Commercial magazine uses school children to target parents
September 11, 2008 by niallsmyth · Leave a Comment
A new commercial magazine, produced by the “market-leading family media group” called Ireland4kids has been launched in the Republic of Ireland, aimed at “parents of primary school-aged children “and aiming “to provide parents with useful information on education, health, parenting, entertainment and fun things to do for all the family”.
Awards for Commercial-Free Schools.
September 8, 2008 by Joe Fogarty · Leave a Comment
CCFE and INTO certify Ireland’s first Commercial-Free Schools.
At a ceremony in the Teachers’ Club, Dublin on Friday 26th September, 13 primary schools from throughout Ireland were honoured and recognised for their stance in relation to commercial presentations in school. Pictured here is Miriam Jenkinson, Principal St. Patrick’s JNS, Skerries, Co. Dublin
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 for Education Defends Corporations’ Right to Target Children in School.
April 25, 2008 by Joe Fogarty · Leave a Comment
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.”
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
Food Company joins in the commercial Rat Race
April 10, 2008 by niallsmyth · Leave a Comment
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?
The Flora Cooking with Schools Scheme, which claims to “help put healthy eating at the
heart of the
