Amid Ruling, Homeschooler will Get a Shot to Become Fremont, NE, Firefighter
Andrew Coates will now get a shot at becoming a firefighter with the Fremont Fire Department after city officials voted to accept his homeschooled diploma.
Coates, 22, an EMT and Cedar Bluffs firefighter, was turned down when he applied to the Fremont Fire Department because his diploma indicated he'd been homeschooled which is not recognized in Nebraska.
The city will now accept diplomas from non-accredited schools, WOWT reported.
When the homeschooler's application was rejected because of his diploma -- even though he had EMS and firefighting experience -- proponents of the alternative education criticized the city.
And, dozens of homeschool families showed up at the city meeting to support Coates, who was overcome with emotion when the council voted to change the policy and accept non-traditional diplomas.
About the Author
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.