It doesn't pay

to irritate 2 million or so homeschoolers and their families.

HSLDA is pleased to pass along the following apology from Subway
restaurants.

To HSLDA:

We at SUBWAY restaurants place a high value on education,
regardless of the setting, and have initiated a number of programs and
promotions aimed at educating our youth in the areas of health and
fitness.

We sincerely apologize to anyone who feels excluded by our current
essay contest. Our intention was to provide an opportunity for traditional
schools, many of which we know have trouble affording athletic equipment, to win
equipment. Our intent was certainly not to exclude homeschooled children from
the opportunity to win prizes and benefit from better access to fitness
equipment.

To address the inadvertent limitation of our current contest and
provide an opportunity for even more kids to improve their fitness, we will soon
create an additional contest in which homeschooled students will be encouraged
to participate. When the kids win, everyone wins!

I think the apology is probably as sincere as they get these days. We'll be buying a meatball sub and a BMT with everything later this weekend! Thanks Subway!

We Won't Be Taking the Subway Anymore...

And we sent them an e-mail to share our reasoning. If you homeschool, I would invite you to do the same. This article, from Home Education Magazine spotlights Subway’s P.R. gaffe:

"By now, the Subway sandwich shop marketing division must know how bad of a decision it was on the part of whichever wonk who decided to expressly exclude homeschoolers from their latest contest. Email lists may not be utterly aflame over the exclusion, but there is more than one ***-off homeschool mom spreading the word. I’ve been reading their emails.

Subway contest: Every Sandwich Tells A Story

Enter the Every Sandwich Tells a Story Contest for a change to win great prizes for your child’s school!

Here’s what you could win:

1 Grand Prize Winner:

– Athletic equipment for your child’s school ($5,000 value)
– Scholastic Gift Bastket (sic) for your home
– SUBWAY Card ($100 value)
– See your story published on www.subwaykids.com and in Scholastic Parent and Child magazine.

6 Runners-Up:

– Scholastic Gift Basket
– SUBWAY Card ($50 value)

…

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Contest is open only to legal residents of the Untied (sic) 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.

To be technical about it, according to this, homeschoolers in the “Untied” States are the only ones ineligible. Homeschoolers in the “United” States should be able to enter. But, as we all can recognize, I digress, with my tongue firmly in my cheek.

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.

My own point of view is that the way the contest’s rules were worded is another indication of the increasing acceptance that children are creatures of school. This contest — a story writing contest — includes children who are “PreK.”

Do I really have to point out that three and four year old children generally do not compose “beginning, middle and end” stories?

Also, this indicates the trend that no longer are young children pre-schoolers, but they are pre-Kindergarten. Kindergarten itself used to be not only optional in the United States, but was considered a precursor to formal schooling. In German, the word Kindergarten comes from the words for ’children’ (Kinder) and ’garden’ (Garten). In meaning, Kindergarten is equivalent to “play school.” Note that in German the American use of Kindergarten is not der Kindergarten, but rather die Vorschule — preschool.

Obviously, in the United States, now both Kindergarten and what used to be called preschool are now ’school.’

For older ’school aged’ children, legislation tries to tie driving licenses to school attendance, sports for teens is all but wedded to schools, and daytime curfews during the ’school year’ are in effect when school is in session. (I’ve never figured out why there aren’t daytime curfews on weekends or during the summer.) In our collective mind, children who are ’school aged’ belong to a school. That’s just the way it is. Schools = children’s place of duty. Period. The Subway contest seems to reflect some of that line of thinking, which isn’t to malign Subway, but merely to reflect on our national mind-set.

The fallout

It’s too late to fix the wrongheaded concept that parents educating their children without the intercession of an institution are doing so as a school. That water is not only under the bridge, but it has gone out to sea, evaporated, and rained down multiple times.

Regardless of state laws that pigeonhole homeschooling under their respective private school laws, and regardless of whether parents officially/actively/or purposely ‘homeschool,’ all parents are their children’s primary educators even if what is ‘taught’ isn’t the least bit ‘educational.’ This is just family life. Lessons are learned, if only through example, regardless of their worth. Still, families in which children are expressly educated are not ’schools,’ so there is some logic to the exclusion by Subway.

Despite the logic, it was psychologically stupid to apply that logic so abruptly: No home schools will be accepted. Talk about shooting oneself in the foot. Those ‘million homeschoolers’ we always hear about equal how many potential customers?? Either the Subway marketing department is tone deaf, or somebody in the head shed doesn’t like homeschoolers.

