Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

For parents considering homeschooling their high schooler, one of the most common concerns is whether their child will have access to extracurricular activities such as band and sports. Find out about one possible response, on today's Home School Heartbeat with HSLDA President Mike Smith.

Mike Smith:
Today I'm joined by Rick Murata, a homeschool dad from Texas. Rick, your high school sons are swimmers. What opportunities have you found for them to swim competitively?

Rick Murata:
We participate in a homeschool co-op and had heard about several students swimming competitively with a private Christian high school in our area. We talked with several of the parents and then contacted the athletic director at the school. This particular athletic director, being a former swimmer, has embraced the homeschool swim community here in San Antonio. In fact, this year, we had 15 homeschool athletes—eight girls and seven boys from across the San Antonio area—on the swim team.

I think parents, particularly those with gifted athletes, are most likely aware that an athlete can receive attention and recognition by participation with a public or private school. Last year, one of our swimmers was recognized as a high school All-American, and four of our swimmers were selected to be members of the San Antonio Express-News All-Area Team. They would not have received these honors without our participation with a private school.

So I would encourage parents to inquire with the local and private schools and their governing boards about their students' participation, and whether the school would serve as an umbrella for homeschool students.

Mike:
Find out more about homeschooling through high school by visiting www.homeschoolheartbeat.com. And until next time, I'm Mike Smith.