Yep. Exactly what you said.
Hubby and I had a similar conversation last night. zzdo we REALLY need to fuss about this?
Very interesting perspective. I must admit I kind of got caught up in the bandwagon atmosphere. I wish I had taken the level-headed approach you took here and looked at it from other angles.
Thanks for explaining this the way you did.
I would probably argue that the HSLDA example you gave is a bit of an apples/oranges comparison (Subway is not a public school organization, while HSLDA is, by name and definition, an association for homeschoolers), but that's really a minor quibble and doesn't reflect poorly at all on the rest of your position.
You've helped me see it differently, and while I still prefer Quiznos anyway, I think I can temper my feelings about Subway in this regard 
T H A N K Y O U ! I felt this but not enough to type it (too tired from busy weekend!) I bet you get lots of 'amens!'
Oooh! I just said something similar on my HS yahoo group. Since when did homeschoolers demand rights! Can't a company have a promo and invite who they want? Aren't most of us homeschoolers free enterprisers?
I am a little ashamed at how appalled many homeschoolers are over this. Personally, I liked things better back in the 80's when we weren't so entangled with everything secular like so many today who want equal rights for homeschoolers. I think it will eventually bite us in the you know what (homeschool freedom).
Liz
I agree! Thanks for saying this.
And glad to see you blogging. 
Glad to hear a voice of reason in this silly little tiff. So Subway wants to give the $5000 prize to schools and not individuals! Evil! Kill!
Seriously, I don't get what the big deal is. I've been slightly annoyed by the cries of "boycott!!". This is just childish.
I completely agree that any business or organization that wishes to sponsor something to specifically benefit schools should be allowed to do so without fearing repercussions from this or that group, including homeschoolers. But I would like to see home educators being considered as part of the community, and if companies want to court people in the community, they are going to have to start thinking about homeschoolers.
What concerned me is that I don't believe Subway understood that homeschooling statutes are different from state to state. In some states, homeschoolers are considered private schools, or can register as one. The language of the rules does not, IMO, take this into account.
There are dozens of contests going on right now sponsored by various entities with prizes/funds to be awarded to schools, and either do not include homeschoolers, or only include those that are part of an accredited homeschool organization. So no matter what, if the prize for a contest is something intended for a group, independent homeschoolers would be left out. There is no way to include everyone on earth in every activity or opportunity.
Thank you for your perspective. After a grueling year in our state legislature, where we failed to get parity for our diplomas in some government jobs, couldn't keep the fire marshals at bay for our tutorials and barely managed to fend off additional testing, an essay contest seemed like a gnat. I'm glad so many have nothing more to worry about.
For those interested in the very busy legislative season for homeschoolers in Tennessee: http://TnHomeEd.com/2008Legis.html
Thank You!
There are so many more important things out there to worry about!
I agree with your assessment of the Subway situation, but "nary a peep from the homeschool community" about the situation is TN is way off base. The lists to which I subscribe here in TN were flooded with emails about all of the situations this year in the state legislature and parents were contacting their representatives en masse.
VERY interesting! Thanks Spunky, while I did send a polite email to Subway over the weekend when I first heard about..I was most certainly embarrased a few days later as I read some of the rude and condescending emails, blogs etc. This is a very level headed response and one I wish I had thought through myself.
Blessings
Deanne
Yes, Tennessee homeschoolers were aware and involved but it certainly didn't spread to the rest of the nation like this essay contest did. I'm willing to bet most of the folks outraged at the Subway slight are completely unaware of the ruling that some homeschool diplomas in TN were ruled insufficient for certain government overseen jobs.
It does seem that there should be more outrage over the diplomas than over play ground equipment.
I think your characterization of our displeasure as "whining" is unwarranted.
I am personally disgusted by this exclusion. If I share that disgust with my community is that whining? If we each exercise our freedom to spend our money elsewhere, is that immature?
HSLDA is obviously only for home-schoolers...it's in their name. If we ever manage to get the government out of our living rooms, it will be this kind of low-level discrimination for which we will still want organizations like HSLDA. Perhaps you don't believe this is discrimination. What if, instead of home-schoolers, they specifically excluded Muslim or Jewish children? Or disabled children? What's the difference, other than that for these groups it's already illegal?
Subway is a multi-national corporation, ostensibly catering to everyone. They did not have to dream up, or take part in, a nation-wide promotion that intentionally leaves out 3 million kids. Rather than taking some time and effort - that is, to have a grand prize that would be suitable to any winner - they decided it would be easier (with presumably inconsequential results) to add a statement to the rules exluding home-schoolers. It's hard for me to fathom that anyone would not find that offensive.