Non-homeschoolers often complain that homeschoolers don’t live in the ‘real world,’ but the statement that ”no home schools will be accepted” indicates significant corporate ignorance about that ‘real world’ where real homeschooling families shop with real money.

J.C. Penney learned that in 2001.

Michelle Malkin, August 10, 2001: Publik skool biggotz
Until this week, Texas-based retailer J.C. Penney thought the “HOME SKOOLED” T-shirt was cool enough to peddle on its racks in the kiddie section. Only after a heated e-mail and phone campaign by home schooling parents did the department store chain send a notice to J.C. Penney stores nationwide Wednesday advising them to remove the T-shirts. “It wasn’t our intent to sell an item that is offensive,” a company spokesman told the Associated Press.


The fix

One of the more obvious work-arounds that the developers of the Subway contest could have included for homeschooling parents who entered on their children’s behalf, was for the equipment to be donated to a local park, or to a school of the winner’s choice. Problem solved – good will all around. Too bad that it didn’t play out that way.

I look forward to seeing how the Subway wonks handle their self-inflicted wound."

Educationally Speaking...

A "conversation" I'm having on a frugality forum, of all places:

Me: That hits on a pet peeve of mine. We homeschool -- but are forced to pay school taxes! Teachers at public and private schools may deduct up to ~$500 on their taxes for supplies bought with personal money. But homeschoolers (and here is the kicker - who are legally considered private schools in my state) are SPECIFICALLY banned from doing so. We must register as a "private" school, but cannot enjoy the tax break therein.

Someone else: Yes, but we (public school teachers) are buying supplies for 30 (in elementary schools) or 130 (in middle and high school) students that aren't our own children. You are buying school supplies for your own children. You wouldn't get a tax deduction for anything else you'd buy for your own kids. You choose to teach them at home, then you've chosen to make their education your own, along with everything that entails.

Me again: (Rant ON)
I can see your point, but I can't say I consider it a good one. I'm not talking about buying paper and crayons. I spend $400 to $800 a year on curricula - in addition to all the goodies that go along with it. Not to mention the fact that 1) you choose to teach and 2) they're not your children!

Your comment is a perfect picture of the entitlement mindset that has invaded our lives. If my child attended your school, I wouldn't expect you to provide my child's paper or pencils. You shouldn't have to buy them for anyone. That just didn't happen when I was a kid. Oh I'm sure occasionally a teacher would slip a pencil or notebook to a very poor child in the class. You've just told me it is my responsibility (and I agree) to provide my child's supplies. Then it is also the responsibility of your students' parents.

Of course, public schools could afford to do more for indigent students if they weren't so busy playing put a condom on a banana, but that's another rant altogether. The NEA could do much more good if they would stick to education instead of hosting partial-birth abortionist George Tiller at their meeting...and lauding him for his "pioneering" work. I saw video of that and it absolutely turned my stomach. I suppose the NEA wants to lower class size by any means necessary. If the NEA spent as much time ensuring quality education as they spend lobbying for more money for it, they wouldn't need the money so much.

I know that there are good teachers out there who don't put up with all the foolishness we see in today's schools. I'm sure you're one of them. But I pay taxes for the upkeep of schools and for books. Do you think I'd be allowed a vote at a PTA (or whatever they call it now) meeting? Don't think so. Do I get to check out a/v material and equipment? Nope. I don't want their curricula so that's not an issue. So, to recap, I am compelled by law to give them money; I am not allowed to use their supplies and I'm to simply endure their scorn because I homeschool.

The schools around here are constantly whining and begging for more money. Yet they have state of the art whiteboards that print copies or some such nonsense. New computers every other year or so. It's all power point and slick production. Fun gadgets? Yes. Necessary to education? Nope. Spending is out of control, yet parents are expected to foot the ever increasing bill.

Yes, I chose to homeschool my child. I chose to do without so that I can be home and teach him. I chose to start my own design firm and make money by working much of the night before teaching much of the day. Am I bitter about that? Nope. Not at all.

But if anyone would like to buy a small hershey bar for $6

to fund DS's music lessons I'd be more than happy to

take their money

accept their generous offer.

What do YOU say?

I love my sizzler. Really. I do.

I have a Sizzler. He spins, he twirls, he rolls on the floor with the dog. He does cartwheels while eating popsicles, he is a study in motion. He is a trial of my patience. He is the light of my life. Days like today, I turn to the stories section of Sizzle Bop and read...just to hang on. To gain some perspective, and to give us both time to just RELAX.

