Okay, enough is enough. Bill Webster has bombarded us and our school board through letters to the editor enough. His latest tirade of Aug. 26 suggests that [Board member] Dr. Bob Todd won't respond. Well, I will.

It is not in defense of the school board, it is just that Mr. Webster's never-ending whining about his rights have become annoying. You see, I was at the meeting where Mr. Webster requested that his home-school children be given the right to join the math team at Flat Rock Middle School.

The problem is that he lives in the Booth Middle School district. But since Booth does not have a math team he feels his children should have special opportunities that even the Booth children don't have, that of joining a competitive team at another school.

Mr. Webster's argument is that since he "pays taxes" he is entitled to pick and choose the activity, class, team, and school for his children to participate. Under his theory, a home-school child could be on the McIntosh Science Olympiad team, Sandy Creek math team, Fayette County football team, Starrs Mill soccer team, etc.

Suppose any "recruiting" would occur? Take the top football player, find a tutor, call him a home-school student and put him on your football team. The coaches would love it. Unfortunately the kids enrolled in that school who don't make the team may be disappointed.

Also, how about eligibility? Students are required to maintain a certain GPA to be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities. Even Mr. Webster acknowledges that home-school kids are only required to be tested once every three years. Now that certainly provides a fair evaluation of eligibility?

But, back to Mr. Webster. He says that since he is a taxpayer he is entitled to use the facilities of his choice. Well, if he wants to use the school system then he simply needs to enroll his children. If he chooses not to enroll them, then he chooses to not participate. Just like the Woodward or Landmark students, he has made a conscious choice to not use the opportunities provided. If he can pick and choose, then the private school and public school students should be entitled to compete at any school of their choice regardless of attendance.

Mr. Webster, your "gee, I pay taxes" argument is getting really old. I have heard the same illogical argument regarding local athletic fields. There are a lot of things that we pay taxes for that we can't use; for example, military aircraft, fire engines, police cars, the White House, etc. Under your logic, I should be able to take an F-16 for a "spin around the pattern" whenever I choose since I "pay taxes!"

Oh, I also pay taxes and have no students in the school district. That is not a "choice"; my kids graduated. Guess what, I still pay taxes to the schools and will most of my life. I don't expect to be allowed to eat in the school cafeteria, be given free attendance at football games, or the use of the fields whenever I choose. The benefit I get from my taxes now is that our society will provide education to all members and we as a country benefit by the contributions made by educated citizens.

You make the comment that you are entitled to "have your cake and eat it too," because you "pay for both cakes." That is another absurd argument. You and I both pay for the public school and if you choose to attend, you have that right. If you choose not to attend, that is also your right. Your choice neither relieves you of your obligation as a taxpayer nor entitles you to the "privileged status" that you demand.

I also take exception to your comment that the "school board members are elected to oversee and encourage the education of all the children in Fayette county." In fact, they are only elected to oversee the public schools in Fayette County.

As you know, they have no power or input to the education of your children nor the children attending private schools. Their decision that school activities are limited to participation by only members of that school (particularly competitive teams) has my 100-percent support and is in fact a fine example of the school board acting in the manner they should to "oversee and encourage" the students of Fayette County school system.

As you see Mr. Webster, life is full of choices. You made your choice and I made mine. I made my choice knowing all the pros and cons of attending public school and take full responsibility for it. You also make your choice and must take full responsibility for it and live with the pros and cons of not attending public schools.

Your expectation that we who choose to attend public schools should move over and make room for those who turn their backs on our system is absurd. It's particularly insulting from someone like you who worked so vigorously in opposition to our system as evidenced by your constant caustic opposition to the SPLOST.

Make your decision, live with your decision, and get off your "high horse" and quit distracting our school board and our public school community with your inane arguments.