In response to a letter from Senator Joe O’ Toole (below), Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin refuses to restrict commercial advertising in Irish schools. She indicates that no protection is to be afforded to children in class and that “Private companies are free to promote their business in accordance with accepted marketing practices.”
Parliamentary Question from Ruairí Quinn T.D. 9th April 2008
Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha To the Minister for Education and Science To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the disquiet expressed by the Irish Primary Principals Network and the Irish National Teachers Organisation regarding unregulated commercial marketing and advertising in primary schools; if she will develop an official code of standards related to the Code of Advertising to children on television and radio which would clearly distinguish between commercial marketing in schools and the promotion of genuine philanthropy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. - Ciarán Lynch. (Nominated by: Ruairí Quinn). Read the rest of this entry »
The multinational company Unilever, who in the past brought such dubious school schemes as Domestos “Germcatcher”, have now imported a scheme they run in the UK to Ireland.
Computers, Sports, cooking…What next?
One of many schools, Sacred Heart NS, Newbawn in Co. Wexford have a proud policy against commercial exploitation in their school. The Campaign for Commercial Free Education commend school’s like Sacred Heart for taking such a stand and encourage others to do so.
To read more on Sacred Heart NS policy on commercialism click here.
Below is the text of a letter sent to a number of local and national newspapers. So far, the Campaign for a Commercial-free Education is aware of it having been printed in five papers (in the Wicklow, Kildare, Tipperary, and Mayo regions). If you know of it having been printed anywhere else, please leave a comment (and link to the article, if possible).
Wicklow Times 02/04/08 Article
ARE IRISH schools, already struggling with large classes and a shortage of funding, being left behind in the technology revolution?
