.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association policy is to allow homeschool students to participate in their local school districts' sports if they are enrolled in at least one credit hour of instruction, which is typically two classes in non-block-scheduled schools. School districts are allowed to be more restrictive and ban homeschool participation.

Brown's bill would prohibit schools from requiring enrollment in classes, but any instruction or training required for the club or sport would still be allowed.

No one testified in opposition to the bill in March, but that was expanded to remove local oversight of homeschooling families.

Oversight

State Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, said what concerns her about the legislation is "simply not knowing which students are being homeschooled."

"It's imperative ... that when parents make the decision to homeschool their child, we have some reporting procedures in place so that we know which students are actually being homeschooled," she said in an interview with the Independent.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

They can do any sport they want now.

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

I don’t have a problem with homeschooled kids playing public school sports but there has to be over site and they definitely should have to live within the school boundaries.

 

[Toots_mcgee]

The GOP continuing their crusade to destroy public schooling. One of the things that has made America great torn down by people who weren’t good at it,

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

The GOP continuing their crusade to destroy public schooling. One of the things that has made America great torn down by people who weren’t good at it,

Yeah cause democrats are so good at it. 🤣🤣🤣.

 

[Toots_mcgee]

Dems have not been in charge of the state of Missouri in a couple of decades. In that time, we have gone from well funded schools to bottom five in teacher pay and mediocrity in the classroom. You don’t know your bung hole from a fiddle.

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

Dems have not been in charge of the state of Missouri in a couple of decades. In that time, we have gone from well funded schools to bottom five in teacher pay and mediocrity in the classroom. You don’t know your bung hole from a fiddle.

Then explain why schools is democrat dominate areas are so poorly ran?

And when were schools in Missouri well funded? The 80s? Nope. The 90s? Nope? In my life time schools where only well funded based on where you lived, just like it is now.

Also Missouri isn’t bottom 5 in teacher salaries though it is bottom 5 on salary allocated but the state. I love how people like you twist things.

Guess I better stop before you ban me again

 

[Toots_mcgee]

From 2022, Einstein:

On average, starting salaries for Missouri teachers are a little more than $33,200. Only Montana pays new teachers less.

Even Missouri teachers with more experience are in the bottom five of states for average pay; the review found the average Missouri teacher salary is $51,600. That is much less than professionals with similar levels of education in the state.

“Asking educators to sacrifice, over the course of their life, 25 or 30% of what their contemporaries could be making is a lot to ask,” Jones said. “It's hard to make a case for a person coming out of college that they should go into education.”

Missouri also pays significantly less than its neighboring states. Jones said that's especially problematic because the St. Louis and Kansas City metro areas straddle state lines, so it’s easy for teachers to find jobs across the border without having to move.

Illinois’ average teacher pay is almost $20,000 more than Missouri’s. Kansas’ is more comparable but is still about $2,000 more, and the state’s starting pay is about $6,000 more than Missouri’s.

“Even for the Midwest, we are lagging behind,” Jones said. “We're just not competing in the way we should to get high-quality teachers in our classrooms.”

This is an issue that politicians and state education leaders have repeatedly said needs to be fixed. In January, during his 2022 State of the State address, Gov. Mike Parson said raising teacher pay should be a priority.

“Missouri is currently ranked 50th in the United States for starting teacher pay, and half of our new teachers leave the profession by their fifth year,” Parson said. “This is unacceptable, and we must do better.”

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

You can post what you want. I work in education and don’t know of a single school that starts less than 40k. So unless a ton of small schools in BFE are bringing down the average, I’d say you and your article are full of it.

You also cherry picked what you wanted to answer but hey who am I right?

 

[Toots_mcgee]

I “cherry picked” a direct quote from your freakin governor. Bahahahahaha

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

I “cherry picked” a direct quote from your freakin governor. Bahahahahaha

From my post tool. Er I mean toots. But, yes, Missouri needs to allocate more at the state level.

And you Cherry picked again. Man you’re so good at that. What an amazing skill

 

[Veer2Eternity]

You can post what you want. I work in education and don’t know of a single school that starts less than 40k. So unless a ton of small schools in BFE are bringing down the average, I’d say you and your article are full of it.

You also cherry picked what you wanted to answer but hey who am I right?

You're wrong on this. Stop looking at it as R v D and it helps determine the true problems.

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

You're wrong on this. Stop looking at it as R v D and it helps determine the true problems.

I’m not looking at it as R v D. Your buddy did that. I just called him out on It. I know that last session a republican and a democrat proposed a joint bill to increase teacher salaries.

Look at the resent DESE reports and you can easily see where the problems.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

I’m not looking at it as R v D. Your buddy did that. I just called him out on It. I know that last session a republican and a democrat proposed a joint bill to increase teacher salaries.

Look at the resent DESE reports and you can easily see where the problems.

You both are.

He quoted the R governor's statement on the poor teacher pay in MO. That is a fact.

Districts' 'fail' for all kinds of reasons . I'm not a 'throw money at it' guy but many districts are underfunded and that is a GOP / Sequenfeld goal.

