The school year has started with a big bang. Homeschoolers from all over the nation have been working hard to open the eyes of corporate America - to let them know homeschoolers are not only here to stay but are a large, valuable, and powerful consumer group.

We all need to stay alert and work to stamp out discrimination against homeschoolers. For us to make important educational strides and level the playing field for our children, we all must participate.

William J. Bennett is the former U.S. Secretary of Education says, "Homeschoolers are perhaps the best example we have today of what can happen when you strike the proper balance between exercising rights to freedom with a deep sense of responsibility."

We have had tremendous success this fall - we have been able to direct the attention of various corporations who intentionally or unintentionally "forgot" to include homeschoolers as a part of their contests and programs. It is so important for all of us to stay vigilant.  Here at the Homeschoolzone.com we want you to send us your experiences, your stories, about how homeschoolers may have been discriminated against.

• Want to get involved?
• Have a story to tell about an injustice?
• Have been able to make a difference?
• Contact us!!

Success Stories & Ongoing Investigations!!

Together we will accomplish great things and help to make homeschooling a valuable option for ALL families.  Here are our successes and I hope these will inspire you to keep your eyes and ears open.

Success Stories

• Campbell's Labels for Education
  program now accepts homeschoolers
  Their Labels for Education Program, which encourages public and private schools to collect labels from all Campbell's products (which includes companies Pepperidge Farm and Godiva), allow students and schools to exchange labels for such goodies as videos, art supplies, even computers. When talking with Ms. Pizzaro, the director of Campbell Soup's Labels for Education Program, it was discovered, through a lengthy conversation, that homeschoolers COULD participate in the Labels program. Now it's official and it's on their website. Find out how we won!!

see how we won & how YOU can cash in!!

• Penguin-Putnam changes
  their $1,000 scholarship contest
  A few weeks ago we were told that "rules are rules" and homeschoolers need not apply. After some hard work and help from some very dedicated people, they have changed their policy to include homeschoolers.
  Find out how we won!

see how we won & how YOU can cash in!!

• "I'm Homeskooled" T-shirt pulled off shelves

Ongoing Investigations

• Staples Teacher's Reward Program
  Homeschool parents are NOW teachers too!
  Linda Duntley the director of Tulsa Home Educators and editor of THE NEWS. has successfully turned around the way Staples, the office/school supply company (1-800-3staple) to look at homeschoolers. For every cumulative $100 you spend, you are awarded a $10 reward certificate. We are on the way to winning, but we need to make sure that they make the "official rules" reflect this.

Find out more & what YOU can do!!

Ongoing Investigations

Staples Teacher's Reward Program
Homeschool parents are NOW teachers too!

Linda Duntley the director of Tulsa Home Educators and editor of THE NEWS. has successfully turned around the way Staples, the office/school supply company (1-800-3staple) to look at homeschoolers.  Linda has worked to have Staples include homeschoolers in their Teacher's Reward Program.  This program works in the following way: for every cumulative $100 you spend, you are awarded a $10 reward certificate. The maximum annual reward is not to exceed a total of $70. This offer is good for purchases made online, at any Staples store, or by catalog through the calendar year.   Prior to Linda's efforts this program was limited to teachers who only taught in traditional schools.  Now this program is open to all homeschooling families.