Of course it is their prerogative to do whatever they like with their revenue, just as it is my prerogative to do as I wish with mine. None of my home-schooling compatriots is "clamoring" for a boycott. Neither are we demanding our "right" to enter the contest. We are simply avoiding Subway going forward.
Scholastic has already realized their mistake and apologized. Is anyone calling to boycott Scholastic? A simple recognition of our community, and the difficulties we already face, coming from Subway would go a long way in quieting the outrage. Yes, there are much bigger fish to fry. That doesn't necessitate that the smaller fish be allowed to bite.
Godefroi said, "None of my home-schooling compatriots is "clamoring" for a boycott. Neither are we demanding our "right" to enter the contest. We are simply avoiding Subway going forward."
There is a clamor for a boycott, here's the first line of the online petition,
"In response to Subway Restaurants new open way of conducting business by discrimination, it has become apparent that we must boycott your business. "
Here's the link
http://www.petitiononline.com/ho...7/
petition.html
As far a discrimination. Of course there is discrimination. We all practice it. I discriminate against the public school by not sending my children there. I discriminate against Sears because I prefer JC Penney. I DO NOT discriminate based race, religion, or creed, etc. There is a difference.
As homeschoolers I don't want to promote a "victim" mentality requiring protected status from the US Governemnt. I have the same rights as any parent with regard to their children. The fact that Subway chooses not to include me in their contest is no different than me choosing not to purchase clothes at Sears.
Thank you, Spunky! Just as I was going to forward a link to this post to one of my groups who sorely needed to read it, I saw that someone else beat me to it.
I don't want homeschoolers telling other what they can or can't do because I don't want others telling homeschoolers what they can or can't do!
Steve I realize there is a difference between HSLDA and Subway in purposes. Subway is not an educational organization but a company in the business of making sandwiches for profit. They are in the business of making a profit and deciding what is the best use of their profits. And in this case it means encouraging a community school with playground equipment. HSDLA is a nonprofit membership organization that decides how to use the money they receive based on membership. I see no difference in their ability to make a certain choice about what to do with those funds simply because HSLDA has a focus that aligns itself with the overall purpose of the organization.
HSLDA has now issued a statement asking Subway to include homeschoolers in the contest.
http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/2...s/
200805270.asp
They wrote,
"Dear Mr. DeLuca:
By way of introduction, I am the President of Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and we represent 83,000 member families nationwide. This letter is to draw attention to your “Every Sandwich Tells a Story Contest,” and the unfortunate fact that homeschoolers are not allowed to participate.
The rules clearly state: “Contest is open only to legal residents of the United 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 (emphasis added).”
It is extremely disappointing that Subway would choose to exclude the estimated 2 million homeschooled students.
We understand that the competition is focused on traditional public and private schools because the grand prize of $5,000 of athletic equipment is designed to be used by a traditional school and not an individual family. A potential homeschool winner, however, could simply donate the grand prize to a public or private school of their choice or to a homeschool sports league.
Homeschooling is a thriving educational option. All the available research shows that homeschoolers are excelling academically and socially. We do not deserve to be overlooked.
We hope that you will reconsider the rules of your competition and choose to amend them to include homeschoolers.
Sincerely,
J. Michael Smith
HSLDA President
And in response Jay from Cleveland has written an Open Letter to HSLDA
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com...eveland/539203/
Here's a peek,
"Other groups such as AFA have called for a boycott of Subway. Surely HSLDA would agree that this would be very inappropriate. Such predictable overreactions have impressed the American public with the perception that Christians are nothing more than knee-jerk cranks. Rather than getting all inflamed, homeschoolers should use this opportunity to inform the public as to homeschooling as a viable educational alternative"
Could not agree more - bravo Spunkster on another well thought out post. Does this mean we'll see you more around the blogs? Hope so!
-gena
I wholeheartedly agree. Thanks for voicing your opinion and many others so well!
For those that are interested, here's the American Family Association link which also calls for boycotting Subway unless they allow homeschoolers to participate.
http://www.afa.net/subway.htm
Here's what they are encourging people to do....
Take Action
1. Send an e-mail to Subway President Frederick A. DeLuca. Tell him you will not eat with them anymore until and unless they allow home schoolers to participate.
2. Contact your local Subway store and give the manager the same message.
3. Please forward this to your friends and family, especially home schoolers.
This is exactly what I meant when I said that there is a clamor for a boycott and a demanding of our right to enter. There exists no such right that says that a parent, based on their educational choice for their children, must be included in all activities that a public or private school student is afforded.
