The $23 million renovation to the Buck Van Huss Dome at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tenn., includes two new sections specifically honoring high-achieving Dobyns-Bennett athletes — but no homeschooled athletes who have competed for the school.
As reported by CBS/ABC affiliate WJHL in Johnson City, the “Athletes of Distinction” wall, which highlights individual athletes named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State Teams, does not include homeschooled student-athletes who have achieved that honor while playing for D-B.
Softball standout Hailey Porter is recognized on the “Team State Champions” wall as last year’s historic state championship team’s shortstop. She was also a selection for the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State Team. However, per WJHL's reporting, Hailey attended the grand opening of the newly renovated dome expecting to see her name listed among other All-State honorees but was disappointed that her name and photo were not on the wall.
“It’s a little hurtful not being able to be represented on there because of my choices that I’ve made, my academic choices,” explained Hailey from her living room where she does her homeschooling. “Like it’s not that I don’t want to go to school, it’s just homeschooling is better for me. So it’s not anything against D-B, it’s just this is better for me.”
Assistant superintendent Andy True sent a statement to WJHL that states, “The historical practice at Dobyns-Bennett has been that individual students receiving All-State athletic honors have their photo displayed once they graduate from D-B.”
But Hailey says there are already photos on that wall of kids who have not yet graduated but are students at the school. She said she feels slighted as the school's single-season home run record-holder.
According to WJHL, another record holder at the school and All-State honoree is homeschooled student Mason Jakob. A two-time state wrestling champion who is only a Junior, he was also not included on the Wall of Distinction. Mason’s dad Rick told WJHL he feels “very unappreciated”, and that they are considering moving to another district for his senior season. He said in a text to WJHL, “Why would he want to promote D-B and wear their gear when they won’t even put him on the wall?”
Hailey’s mom has started a petition to change the practice at D-B to include non-traditional students who earn All-State athletic honors on the Athletes of Distinction wall and has gathered more than 1,000 signatures.
“I mean, we want to see the change. We think that’s something that if these kids are able to earn, that the adults recognize that that’s something that they’ve earned. But I don’t want to seem ungrateful.,” said Emily Porter. “We’re so grateful. Like, we’re grateful for the opportunities that she’s had and we’re grateful for the memories that we’ve all made. I don’t want to seem like, bitter, or like, oh, ‘I’m anti-public school.'”
Both parents, Emily Porter and Rick Jakob, told WJHL they homeschool because it allows their student-athletes more time to train and work on their craft. And it’s paid off. Mason Jakob is committed to wrestling at West Virginia University, and Hailey is committed to playing softball for East Tennessee State University. Both are Division I programs.
True says there are currently 126 independent homeschooled students registered with Kingsport City Schools. Statewide, there are more than 40,000 students who homeschool, according to a Tennessee Tech study cited by WJHL.
Porter says it’s time to recognize the athletes who contribute to the school’s success, whether or not they sit in its classrooms.
“I think that as a kid, you learn if you’re a competitor, then you learn to compete for your team, your coaches, your school,” she told WJHL. “And it’s hard to see that, you know, maybe she is more loyal to the school than the school is to her.”
In addition to the petition, the Porters plan to voice their opinion at the next school board meeting, which is scheduled for Feb.11.