 

[Toots_mcgee]

You can’t say “both sides” on an issue when only one side has been in charge of the purse strings in Mo for decades. Only one party has been trying to grab control of our pension plan. Only one party wants to give my tax dollars to private schools and homeschoolers who don’t want to play by the laws and restrictions protecting all kids. Let’s be sincere.

 

[J. Kane]

Dems have not been in charge of the state of Missouri in a couple of decades. In that time, we have gone from well funded schools to bottom five in teacher pay and mediocrity in the classroom. You don’t know your bung hole from a fiddle.

 

[J. Kane]

I “cherry picked” a direct quote from your freakin governor. Bahahahahaha

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

You can’t say “both sides” on an issue when only one side has been in charge of the purse strings in Mo for decades. Only one party has been trying to grab control of our pension plan. Only one party wants to give my tax dollars to private schools and homeschoolers who don’t want to play by the laws and restrictions protecting all kids. Let’s be sincere.

Let’s be honest, you’re not sincere. If the party that has majority right now really wanted those things as you state, then it would have happened. But the majority doesn’t want that which makes you look like an idiot.

FYI most homeschools do abide by the law and restrictions. They also pay taxes.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

Let’s be honest, you’re not sincere. If the party that has majority right now really wanted those things as you state, then it would have happened. But the majority doesn’t want that which makes you look like an idiot.

FYI most homeschools do abide by the law and restrictions. They also pay taxes.

To be fair, in this scenario can you imagine what the STL cheaters would come up with? They want basically zero oversight.

Also, home school kids can participate in any sport they want to now.

 

[mowesten]

i’ve never understood the people who think that school isn’t right for their kid, but then want their kid to be involved in school activities.

Doesn’t make any sense.

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

You both are.

He quoted the R governor's statement on the poor teacher pay in MO. That is a fact.

Districts' 'fail' for all kinds of reasons . I'm not a 'throw money at it' guy but many districts are underfunded and that is a GOP / Sequenfeld goal.

Not all districts are underfunded. Most Missouri teachers are not underpaid. We have a system that punishes school districts in higher poverty areas and struggle with attendance. None of which is their fault. That’s a fact

 

[Veer2Eternity]

Not all districts are underfunded. Most Missouri teachers are not underpaid. We have a system that punishes school districts in higher poverty areas and struggle with attendance. None of which is their fault. That’s a fact

I didnt say all or most.
Rural districts get hit hard on the salary side of things.
Maybe the GOP candidates should run on closing schools. That seems like a winner.

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

I didnt say all or most.
Rural districts get hit hard on the salary side of things.
Maybe the GOP candidates should run on closing schools. That seems like a winner.

There are definitely districts that should consolidate if that’s where you want to go with it

 

[Veer2Eternity]

There are definitely districts that should consolidate if that’s where you want to go with it

Political dead issue.

GOPers are not going to run on that and if they do it the way they usually do things they gonna be in trouble.

 

[bullitpdq68]

Not all districts are underfunded. Most Missouri teachers are not underpaid. We have a system that punishes school districts in higher poverty areas and struggle with attendance. None of which is their fault. That’s a fact

This right here, Teachers pay should probable be the same no matter what. My Daughter makes way more in Kansas teaching than she could ever here in Missouri, in a very rural district, Liberal Kansas.

 

[thesnow.flakegazette]

Political dead issue.

GOPers are not going to run on that and if they do it the way they usually do things they gonna be in trouble.

GOP doesn’t really run on anything other “Democrats bad”. Their only accomplishment has been preventing the US from become a completely socialist country. They don’t actually fix or improve anything Democrats jack up

 

[Veer2Eternity]

GOP doesn’t really run on anything other “Democrats bad”. Their only accomplishment has been preventing the US from become a completely socialist country. They don’t actually fix or improve anything Democrats jack up

and vice versa.

 

[Rufus R. Jones]

Then explain why schools is democrat dominate areas are so poorly ran?

So change it. Trump trash runs the state government. They can change whatever they want. Democrats have no say.

 

[86THS]

Political dead issue.

GOPers are not going to run on that and if they do it the way they usually do things they gonna be in trouble.

No one will run on the platform of consolidation of districts/closing schools, but the "open enrollment" issue gets bandied about every legislative session, it seems. I would have to think that open enrollment would be the first step in the dying process of some of these ultra-small districts. Would kids in Sheldon or Bronough head to Nevada or Lamar? Would Bunceton and Prairie Home kids go to Boonville, California or Tipton? If you have the opportunity to play more sports, get vo-tech exposure, take dual credit classes, etc, why wouldn't you? The business of education is just that, a business, and it's one loaded with emotions and agendas, often at the expense of the kiddos.
Out.

 

[Toots_mcgee]

i’ve never understood the people who think that school isn’t right for their kid, but then want their kid to be involved in school activities.

Doesn’t make any sense.

Exactly

 

[bullitpdq68]

No one will run on the platform of consolidation of districts/closing schools, but the "open enrollment" issue gets bandied about every legislative session, it seems. I would have to think that open enrollment would be the first step in the dying process of some of these ultra-small districts. Would kids in Sheldon or Bronough head to Nevada or Lamar? Would Bunceton and Prairie Home kids go to Boonville, California or Tipton? If you have the opportunity to play more sports, get vo-tech exposure, take dual credit classes, etc, why wouldn't you? The business of education is just that, a business, and it's one loaded with emotions and agendas, often at the expense of the kiddos.
Out.

