The Tebow laws: Should homeschooled kids play sports for public schools?

Virginia is on the verge of passing a law affecting youngsters who dream of following the career path of homeschooled-kid-turned-NFL star Tim Tebow Virginia is close to amending its laws so homeschooled kids can participate in extracurricular activities at public schools — namely, sports. At least 25 states already have some kind of "Tebow law," so named because Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow was homeschooled in Florida but played on a public school football team. The number of homeschooled kids in the U.S. is growing, say advocates: From 1.5 million in 2007 to 2 million now. Are Tebow laws a good idea?

No. Public school isn't "a la carte": If you're a parent who doesn't "think the school's math or English program is good enough for your child, but playing on that school's football team is," you're like a kid who wants dessert without dinner, says Zack Plair in the Paragould, Ark., Daily Press. Tebow law advocates say it's about fairness — we pay school taxes, let our kids play — but such "a la carte" public-schooling is unfair to students who participate in the system. I pay taxes for the whole road, but I can't "drive on the left side of the highway" or "pass on the shoulder." There is "a system in place, and the integrity of that system depends on everyone using it a certain way."
"So-called 'Tebow laws' create slippery slope"

What's wrong with treating schools like a buffet? "What's so terrible about one more choice for kids and their families?" asks Lucy Steigerwald at Reason. In fact, why stop with homeschooled kids? We should open public school sports teams to private school students, too. If public schools want taxpayer funding, parents deserve as many choices as possible, and that includes letting in "a thousand homeschooled Christian dorks so that they too can be future football stars."
"'Tebow law'... already lets columnists complain about too much choice"

Homeschoolers should "meet the public schools halfway": Sports bring people together, and "integrating homeschoolers into our public education system advances the goal of commonality," says Andrew Rotherham at TIME. But if they want to integrate, homeschoolers need to play by public school rules, especially regarding academic eligibility. Linking sports to grades is "a hard-won education reform," and for homeschoolers, academic eligibility means accepting "some sensible regulation of homeschooling quality."
"Should homeschoolers be allowed on public-school sports teams?"

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Jeremy Lin: The NBA's Tim Tebow?

"Linsanity" is in full flame, earning the overtly Christian point guard direct comparisons to a certain Denver quarterback. Is the parallel warranted? Former benchwarmer Jeremy Lin is quickly becoming the toast of the NBA, posting career numbers while leading the injury-plagued Knicks to three consecutive victories. The Harvard grad, a slow-footed point guard who lacks an outside jumpshot, was cut from two teams last year before finding his way to the end of New York's bench, where he languished until this past week. Now, a series of clutch baskets and other dazzling moves have merchandisers scrambling to get the guard's number 17 jersey on shelves for an increasingly rabid fanbase. (He even has his own rap song.) Given the Ivy leaguer's outspoken Christianity, unexpected success, and internet buzz, is Jeremy Lin the NBA's answer to Tim Tebow?

Yes, this is "Linsanity": The point guard certainly "checks all the Tebow-esque boxes," says Jake Simpson at The Atlantic. He's a college star who was expected to fail in the pros. He's a devout Christian who thanks Jesus after every game. He plays a key position on an underachieving team. (He doesn't even have a place to call home, sleeping on his brother's couch in New York's Lower East Side.) Yes, like Tim Tebow, Jeremy Lin fulfills "several prerequisites for Internet superstardom," and it's no wonder his run this week drove the blogosphere "berserk." As impressive as Lin's court presense has been, it's "dwarfed by his larger-than-life image online."
"Linsanity: How the Internet Made Jeremy Lin a Star in Less Than a Week"

The comparison doesn't really work: "The Lin-Tebow comparison is facile," says Eric Freeman at Yahoo. Sure, the Christianity parallels are there. And Lin even cites Tebow's approach to winning and off-field charity as an inspiration. But Lin "wasn't drafted and received no scholarship offers as a recruit," while Tebow "was a first-round pick, won the Heisman, and was a consensus top prospect in high school."
"Jeremy Lin draws inspiration from Tim Tebow" 

SEE MORE: 4 ways NBC is ruthlessly 'milking' the Super Bowl

In any case, this is a special moment: "I have seen a lot of Knicks fans' neuroses and breakdowns play out in public before, but never quite like this," says Emma Carmichael at Deadspin. It's as if nervous fans are afraid "the mere mention of [Lin's] name might make him disappear, like some kind of magical elf." After all, despite his solid fundamentals, his minutes and production will not last forever, especially as better teams start giving him attention. He remains a mystery. Still, I can pinpoint at least one reason why Lin's rise has been so much fun to watch: "He is having the best time ever."
"Asian Harvard Grad Somehow Succeeding In New York; Or, Why I Love Jeremy Lin"

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Jeremy Lin: The NBA's Tim Tebow?

"Linsanity" is in full flame, earning the overtly Christian point guard direct comparisons to a certain Denver quarterback. Is the parallel warranted? Former benchwarmer Jeremy Lin is quickly becoming the toast of the NBA, posting career numbers while leading the injury-plagued Knicks to three consecutive victories. The Harvard grad, a slow-footed point guard who lacks an outside jumpshot, was cut from two teams last year before finding his way to the end of New York's bench, where he languished until this past week. Now, a series of clutch baskets and other dazzling moves have merchandisers scrambling to get the guard's number 17 jersey on shelves for an increasingly rabid fanbase. (He even has his own rap song.) Given the Ivy leaguer's outspoken Christianity, unexpected success, and internet buzz, is Jeremy Lin the NBA's answer to Tim Tebow?

Yes, this is "Linsanity": The point guard certainly "checks all the Tebow-esque boxes," says Jake Simpson at The Atlantic. He's a college star who was expected to fail in the pros. He's a devout Christian who thanks Jesus after every game. He plays a key position on an underachieving team. (He doesn't even have a place to call home, sleeping on his brother's couch in New York's Lower East Side.) Yes, like Tim Tebow, Jeremy Lin fulfills "several prerequisites for Internet superstardom," and it's no wonder his run this week drove the blogosphere "berserk." As impressive as Lin's court presense has been, it's "dwarfed by his larger-than-life image online."
"Linsanity: How the Internet Made Jeremy Lin a Star in Less Than a Week"

The comparison doesn't really work: "The Lin-Tebow comparison is facile," says Eric Freeman at Yahoo. Sure, the Christianity parallels are there. And Lin even cites Tebow's approach to winning and off-field charity as an inspiration. But Lin "wasn't drafted and received no scholarship offers as a recruit," while Tebow "was a first-round pick, won the Heisman, and was a consensus top prospect in high school."
"Jeremy Lin draws inspiration from Tim Tebow" 

SEE MORE: 4 ways NBC is ruthlessly 'milking' the Super Bowl

In any case, this is a special moment: "I have seen a lot of Knicks fans' neuroses and breakdowns play out in public before, but never quite like this," says Emma Carmichael at Deadspin. It's as if nervous fans are afraid "the mere mention of [Lin's] name might make him disappear, like some kind of magical elf." After all, despite his solid fundamentals, his minutes and production will not last forever, especially as better teams start giving him attention. He remains a mystery. Still, I can pinpoint at least one reason why Lin's rise has been so much fun to watch: "He is having the best time ever."
"Asian Harvard Grad Somehow Succeeding In New York; Or, Why I Love Jeremy Lin"

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