• Linda's first step was to talk with her local Staple's manager. He expressed concern that he would lose homeschooling business.  Linda felt that since they were offering the program to individual teachers and not corporations, she thought homeschoolers stood a good chance of them reviewing their policy.
• Linda also is very busy homeschooling her own family. She operates a book benevolence ministry and functions as a clearinghouse of information for all homeschoolers in Northeastern Oklahoma.
• "My husband Don and I are the parents of eight children with three having graduated home schooling. We are in our 14th year of home educating. We unenrolled our two oldest from a private, Christian school because we no longer wished to be a " weekend family". We believe that homeschooling is a lifestyle of learning together everyday and the time spent as a family is precious."
• Here is the story, in Linda's own words, of how Linda got Staples to review their policy and ultimately include homeschooling families:
• Over the course of about 3 weeks, I have been dealing with Staples Customer Service and Corporate Office concerning their new Teacher's Reward Program. For every cumulative $100 you spend, you are awarded a $10 reward certificate. Maximum annual reward is not to exceed a total of $70. This offer is good for purchases made online, at any Staples store, or by catalog through the calendar year. When going to my local store, I found that the manager was uncertain if home educators could apply for this. That day, I called their customer line and was asked:
  • "Will you have ID?"
    I said most homeschoolers have the capability of proving that they homeschool.
  • Then I was asked how many of us were there?
    My answer was "Do you wish to know the local number or national one? The answer then came that "at this time the marketing group is excluding homeschoolers". I received this same answer without fail 4 additional times. I was also told someone's personal opinion concerning home schooling.and it wasn't complimentary.
  • The run around
    Fast forward to this week, when I had the time to call the Corporate Center and President Tom Stenburg's office. After two days of being told he was not in and to call the next day, I let them know that they needed to check with a few places (one of them J.C. Penney's) to find out that a boycott of their store due to their discriminatory policy was not in their best interest.
  • That got dramatic results.
    Within 24 hours, Kathy Kuzack, Vice President in charge of marketing called me with this statement," It was never Staples intention to alienate anyone, but to be sure that an abuse of our program would not occur. We welcome homeschoolers to participate in the Teacher's Reward program." It may take a week for this to be implemented in their stores nationwide. If you have additional questions, call Teacher Rewards Hotline 1-888-636-9555
  • Changes in Tulsa
    In a few weeks. I have notified the Tulsa stores of this change. You may pick up an application and temporary card at the customer service desk. Do this before you purchase as your temporary card may be used at that time. This is a free program. To be eligible, you need to bring a current homeschool support group card or your THE NEWS subscriber card that came with the Aug/Sept issue or any similar identification that shows that you homeschool along with your Teacher Reward's card each time you make a purchase.
• Want to get involved?
  Call Teacher Rewards Hotline 1-888-636-9555
  and tell them that the Homeschoolzone sent you!!
  (see other scholarships, awards and other FREE stuff)

"I'm Homeskooled" T-shirt pulled off shelves

Homeschoolers were stunned to find that J.C. Penney's, one of the largest department stores in the United States, were selling tee shirts that put down homeschoolers.  Their white and red tee shirts featured a drawing of a dilapidated trailer home. Outraged homeschooling parents were angered to read on the front of these shirts "I'm Homeskooled".   Homeschoolers who saw this merchandise were quick to contact J.C. Penney's to let them know how angry they felt about this shirt.  J.C Penney's, receiving intense pressure from the homeschooling community, immediately removed these shirts from their racks.

Join in the struggle!!

The message is clear: For homeschooling and homeschoolers to be regarded as another educational option like private education we all must chip in and help open the eyes of the folks around us.   Linda and The Homeschoolzone.com have shown what can be done when you mix equal parts passion and perseverance.

You can do it too,
we want to hear from you!
click here

Scholarships, Grants & other FREE stuff
Who says they're is no free lunch. In this section we are collecting contests, grants, scholarships and all sorts of things to make your life easier (and cheaper!!). It is constantly changing, so come by every few days.

"The Future of Education in America"
An exclusive interview
with William Bennett, Ph.D.
hosted by Sue Spataro
William J. Bennett has devoted most of his professional life to improving America's schools and studying what works in education. He is the former U.S. Secretary of Education. Dr. Bennett has also served as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities and director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. He has written and edited 14 books—including national bestsellers such as The Educated Child: A Parent's Guide. In this exclusive interview with William Bennett, we discuss: the breakdown of the traditional two-parent family; what's wrong with the public-school system in America; Dr Bennett's new k12.com program; and changing attitudes about homeschooling.

click here
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