You are exactly right, they messed up with the language they used. It read to me like they were out to advance an agenda, and right away I was suspicious and motivated to fight back. They could have avoided most of the trouble over this if they used your wording!
Here is the nice letter they sent to HSLDA:
Subway Apologizes
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!
“Our intention was to provide an opportunity for traditional schools, many of which we know have trouble affording athletic equipment, to win equipment.”
On a scale of "least to most" funding available, where do they think tax-supported public schools, private schools and home schools are? I would think home schools are pretty low on that scale.
~shaking head~
I should call them and tell them to hire me. LOL. I think you're right - that line does sound like they're advancing an agenda.