Against Commercialism in Education
November 5, 2008 by Mark Conroy · Leave a 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.
Time for some action on 5th Nov!
August 19, 2008 by Mark Conroy · Leave a Comment
This is an email I received from the Facebook group International Students Movement for Free and Emancipating Education. It’s a call for action against the commercialisation of education. I’m reprinting it here in full.
Mark Conroy
________________________________________
Dear activists and members of this group!
Thanks for joining this movement and inviting others to do so!
As some of you might know already, there is an “International Day of Action against the Commercialization of Education” in the making.
(I just published the Call in the Forum of this group - it can be discussed there!)
The official Call for this Day has been published in English, French and German now and can be accessed via the following links.
English: http://fading-hope.blog-city.com/international_call_for_an_international_day_of_action_again.htm
We Are Doing Some Housework!
July 21, 2008 by Mark Conroy · Leave a Comment
We are currently trying to get all of our website information from one place to here. This means that things might look a little messy (especially on the right-hand side) as we try to get things in order.
Our options are limited to taking the site down while we get everything fixed-up, or else having faith that our readers will forgive us the mess given how important the information is.
So, in short, SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE DURING OUR RECONSTRUCTION.
Regards,
The CCFE Team.
Students React to Tesco’s Computers in Schools Scheme
June 15, 2008 by Mark Conroy · 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 Conroy · 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 Conroy · 8 Comments
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).
