Firefighter's Homeschooled Diploma Rejected by Freemont, NE, Fire Department
A Nebraska fire department has rejected an application submitted by a volunteer firefighter because he was homeschooled.
Andrew Coates, 22, a Nebraska-certified EMT who volunteers at Cedar Bluffs Fire Department, submitted an job application for the Freemont Fire Department.
When the department's human resources discovered his high school diploma showed he'd been homeschooled, Coates received a rejection letter, WOWT reported, adding that in Nebraska, homeschooled is considered unaccredited education.
Freemont added 'graduation from an accredited high school' to the job description after denying Coates' application.
"I feel the city of Fremont’s really missing out here, and in my mind, because of his home schooling, you guys are discriminating against him,” said Cedar Bluffs Fire Chief Chris Lichtenberg.
The Civil Service Commission voiced concern, but said they can't rule on city policy.
Coates, who can appeal to a court, is hoping another fire department will give him a shot.
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Susan NicolSusan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.