AIB’s “Build a Bailed-Out Bank Challenge”
September 3, 2009 by Joe Fogarty · Leave a Comment
Unabashed by its toxic debts, beleaguered shareholders and allegations of gross mismanagement, AIB persists in approaching Irish secondary schools to teach students “money-management” and “key business skills”.
Putting Manners on the Marketers.
September 3, 2009 by Joe Fogarty · Leave a Comment
As the new school year 2009-2010 begins, Irish schools are faced with the withdrawal of grants, proposals to decrease the main capitation grant and the realisation that the much-hyped €252 million investment in computers and technology has evaporated into thin air. While commercial schemes proliferated during the years of economic boom in this county, they are likely to endure much longer than our short-lived Tiger era and may seek to exploit the funding shortage in schools.
In an article in the Sunday Business Post, the Campaign for Commercial-Free Education lays down its unapologetically straighforward position - we’re for commercial free education for all Irish children, no if’s, but’s or ambiguity. We believe in a commercial-free space for children to grow, develop and learn to critically assess the world around them without the intrusion of ads, marketing or commercial interest. We seek to defend, in our own small way, the core democratic and child-centred mission of public schools - to deliver messages and experiences solely for the benefit of children and with no other agenda, hidden or apparent.
Read the Article by Catherine O’Mahony in Sunday Business Post, August 30th 2009
Against Commercialism in Education
November 5, 2008 by Mark C · 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.
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.”
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).