I completely agree and have been embarrassed by the outrage and the bandwagon mentality over this contest.
I was most surprised at their inability to spell Basket!Perhaps a few Homeschoolers could help them out!
Because of Jesus, Bobbie
Yippee! I'm not the only one.
Actually, I already knew I wasn't, but it is crazy out there.
It's hard for me to fathom that anyone would not find that offensive.
I don't. I didn't find it offensive in college that minority women entering engineering had a list of scholarships while white women entering education did not. It isn't our right.
Certainly everyone has the same right to patronize or not patronize any business. So long as y'all aren't calling for laws regarding this sort of thing, I'm not going to say a whole lot about it.
But we don't need to jump on every perceived slight.
When they hang a sign on their door that says "Help Wanted: Homeschoolers need not apply" then I'll be persuaded to boycott.
Although I have seen a great deal of discussion about Tennessee...I think it is just more difficult to boycott an entire state.
Hi Spunky, great to see you blogging again. This issue dragged both of us out of "retirement" -- great minds think alike!
As usual, your post was much more thorough and articulate than mine, but nonetheless, it's great to see that not all homeschoolers are not caught up in herd mentality, marching in lockstep, following our beloved demagogues of the homeschooling movement.
see you around, jay
Well, we don't want you to boycott the state...but somehow state officials have got to realize that paper doesn't equal qualifications--especially when employers are happy with the employee despite not having that paper.
I updated the post with a link to an apology HSLDA received from Subway.
I've received several emails from people who sent their comments directly to me because they couldn't post. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Also, some thought my tone was a little rude. But I stand by my thoughts that the homeschool community appeared arrogant and whiney. Correcting typographical errors with an air of intellectual superiority and calling Subway names like "Snobway" or "Snubway" reflected poorly on homeschoolers as a collective group.
If the intent was to educate Subway about homeschooling, I think they received the message. But unfortunately, I'm not sure it's a completely positive message.
Spunky,
I don't find your tone rude at all. I've always found it forthright, which is quite refreshing.
I completely 100% agree with you on this topic. The prize was designed to benefit hundreds of children, not just the one that won . Yes, if a homeschooler won, they could donate the prize, but chances are, the person or people at Subway who wrote these rules probably know very little about homeschoolers, so would not realize that their exclusion would upset them so much. Once I read the prizes, it was pretty apparent why homeschoolers were excluded.
There are bigger things going on in the world than people having their feelings hurt over a sandwich contest.
I'm not sure what out-of-staters could do to help the Tennesee situation (and this is the first I've heard about it.) Elected legislators generally don't care what people outside their state think. Even boycotting Tennessee and going elsewhere for vacations would only hurt private businesses, not the government that passed that ridiculous law.
As for Subway, they have the right to have their contest as they like. I have the right to buy my sandwhiches at their competitors.
I have to respectfully disagree with you. I don't think it's whining to request that your child be included in a national essay contest.
What any good marketing director should have asked themselves is: "Does the group we're excluding eat Subway sandwiches?" It's a now brainer.
As for HSLDA, their marketing director should ask herself,"Do any non-homeschooled students subscribe to HSLDA?" If they do, then they should be included. It's a no brainer.
Yes, homeschoolers were discriminated against in this contest, and I thank God they voiced their dissatisfaction so that it doesn't happen again. Hopefully, everyone spoke the truth in love.
Thank you for this post. You always state things in such away that I am better able to understand what is really going on.
Huzzah!!
Well Said!!
Spunky ... I'd like you to read the following please.
http://onemom.wordpress.com/2008...d-of-attention/
Thanks for your comment OneMom.
I agree that homeschoolers need to speak up and speak out. I spoke about that in my recent post, Speaking With Authority that includes a great You Tube. You can view it here.
http://spunkyhomeschool.blogspot...-
authority.html
This post is not encouraging people not to speak out but to think through how they speak and how they appear when they speak. I said in the post, "Let's be a bit more adult about it, accept their decision, and if you must quietly remind them that you exist too, but then it's time to move on...",
You said in your post linked above, "I do believe that Subway’s decision to specifically tell Homeschoolers they could not enter the contest is just the tip of the iceberg regarding growing sentiment against Homeschoolers and specifically against evangelical Christians. I stated that several times as this topic was bantered about the past few days, though a lot of people seemed to not be able to grasp that bigger point."
There will always be people who don't accept homeschoolers. We went through another blog storm with Oprah a few years ago. I wrote about it then (http://spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2006/02/im-
not-offended-are-you.html). But if we choose to speak up, we should do so in a way that reflects well upon our Lord and the homeschool community.
