Across the States
Close call for homeschool archers
A few years ago, the Oka family began using archery as part of their homeschool program’s physical education course, and several of their children have gone on to participate in various archery competitions. However, the Okas were nearly prohibited from continuing this activity during the 2005-2006 school year.
After learning that their city planned to add archery to the current ordinance banning projectiles from being fired within town limits, Mr. Oka testified on the benefits of archery for schoolchildren. Through the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), Kentucky has been a leader in designing and promoting physical education courses in archery for students of all sizes and abilities.
Due to favorable testimony, the city council agreed to not prohibit schools from conducting archery programs. Schools that desired to initiate an archery program for schoolchildren could apply for a permit.
However, several comments were made by council members implying that private homeschools should be prohibited from applying for or receiving this permit.
Fearing that private homeschools might be prevented from obtaining the permit, Mr. and Mrs. Oka contacted Home School Legal Defense Association for help.
On behalf of this member family, HSLDA Attorney Thomas Schmidt prepared a letter to the city administrator charged with developing the archery permit process. After explaining the legal status of private homeschools in Kentucky, Schmidt urged that the permit process treat all schools equally and ensure that homeschools could participate in the process.
Upon receiving our letter, the city opened the permit process to private homeschool programs. The Okas then applied for and received the city’s first permit for a homeschool to conduct an archery program. Since then, Mr. Oka has become a certified archery instructor with NASP and is teaching an archery program in a local residence home for foster children.
— by Thomas J. Schmidt
