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?
The Irish National Teachers Organisation, the largest teachers’ union in Ireland, actively encourages its 34,000 members not to participate in supermarket Voucher collection schemes.
Jim Higgins of the INTO spoke to RTE’s Irish language programme “Pobal” on March 9th and condemned the voucher schemes, run by Tesco and Super Valu.
Mr Higgins speaking about Super Valu’s ‘Kids in Action’ Campaign said
“The INTO recommends that teachers reject this campaign by sending the vouchers back or by putting them in the recycle bin”
Click here to watch the report*
(Report begins at 20mins 12 seconds)
The Campaign for Commercial-Free Education has condemned Tesco’s “Computers for Schools” voucher scheme as exploitative and discriminatory and said it will further widen the gap between rich and poor schools as highlighted on last week’s Prime Time programme.
SuperValu has been forced to defend its exploitative Kids in Action campaign claiming that the scheme is designed to get primary school children more involved in, active play and healthier food options.