Entering a contest is not a right its a privilege granted by the organization hosting the contest. Homeschoolers are typically defenders of freedom and as such, we should respect their right to hold a contest and not humiliate them because they failed to include us. This is also not an attack against "evangelical Christianity." There were private schools allowed to enter with no restriction against faith based schools.
I agree there is a time for outrage. But let's remember what happened to the boy who cried wolf and learn from his mistake as well.
Let's reserve outrage for the truly outrageous like the Tennessee not hiring homeschoolers or Texas taking 460 children away from their parents. Subway not including homeschoolers is not quite in that category for me. But respect and understand that others will disagree with my threshold for the outrageous.
Spunky ... If you'll note in today's post, I mentioned Subway's snub because it bugged me and because I do think it is a symptom of a growing disdain for homeschoolers and christians.
Also, if you'll look through my blog, you'll see that I have been blogging about the children in Texas being torn from their parents and even from their own siblings and strewn across the state.
I've felt like you have tried to portray me as someone with my priorities out of whack, and that is simply not true.
OneMom,
I haven't portrayed you specifically in any way at all. I simply mentioned your blog in the update because you didn't find the apology of Subway acceptable and I thought it was noteworty. I made no additional commentary about your priorities.
My comment this morning was in response to the post you specifically asked me to read and not a commentary on your priorities as whole. I generally don't make any assertions about another blogger's priorities because a blog post is only a snippet of their lives and I couldn't possibly know if your (or anyone's) priorities are out of whack or not.
You were only one of many bloggers that commented on the story that I first read on World Net Daily over the weekend. This blog post isn't about you or anyone else, but reflect my thoughts on a situation that I felt was spiralling out of control.
Homeschoolers will not be liked or accepted by everyone. We need to accept that fact and learn when and how to speak effectively about these situations as they arise. That's why I wrote this post.
I like the way a commenter on your blog said it,
"My wife and I home school. I think we should show the other cheek here. Instead of boycott, lets all pick a day and eat at our local subway and let the individual owners know that we don’t hold them responsible, I think there is a more effective way to communicate. Jesus said if someone asks you to go a mile, go two. Anyone can boycott. Even so, anyone can love a friend. But to love those that persecute you shows the true power of God."
Even if we managed to get Subway to change their policy and apologize the manner in which that was accomplished I feel was an embarrassment upon all who homeschool.
[quote]I think there is a more effective way to communicate. Jesus said if someone asks you to go a mile, go two. Anyone can boycott. Even so, anyone can love a friend. But to love those that persecute you shows the true power of God.[/quote]
"Going the extra mile" doesn't mean what people think it means. In Jesus' day, a Roman soldier could compel someone to go 1 mile--but the law had stringent penalties for a Roman soldier who compelled someone to go more than that. When a follower of Jesus refused to leave after 1 mile and insisted on going two, it looked bad on the Roman soldier and he could get into serious trouble. Their are similar explanations as well for giving someone your cloak and turning the other cheek. Jesus wasn't advocating acquiesance to unfairness, he was advocating for people to stand up against the powers that be in the only way they could.
Love & prayer for those who persecute us is commanded, but not acceptance of persecution.
A boycott is a good, legal way, for one to show their displeasure with a business. If people are sending hate mail to Subway, well that is against what Jesus stands for, but that is different than one calmly & politely expressing their displeasure.
Rhonda,
I agree and think a boycott is a legitimate way to show disapproval in a capitalist society. Corporations understand the bottom line.
This contest began in January and it wasn't until it was nearly over that homeschoolers got all up in arms of the "snub." Were we really that offended if it took homeschoolers that long to express our collective outrage?
That's why I appreciated what that commenter said. There's a time for outrage and a time for expressing concern without clamoring that someone is attacking us and calling for a boycott on a holiday weekend when the business has no chance to answer the objections.
This contest isn't about us. It never was. It was about Subway wanting to give playground equipment to a school. Homeschoolers took offense and made it about them. That is what I am commenting on.
You bring up a good point! If the idea is to win playground equipment for your school, they maybe it would seem a little unfair if a homeschool kid won!
AMEN, Sister!!! *Sigh* I miss your blogging
Kathy D.
I updated the post with a link to an interesting conversation Rush had with a caller about the Subway contest.
As far as blogging again...it is getting close to summer (remember I live in Michigan!) and I might be able to work in a few more blog posts than I have been. I've enjoyed the break but I do miss engaging in lively conversation about current topics of interest. So we'll see how it goes.
