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In 1913 two organizations established by the president of the University of Texas, the Debating League of Texas High Schools and the Interscholastic Athletic League were merged to form the University Interscholastic League (UIL).

The constitution of this new organization stated its mission as follows: "The object of this League is to foster in the schools of Texas the study and practice of public speaking and debate as an aid in the preparation for citizenship; to assist in organizing, standardizing, and controlling athletics in the schools of the State; and to promote county, district, and State interscholastic contests in debate, declamation, and athletics."

The new group allowed any public or private school in Texas to become a member. In other words, UIL at its inception opened its organization to all public and private schools and its purpose was to foster events and activities to aid all students in becoming good citizens of the state of Texas.

Who were these private schools? The answer to that question can be found in the transcript of the court proceedings of the Leeper v. Arlington case heard in Tarrant County in 1987 and upheld by the Texas Supreme Court in 1994. This case was the class action taken on behalf of home schoolers in Texas against the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and local school districts as a result of prosecution of over 100 families for teaching their children at home. The TEA argued that home schools were not private schools and therefore not exempt from the compulsory attendance law.

During the trial testimony was given that was undisputed by the state, which pointed out that, in the early 1900’s, only 10% of the student population of Texas attended public schools. In addition to this, private schools as we know them today were few and far between. However, a great majority of Texas students were taught at home. In Texas at the turn of the century, home schools were referred to as private schools and were therefore able to take part in the new UIL organization.

The history of the UIL points to the fact that at its inception its founders meant for all school students, including students taught at home, to be part of this beneficial program designed to prepare students to be good citizens.

At some point, bigotry and discrimination began to raise its ugly head, and until the 1960’s, UIL allowed membership only to public schools and black schools were prohibited from competing against "white" public schools. This discrimination against minority students was dropped as the result of the civil rights legislation at the federal level, but private and home schools are still excluded to this day.

A recent example of this discrimination was witnessed when the State Board of Education approved the recommended adoption of wrestling as a UIL sport. Since this was not a UIL-sanctioned sport, public and private schools, which wished to offer this activity to their students, were working together in a private league. However, with the adoption of this sport by UIL, the public schools will no longer participate in the private leagues and many students in private schools will now, in all likelihood, be excluded from taking part in this sport as the number of schools they may compete against is drastically reduced.

Home school and private school families pay taxes that support the public education system and since extra-curricular activities are not part of the core academic mission of public schools, these students should be allowed to take part in these activities.

This issue is not about money or an institution; it is about working to prepare all the students of Texas to be good citizens. I hope that the state of Texas will readopt the spirit of the founders of the University Interscholastic League by, once again, allowing all school students to participate in UIL activities.

Meet Tim Lambert.