That's why Sizzle Bop is at the top of my Homeschool--->Favorites List. The following is from the site and is used with permission. (Thanks Carol!)

Why is it called "Sizzle Bop?" The title for this site was an inspiration from my much loved but high energy (and high maintenance) son.

One night several years ago, he came rushing into my room, out of breath, to inform me that something “really serious” had happened. It somehow involved flying pieces of broken light bulb glass and smoke. Fearing an impending fire, I flew to the site of concern. Sure enough, there was a light bulb with a substantial portion missing. I found the offending piece lying almost ten feet from the lamp.

I wondered at the laws of physics that had been at work here when I saw what looked like the remnants of a water drop on a piece of glass. I asked my son if water had been dropped onto the bulb. With very deliberate speech, he said that perhaps…when he had been talking…a piece of saliva...might have been expelled onto the bulb. Why had he been talking to a lamp?…I thought. Then I noticed the desert dry rivulets of previous spit streams that were encrusted upon this defenseless bulb. “Son…?” I called quietly. My incredulous tone betrayed the calm I otherwise possessed. What I’m thinking might have happened here couldn’t really have happened....could it? “Son,” I said again… “have you actually been spitting on this light bulb?”

No answer.
He gave me a very wide-eyed and fearful expression.
Let’s try again.
“Son…why were you spitting on this light bulb?”

I could visualize seventeen or eighteen wheels turning in his head. Finally, the answer I shall never forget emerged. “Because I like the sizzle”

In spite of the very clear dangers, I burst out laughing. (I know that many children go through a saying “NO!” stage. Some go through a biting stage. But no one ever warned me about the “spitting-on-light bulbs-stage”). I think the most revealing part of the story can be summed up in the line “I like the sizzle!”

These kids do indeed like the sizzle. They like to

See the sizzle
Hear the sizzle

and often
BE the sizzle

That is a part of their wonderfulness…and also a part of the challenge in sharing daily ife with them. That sizzle can lead them into wonderful discoveries of humor, earning and experience. But that same desire for sizzle can lead them into difficulties. Our hopes in this group is to limit the difficult side with shared strategies and to more fully celebrate the wonderful side that is so often missed.

And here comes the “Bop” part of Sizzle Bop! There is a daily dance of life that is unique to the shared time with these high energy individuals. In spite of all of their challenges, there is a charged and delightful energy that comes with the package. In our family, we’ve chosen to dance to the music, to join in the bop, instead of trying to turn down the music.

A Kindred Spirit

"What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow." -Martin Luther

Rebecca has this quote scrolling at the top of her lovely site. I absolutely LOVE it. How wonderfully blessed we are to be entrusted with such great responsibility!

Today is District Children's Talent at Church

So we're off...with artwork in tow:

...and scripture passage firmly in mind (hopefully)! Here is what the kiddo will (hopefully) be quoting today. It's really quite lovely.

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise His holy name!

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits -

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion.

Who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

-- Psalm 103:1-5

Fall Heralds Busy-ness!

Autumn is by far my favorite season. Spring is a close second, with Winter and Summer tied for third. A funny thing happens to me in the Fall and Spring, though. My husband calls it Erma Bombeck syndrome. Erma called it Martha Stewart Syndrome.

Autumn heralds a return to order, a desire for the crispness of the early morning and the cool comfort of evenings. It creates in me an instinct must like Nesting. In fact, the "experts" would probably call it just that. Papa-Dew both loves and hates it. He loves that the house is squeaky clean (well, most of it) and decorated, but he hates that it is the only time of year I actually write out a honey-please-do list. Most of the year, I ask him and let his timetable dictate the rest. I make a great effort to not be a contentious woman. Fall, though, all the stops are pulled out. The eyes are batting, the tone of voice is wheedling, and I am not above turning his head with baked goodies and promises of Saturday sci-fi marathons.


Thus far, it's been pretty tame - although expensive. The week started off with a new pair of jeans for me. Then some really darling (and totally on sale) fall and Christmas themed dish-towels to hang on the shelf-rod (pics to come later). You know, the shelf that was gifted me by my precious mother (hi Mom!) when we visited last week. The one he put up today in the kitchen for me.


Then things got expensive. {sigh} But necessary. A new mattress/box springs set. On sale, of course, and discounted for a cash payment. That was nice. I'll sleep well tonight! And so will my sweetie and his poor, overworked back. But before bed, I think I'm really feeling the need to make a list of things to do tomorrow...


Does Autumn motivate you as well? Share with us!