Afraid of a little competition?

Oprah's done it, Cartoon Network has done it, and now Subway.

"What?" you ask.

Exclude homeschoolers.

Oprah apologized that it was an "oversight" (do you believe that?) and the Cartoon Network, which had in 2006 opened the registration and free playground equipment to homeschoolers (we did receive a set for our homeschool group) subsequently opened contests and giveaways to only "registered public schools."

Now Subway, which is hosting a writing contest, has excluded homeschoolers.

"Contest is open only to legal US residents, over the age of 18 with children in either elementary, private or parochial schools that serve grades PreK-6. No home schools will be accepted"

Do they have a right to make that choice? Of course they do! Perhaps they are wondering what a homeschooling family would do with the grand prize. In our homeschooling family, or in our group, it would likely be donated to a local charity or recreational facility that needs it. There isn't a single family that couldn't do with the runner up prizes of a scholastic gift basket, a $100 gift card to subway or seeing the story published in a magazine.

They have every right to set the rules for their contest, just as all of the outraged homeschoolers have the right to not support their business.

BTW, I haven't watched Oprah in years and my kids don't even know the Cartoon Network exists. ;)