OK, Now I'm Mad

Following a link on Mental Multivitamin, I wound up on Oprah's website to read about her national essay contest for high school students. She is going to be announcing the book that will be the subject for this essay contest on today's Oprah show. I was almost ready to watch it, something I almost never do.

Then, I got to the bottom of the page to the fine print. This is where I read who is eligible to enter the contest:

Contest open to all legal residents of the US, who are currently enrolled full-time (and in good standing) in a public or state-accredited private or parochial school, grades 9-12.

Elsewhere on the website it says "Calling all high schoolers!" and "Dear Superintendents, Teachers and Friends of Education". Does this mean home educated high school students are not "high schoolers"? Or that home educating parents are not "Friends of Education"? AGGHHH!

I was already somewhat skeptical. The essays must be submitted by February 6. Am I supposed to drop all my other lesson plans and assign this to-be-named-today book? Do you think high school teachers across the country will do so? I am afraid to say that I worry about the book selection. I have appreciated some of Oprah's book club choices, especially the "classics" she's recently chosen. Still, I am skeptical that her choice for this contest will be reek of political correctness.

Can you tell I'm not a big Oprah fan? I used to watch her once in awhile. I admire her for all she's done in giving away millions to charities and individuals in need. I admire her for getting control of her weight and getting fit. I do NOT believe she is always right or that we should turn to her as an authoritative source for anything.

The pastor's wife at our last church was a huge Oprah fan. She watched her, dare I say religiously, every day. She wrote her often and sent her Christian materials. One of her biggest dreams is to attend an Oprah taping. I'm sorry, but this made me very sad. Oprah has done more to further secularism-as-religion than anyone else I can name.

Now, she seems to be taking a pointed anti-homeschool stand in this essay contest. (Or am I just overly sensitive??) Come on, is she afraid to include home educated students? If I cared enough about the silly contest, I'd start a letter-writing campaign to get her to include home schoolers. I'm afraid I don't have the energy to do so. I guess I'll just throw a blog temper tantrum and say I really really really don't like her now!