Comments about ‘Home-school bill gets preliminary OK’

Why do they get to put their children in public school activities?! They took them out of public school. That includes the activities that go with it. Once taken out, sports and extra activities become the parents responsibilities not societies. The parents are doing what's best for their children so the state shouldn't worry. If they are worried about the child's social upbringing, then they should make public school mandatory for that child. However most home school families' social education is very good.

I am not a resident of Utah, but we do homeschool our children. At the same time we do not use any of our public school's "activities". Nevertheless, I have only one question for all those who feel as "Maritimer": Don't I pay taxes for public schools regardless of whether my kids attend them or not? Based on your logic, it is only fair that all taxes we have paid that were used for public schools be refunded to us since we are not using the schools.

I am not asking for any such refund; you should not be so worried about whether a homeschooled child gets to use public school music, sports, drama, etc. Or as the saying goes, be careful what you ask for or you may get it.

Beacause they pay taxes!

"be careful what you ask for or you may get it."

Homeschooler is right - but I doubt they realize they hit on a problem. This bill might end up costing homeschoolers more rights than they can imagine. Anytime you allow the public school system to invade your right to homeschool, you are inviting more control.

Maritimer,

There was a little rebellion around 220 years ago in Boston Harbor. It had to do with taxation and no representation or benefit from that taxation. But obviously you missed that in your public education so I will make it easy for you.

If I pay, then I get to play!

Homeschooler is right. We all have equal opportunity under the law. Either refund us or make what we pay for accessible to all.

Now athletes can be failing all of their classes, get a note saying they are home schooled, and thus stay on the team. What a great idea!

Most people who homeschool their kids aren't wealthy enough to pay much in taxes anyway. Their kids cost the state much more than what they put back into society. At least they keep them out of the classrooms, though, so that's a plus.

Many families have been forced into homeschooling their children because the public schools have given into political correctness and no longer teach the values that mad this Country great. For many, home has become the only place where children can learn old fashioned values such as honesty, loyalty, hard work, and self-sacrifice.

I am sorry. If you have kids you don't really PAY taxes. I don't have kids, am single and really PAY taxes until they are not used as a tax deduction. Get rid of the so-called head tax and your argument that you pay taxes might carry truth to it.

Being a real taxpayer, paying my full share of tax (I don't get deductions for all the dependents you guys do), I say those kids that I am paying for (not you) can use whatever activities I am paying for whether they are home schooled or not.

To "To All "taxpayers" | 5:42 a.m." yes you pay more in taxes, but do you have the same expenses as those of us that have kids? Yes we get a $1500/year tax break, but it costs more than that to support a child. Do you have a house? If you did, then you would realize that part of your yearly property tax goes to the school district.

Also, you said that you don't have any kids, so what that means is that when you retire and are collecting Social Security, that there is not a new income source behind you paying into the system that is now paying you. That is part of how Social Security was designed.

The camel's nose is already in the tent with or without this bill. The only thing this actually changes is that districts now have 30 days to return the exemption form, instead of dawdling as long as they like. So parents who need to show proof that they are complying with the law now will get it in a timely manner.

I'm not going to complain about Utah's law. Back east, several states make parents submit lesson plans for the whole school year, submit a portfolio of work every year, and take the standardized annual tests. No evidence that those students do any better than those in states without such requirements, but I guess it makes the bureaucrats feel better. If kids fail those requirements, they go back to public school.

Now when they make the kids who are failing in public school go to home or private school, then we might have an equal playing field...