Funny...I was thinking last night that I do not want to be part of a special interest group, clamoring for my space among the rest. We shouldn't be taking our cues from the groups we criticize.
Here's a comment I received in an email that asked me to post it here.
"I am sorry but I couldn't get this to post. You are probably sick of this subject, but I had a couple of thoughts. My family (and several I know) struggle to afford to homeschool. Yes there are ways to cut costs, but i think everyone can agree, prices are going up on just about everything fast and I for one have moments of panic as far as being able to afford to homeschool. When you see a contest with money as the reward you might get hopefull. Especially when we already pay taxes for the public schools (which we don't see benefits from that), we don't want to see a contest ONLY for public schools. I think maybe people weren't whinny, but a little desperate for help and maybe a little let down. I for one am desperate for some kind of tax break on school supplies for homeschoolers. Has anyone heard of that coming? Also, a lot of families I know didn't know about the contest put on by the legal defense. All of America knows about Subways contest. I think maybe we should give each other a break and look all around us. I don't think this just evolves around public school kids versus homeschool kids. I think there is a lot more like the economy, and maybe homeschoolers not putting up with being excluded anymore. As usual there are a lot of sides to each comment being posted. If you could post this some how I would appreicate it. Before I go - thank you so much for the Tyler Mali link. It was great!" - LC Frustrated Homeschooling Mom
Dana,
As far as the special interest group, many appear to view themselves exactly that way. I've seen that progression coming for a while and we discussed it when Oprah had her contest. It's understandable given the climate in which we began homeschooling, and diligence is necessary to maintain our right to homeschool, however that should not translate into acceptance at every level otherwise we flex our political might.
I'm all for expanded acceptance of homeschooling. But how do we go about doing it? Like I said in my entry on Subway, it is one thing to march on the capitol, it is quite another to march on the general public. In the former, it is a necessary action when government is attempting to limit our liberties.
But in the meantime, we are better served through positive contacts with legislatures and the blueberry muffins our state organization bakes the legislators every year. And positive contacts with the public. I think the news stories of all the homeschool events...graduations, musicals, plays, etc. go much further in keeping a positive view of homeschooling open to the public than the articles about Subway's contest obviously meant to benefit the public schools.
Blueberry Muffin day at the capital?! What an interesting idea. I've never heard about that before.
I respectfully disagree that homeschoolers should not say anything about Subway's rules. Of course they are free to extend the contest to anybody they want. What I don't like is the comparison that public school children don't apply to a HSLDA contest. The point is that HSLDA is for homeschooling community. If the contest is from a Public School district, it is FOR the public school students and homeschoolers need not apply. The Subway company is a public company that serves all kind of people, homeschoolers and public school students. In my opinion the contest should be open to any students that they are doing business with.
What law or right establishes that a contest sponsored by a company must serve ALL the people that solicit their establishment? I know of no such law or right. The fact that HSLDA chooses to host a contest that fits their within their stated purpose as an organization in no way establishes that ALL businesses or organizations must do likewise. If that were the case Subway shouldn't be hosting a contest giving away playground equipment because their organization is not about education but food.
One could definitely argue that it is in their best interst to do so, but they are free to exclude people based on certain parameters that fit them.
I am also not saying that homeschoolers should not say anything about Subway's rules. I acknowledged that in the original post, but HOW we go about speaking up is just as important as speaking up. And in this case, I feel homeschoolers looked whiney and arrogant.
I know there is no such law to allow everybody to enter any contest. And maybe some homeschoolers wrote in a whiney and arrogant way. Personally I did not write anything to Subway, but I don't like that hs-ers are not even counted and are looked upon like second-class citizes. We have to prove too many times that we are able to hs.
Same as with other Christian principles, little by little we'll have a country with very little morals, because Christians stand aside and do nothing.
If this had been a contest that excluded Christians, you might have a better point Cristina. However, this contest did not exclude private faith-based schools or parochial schools; this clearly shows that they wanted to award the first prize of playground equipment to a school and were not attacking Christians or any faith for that matter.
I am all for standing up for morality, but this wasn't a moral issue, this was clearly a case of a company exercising their right and freedom to hold a contest and award prizes according to their desires. Homeschoolers should not be treated as "second-class" but neither should we be viewed as a "special class or interest group." Both are counter-productive to what homeschooling is about.
I wrote to HSLDA and told them how embarassed I was by this whole thing. They wrote back and said they agreed, but as a compromise, they wrote the letter to Subway.
That's intersting Robin.
Did HSLDA say they were embarrassed by the homeschoolers over reaction or that Subway excluded homeschoolers?
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