INTO Calls for an End to Commercial Exploitation of School Children
January 12, 2010 by Mark C · Leave a Comment
The INTO has said primary teachers should not support advertising projects by commercial companies which target children or their families through schools. The union made its announcement following the launch of a project promoted by the Irish Independent and sponsored by Bank of Ireland.
“Bank of Ireland is one of the financial institutions that contributed to this country’s economic collapse,” said Ms Ní Chuinneagáin. “It has been bailed out to date with 3.5 billion in state aid so far with more taxpayers money expected to be pumped into it. Just today, it is set to get 11.5 billion of taxpayers money through the NAMA scheme to pay for its reckless lending to developers and speculators.” Read more
Supervalu “Kids in Action” Scheme is “worthless”
January 25, 2009 by Mark C · Leave a Comment
Supervalu has admitted that its vouchers for the Kids in Action programme are worthless.
The Supervalu ‘Kids in Action’ voucher scheme claims to provide schools with free sports equipment. This is a fallacy. Simple maths will explain: in order for a school to claim a ‘free’ gymnastics mat that retails at about €280, customers will have to spend €32,840 in Supervalu (i.e. 3,240 vouchers at €10 each); (Source: 2009 Supervalu’s ‘Kids in Action’ Catalogue, available at supervalukidsinaction.com)
Against Commercialism in Education
November 5, 2008 by Mark C · 1 Comment
- Breaking the Barcodes
Nov. 5th sees the world’s first attempted co-ordinated action against commercialisation in education (including against fees for education). So far, activists in 22 countries have signed up to have mass co-ordinated events. This essay seeks to look at some of the issues involved in commercialism in education.
Since we have not reached the level of commercialism in our schools that pervade an education system such as the American one, perhaps now is the time to begin the fight against the commercialism that is present, before it becomes too much to be countered.
Students React to Tesco’s Computers in Schools Scheme
June 15, 2008 by Mark C · Leave a Comment
I gave my Higher Level Fifth Year English class the article “Opposing Tesco’s ‘Computers for Schools’ Voucher Scheme” for the reading comprehension section of their summer exam. Question 3 asked “What are your thoughts on these schemes?”
Here is a selection of student responses:
Student 1
I feel this is hugely unfair and no parent should be put under pressure to gain facilities for their school.
Student 2
To be honest, I never really thought about this voucher scheme, but from reading this extract, I now believe it to be an outrage [...] The Tesco company should be ashamed of themselves.
Student 3
I believe there is something corrupt about the way in which supermarkets operate to gain sales. [...] It shocks and appalls me. Read more
Minister Questioned on lack of Commercial Regulation in Schools
April 24, 2008 by Mark C · Leave a Comment
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 Read more
Open Letter: Oppose Tesco’s ‘Computers for Schools’ Voucher Scheme
April 7, 2008 by Mark C · 1 Comment
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).
