Untied Against Homeskooled Kidz by Erick Erickson (more by this author) Posted 05/27/2008 ET
Both California and Tennessee have done their best to shut down the home school movement in the past year. First California made it illegal to home school children unless the person teaching the child could show grade level certification. Then Tennessee’s Board of Education ruled that diplomas from home school affiliated organizations were invalid to show proof of high school graduation.
Now, Subway has gotten involved. The sandwich restaurant chain is holding a competition called “Every Sandwich Tells a Story.” Children can win prizes for their schools. But, the rules state, “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.” [Emphasis added]
Given the rate at which homeschooled children win the national spelling bee, perhaps Subway should have let a third grade home schooled student proof read its rules. In addition to spelling “united” as “untied,” the prizes included a “gift bastket” in lieu of a “gift basket.”
As Home Education Magazine notes, “The presumed rationale for the exclusion is that the grand prize is athletic equipment for a school and that “home schools” aren’t organized schools and that the equipment is intended for a community, not a family.” But there are two additional issues worth pointing out.
First, to echo Home Education Magazine, the anti-home school agenda in this country has been very successful at pushing the idea that children are not part of the community unless they are part of an organized government funded school. The prizes could just as easily have had appropriate alternatives for home-schooled children.
Second, many home-school students affiliate with a group of home-school students for sports, tutoring, and general interaction. It is very common for home-school students to get together for classroom style instruction and planned events. Subway’s prizes would continue to be appropriate for such organizations, and would help those organizations. But Subway would rather disqualify a whole group of students whose parents have chosen education over indoctrination.