[Mrs. P]

This just came in the regular HSLDA email:

Open Letter to Subway: Let Homeschoolers Enter Contest

May 27, 2008

Subway Restaurant Headquarters
325 Bic Drive
Milford, CT 06461-3059

Dear Sir/Madam,

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

[P8riot]

I got that letter in today's update as well. Here is my submission:

First let me say that I and my office colleagues (normally about twelve to fifteen of us) typically place a large order from our local Subway about three times a week. We find that the food is fresh, and like the fact that they are made to order in order to accommodate a variety of tastes and diets.

However it saddens me that you have chosen to be less than accommodating to a rapidly growing segment of our society that is endeavoring to better themselves academically in order to provide a better future. I of course am writing concerning your explicit exclusion of Home-schoolers from your "Every Sandwich Tells a Story" essay contest. It would almost be understandable if it were an oversight, but to specifically state that "No home schools will be accepted." Is a flagrant swipe at a group that, due to the miserable state of public education, WILL be our nations brain trust for the future.

Sadly however, since I am the general manager, our office will no longer be placing our lunch orders from Subway, there are a Quizno's and a Jersey Mike's Subs within the same driving distance, and I am sure that we will enjoy their sandwiches as much as we used to enjoy yours.

Sincerely,