Before you blow a gasket, start talking about a B-O-Y-C-O-T-T and how the “prejudices of society raised their ugly heads” maybe you should try contacting the organization you think is discriminating against you. Subway is holding a writing contest for students where the grand prize includes $5,000 worth of athletic equipment for the winner’s elementary school. I would think that the idea is to promote exercise and healthy habits in the schools. This line has some home schoolers upset:
Contest is open only to legal residents of the Untied States who are currently over the age of 18 and have children who attend elementary, private or parochial schools that serve grades PreK-6. No home schools will be accepted.
The outcry borders on hysteria on a few sites. “Oh, Bad Subway! Home schoolers are being discriminated against!” “Win the war; boycott Subway!” (Ummm, ok, so those aren’t exact quotes, but still…) I guess middle school and high school students are being discriminated against too. Where is the outrage? Look, this is intended to help out the school’s failing fitness programs not provide your family with a super duper private playground. The prize goes to the school not the individual child.
Some have suggested that the contest should have been open to home schoolers but that if a home schooler won that they would have to donate the prize to a school. What would be the point in entering? Bragging rights?
If you really like the idea of your child writing a story about a Subway sandwich then have them do it. That’s the beauty of home schooling; you can do what you want. So write the essay and then go spend the afternoon at the park.
Oh, and if you are so concerned about grammatical or spelling errors, you would be doing your country a great service to donate your skills to STD or JMax. 
Yeah, I know that was a cheap shot, but it was just so obvious. Really, it is pathetic to misspell basket. I’m with you on that one.
Some concerned parents contacted Subway and received this response:
Regarding your concerns about the Subway contest that excludes home schools from contest eligibility, Scholastic and Subway apologize to all individuals who have taken offense at this. Our intention was never to make independent schooled children feel discriminated against or excluded from this specific promotion.
Throughout the course of the year Scholastic runs a number of contests and sweepstakes that are open to all teachers and students. The eligibility of this contest in particular was solely put in place to award a large group of children with the grand prize of $5,000 worth of athletic equipment. We do however understand how home-schooled children could benefit from this type of prizing and will make sure eligibility is open to everyone in future promotions.
We appreciate your feedback and will make sure a similar situation does not happen in the future.
So take a deep breath and go enjoy your favorite $5 sub.
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Correct me if I am wrong. You do homeschool your children correct? I think that adds greater weight to your argument.
I agree with your argument regarding the swingset. Where would it go? Would you donate it to a church school? or public school? Or the M&M Motel and Sanitarium?
Bragging rights are a good thing too. Swacgirl does make some good points regarding the value of homeschooling.
The reason lots of people got upset about Subway is the other attempts at discrimination against homeschoolers. I am sure you know that some colleges don’t recognize some homeschoolers. Some teacher’s unions are fighting homeschoolers. When you are in the minority, and people back you into a corner, you get your dander up. I am not a person who boycotts, but I will state my opinion. I will and have sent mail to companies that I disagree with. I am still waiting for a reply from Subway.
Yes it was a cheap shot on Chris and Alex.But I don’t blame you for taking those shots. I understand. It is like the 4th grade, when you really liked that boy, you punched him. I know you have hidden desires for Alex and his ties. You secretly want to enter his tent.
Don’t worry. I won’t tell the hubby.
Oh, now that is just gross! ROFLOL
I’m laughing too hard to address the rest. I’ll be back in the morning. LOL
We have had some computer problems and time has been a little short lately. So “back in the morning” has turned into back a few afternoons later.
Yes, I do home school our children.
I agree with SWACgirl that there are huge values to home schooling, but fail to see what that has to do with this contest. Subway wanted to give equipment to a “school”; not an individual family.
Maybe I’ve been lucky, but I have yet to run into discrimination or negative opinions against home schoolers IRL. I’ve seen some negative things on the web and those comments are mostly from very uninformed people. As home schooling grows so do our options and opportunities. Private schools around here are catering to the home school crowd. It’s now possible to sign up to take just a class or two at the school or participate on some of their sports teams. It isn’t too uncommon for home schooled high school students to take a few classes at a local community collage. Barnes&Noble and Books-a-Million offer teacher discount cards to homeschooling parents.
I think it’s sad when any group becomes so hypersensitive that they are ready to scream discrimination at the drop of a hat. Save it for the real things.