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Christian School Students Find Roadblock to Varsity Sports

By:  David Deschesne, Editor

Fort Fairfield Journal, September 13, 2006, p. 3

    High School Varsity sports programs are open to all public school and homeschool students, but some students of local private and Christian schools are finding they are not invited to participate due to their status.

   Varsity sports are sanctioned by the Maine Principal’s Association (MPA) and are thus semi-private events.  “The MPA’s stance is they only allow the students who are attending the actual school and  homeschooled students to be able to participate,” said Fort Fairfield Middle/High School Athletic Director, Tim Watt.  “The State and MPA’s definition of a homeschooled student is a student who is educated in their own home by their parent(s).”

   Students who attend the local Christian schools in the area may not participate in Varsity sports but Watt states, “What we have told parents is they could go to the school board and ask the school board for permission to have their son or daughter be able to participate in a sub-varsity activity.  We do not have a policy at this point.  This is something new for us and we are looking into what we should be doing.”

   According to Maine Dept. of Education Commissioner, Sue Gendron, this is not an official State policy and is up to local school boards to decide.