Many small towns love their small schools. Verona kids could be taken in by Monett, Aurora and MT Vernon. PC Buses almost come into Monett's actual city limits to pick up kids.
These old school boundaries need to be more easily adjusted for growth and changes. As it is today both districts have to approve boundaries changing by a public vote, if they don't then it goes to an arbitrator. And the only one being affected is the kids that want to go to a different school.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

Exactly

You know what will happen.
Little joey bagodonuts has been homeschooled and has developed zero skill or musculature. Thinks he should start at RB. Doesn't play.

Parents sue.

Stamp it.

 

[Pancho and Lefty]

I think the new "chaos politics" is what we are going to have going forward. Meaning far right and far left yell the loudest, push for things that make a lot of noise but aren't really a true point. Moderates on both sides split up votes, and nothing gets done. If you look at the first couple of days in the MO senate, it has already started out in a mess, and session was ended early already due to arguing and bickering.

Example - great deal of politicians are running on cleaning up public education, stamping out mask mandates, DEI, CRT, LGBTQ. and the liberal agenda (all their words not mine). Those statements draw publicity and get folks cheering. The reality of it is none of those are a major problem. For all the talk of litter boxes in bathrooms, has anyone ever seen one? Wouldn't you think when 90% of kids have a cell phone in their pocket that one of them would take a pic of a litter box in the science wing bathroom? How many teachers have you seen pushing a political agenda? Why would someone in a tested area push a political or lifestyle agenda over teaching their subject?

90% of problems with public education starts and ends at home. End of discussion. Another observation I have noticed. You hear all the yelling and complaining about public education. For our first semester parent-teacher conferences, I had under 10% parent participation. If you thought the schools were pushing an agenda, teachers were crazy, curriculum was very liberal, etc wouldn't that have been a chance to come up to the school, visit the classrooms and teachers, and see for yourself what is going on? Open house we averaged about 25% turn out.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

I think the new "chaos politics" is what we are going to have going forward. Meaning far right and far left yell the loudest, push for things that make a lot of noise but aren't really a true point. Moderates on both sides split up votes, and nothing gets done. If you look at the first couple of days in the MO senate, it has already started out in a mess, and session was ended early already due to arguing and bickering.

Example - great deal of politicians are running on cleaning up public education, stamping out mask mandates, DEI, CRT, LGBTQ. and the liberal agenda (all their words not mine). Those statements draw publicity and get folks cheering. The reality of it is none of those are a major problem. For all the talk of litter boxes in bathrooms, has anyone ever seen one? Wouldn't you think when 90% of kids have a cell phone in their pocket that one of them would take a pic of a litter box in the science wing bathroom? How many teachers have you seen pushing a political agenda? Why would someone in a tested area push a political or lifestyle agenda over teaching their subject?

90% of problems with public education starts and ends at home. End of discussion. Another observation I have noticed. You hear all the yelling and complaining about public education. For our first semester parent-teacher conferences, I had under 10% parent participation. If you thought the schools were pushing an agenda, teachers were crazy, curriculum was very liberal, etc wouldn't that have been a chance to come up to the school, visit the classrooms and teachers, and see for yourself what is going on? Open house we averaged about 25% turn out.

Good points.

Those litter boxes are always in the school down the road.

 

[thetophat2021]

Yet another substantive offseason thread..............

 

[sw5890]

90% of problems with public education starts and ends at home.

Yep and that is why so many of the urban districts are failing so bad. Not because the teachers are bad but simply because a high number of their students are chronically absent, living in unstable or unhealthy housing arrangements, lacking parental involvement, basically on their own left to their own devices and surrounded by a peer culture that constantly tries to lure them down a bad path in life.

 

[Arcola]

 

[86THS]

This right here, Teachers pay should probable be the same no matter what. My Daughter makes way more in Kansas teaching than she could ever here in Missouri, in a very rural district, Liberal Kansas.

My son interviewed with Frontenac and the pay was going to be higher than comparable MO schools. However...when playing the long game, the MO Public School Teacher Retirement Plan is way better than the KS offering. The devil is always lurking in the details.
I also remember that the SWKS schools were paying bonuses for new graduates to relocate to Garden City, Dodge City, Liberal, etc to teach. I suggested to my son that before he signed on for that gig, perhaps he should go spend a weekend in Garden City...in January. If you like non-stop wind, Garden City is your place!

 

[Rufus R. Jones]

Yep and that is why so many of the urban districts are failing so bad. Not because the teachers are bad but simply because a high number of their students are chronically absent, living in unstable or unhealthy housing arrangements, lacking parental involvement, basically on their own left to their own devices and surrounded by a peer culture that constantly tries to lure them down a bad path in life.

Mostly the same problems as the rural schools that are failing so bad.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

Mostly the same problems as the rural schools that are failing so bad.

inner city schools are dumpster fires.