Corporations and public education

[LWolf]

There are a lot of paths down the road to privatization of public education. One is writing legislation based on mathematically corrupt test scores, intended to brand all public schools as failures. Thus encouraging public support for privatization. One is refusing to fund education, so that no school has the resources to succeed. Yet another is to make the laws attached to funds so destructive that states and/or school districts voluntarily opt out of federal funding.

And yet another is to encourage corporations to step in and fill the growing financial chasm by "sponsoring" public schools. A cozy little relationship putting public schools in the position of catering to corporate partners, and giving corporations the opportunity to own our kids as another "market." Personally, I don't want to see corporate logos on my campus; corporate products hawked on my campus; and I really don't want my building or field named "Walmart Field," or "Enron Library," etc.

Reading, writing and revenue: Cash-strapped schools turn to marketing deals
JIM SUHR
Associated Press

In California's Scotts Valley, the local school district faces the prospect of slashing $900,000 from a $15 million budget next year. So the district hired a marketing firm to find companies willing to sponsor a new swim center or theater at the local high school.

In return, according to school board member Allison Niday, companies will get plaques to advertise their help, or mentions in school newspapers.

Similar deals are being made across the country, including Missouri, at all levels of educations as money-strapped schools increasingly turn to companies for financial support.

"First and foremost, our schools are struggling," the National School Boards Association's Dan Fuller said. "Many districts are engaged in this (commercialism) because of the dire straits they're in. This presents a real opportunity and a trend that will continue and possibly grow."

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[havocmom]

1. Many public schools in Tucson have marquees with corporate logos

on them in front of the shcool buildings. Then there are the deals made for installing vending machines on campuses around the nation.

Honesty would suggest big "For Sale" signs on the front of schoold buildings. Glad my daughter is grown

[LWolf]

2. It's common.

The current standardized testing obsession indoctrinates them early; future citizens are learning, "Yours is not to engage in thought, just fill in that big round dot." Or ballot.

And this? Indoctrinated early into the consumer culture. :puke: